Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct: gcrcs78

Three navvies and a boy pose for Newton's camera from the bucket of a steam crane. The photograph is thought to have been taken in October 1897 near Catesby tunnel, Northamptonshire. The bucket is of the square type seen in image 'gcrcs75'. Initially a square bucket might appear to be strange, however because it had flat sides it was easier to tip in a controlled direction than a circular bucket, an important consideration when loading a wagon.

Around fifty of these steam cranes were used during the Line's construction, and this picture is a good opportunity to see the machine without the improvised cab of wood and corrugated metal which the contractors often installed.

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