indent I have formed the opinion that less than half of British goods yards actually possessed a crane but they not only make interesting models but also give another specific location for "spotting" a wagon when shunting a goods train.  Now there were containers in the thirties but they were few and far between so some other kind of load for a crane to handle is preferable.  The extensive felling of home-grown timber during the war (for everything from coffins to Mosquitoes), provides us with an effective and easily produced subject.

indent Naturally such a load needs a suitable wagon and they are around (a commercial bogie bolster is available) but they are rather longer than 2 ordinary wagons and are thus expensive in storage siding space - which reduces the number of wagons available for shunting.  A double bolster is about the smallest suitable single wagon and Parkside Dundas do a kit of a NE one which was introduced in 1941/2.  (You can see it in the left-hand corner of photo 3.)  A less detailed alternative would be the old Hornby/Wrenn double bolster - if you can still find one somewhere!