Built by Taylor & Hubbard of Leicester in 1902 to the standard gauge, this cran was purchased by the Isle of Man Harbour Commissioners in about 1920 and used for civil engineering work at various harbours on a temporary track.  Also there was a permanent track at Laxey Harbour from the nib of Rowes Dock to opposite the gap in the promenade side harbour wall (adjacent to the current toilet block) and used when clearing the dock of seaweed each spring.

In the early 1950s the boiler was removed and used by the Harbour Board boat building department in the Battery Pier yard in Douglas, providing the steam for a steam box for bending wooden ribs and planks for timber boat repairs.  In about 1955 the crane without the boiler was bought by farmer Thomas Kinrade of Santon and stored in a field on the Ballasalla side of Mullin-Y -Quinnea bridge.  

It was acquired by Captain Stephen Carter of the Laxey Towing Company it from Mr. Kinrade in the early 1990s and rebuilt including a new chassis and boiler; the work was carried out by Charlie Coole and Fort Street Engineering team of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, altering the gauge to 3’ 0” so it could operate on the railway and commissioned on 25th July 1994 during and enthusiast event.  

Its safe working load was 1½ tons and it was self-propelled.  It was subsequently used for track relays in the winter and moving materials around the yard at Douglas Station as well as lifting the new gas main pipes onto the Nunnery Bridge.  After the majority of the track was completely relaid as part of the I.R.I.S. project there was very little work for the crane so it was sold it to a steam museum in France.  The rail clamps for use when in blocked condition came from the Harbour Boards 25-ton Cowans & Sheldon steam crane on the Battery Pier.

Information From Captain Stephen Carter