Dock railway

S3 'Portbury' (Avonside No. 1764), S9 'Henbury' (Peckett No. 1940) pass behind the Fairbairn steam crane at Bristol Docks.

The steam crane was ordered in 1875 as the docks at the time had no heavy lift capacity. It was completed in August 1878 at a cost of £3,600. For most of its existence it was underused being rapidly overtaken by improvements in hydraulic and then electric crane technology. However it was heavily used during World War 2 when it lifted many landing craft, making over two thousand lifts in three years. It has now been restored and can be seen in action during special events.