Restoration work is officially underway on Central Vermont steam crane 4251, owned by the Bytown Railway Society in Ottawa, Ontario. 

Over the last few days, the group has been preparing the crane’s deck and protective covers for primer. This process involved removing all of the tie-downs and travel locks. 

During this work, they discovered that the swing control had seized after many years of inactivity. They freed the mechanism with lubrication and careful force. It was found that the half nuts that drive the bronze sleeve — which moves the crane left and right — were worn. New half nuts will be drawn up and remanufactured.

As part of the restoration, the group is commissioning a new boiler built to modern standards. 

The crane last operated 13 years ago, but an inspection found the boiler’s crown sheet had become too thin for the crane to be recertified. 

Built in 1919 by the Industrial Works, the 50-ton crane served the Central Vermont Railway to help clear wrecks and perform other heavy-duty jobs. The  Bytown Railway Society acquired the crane in operational condition in 1967. Until 2013, it was fired up occasionally for demonstration purposes. 

The Bytown Railway Society is a non-profit organization focused on preserving and promoting interest in Canadian railway history and related transportation heritage. 

— Nick Stewart