From the 1900's mobile rail cranes were operated by the Loco Branch, later Rolling Stock Branch. The steam operated cranes were used in workshops and larger cranes used in rerailing operations.
Some cranes were operated by the Way and Works Branch for lifting rails.
At some time in the 1950's the crane numbers were altered and placed onto one running list, rather than a previous lists with duplicate numbers.
Some cranes had support vehicles attached to them. These were simply coal or wood carriers for the small steam cranes or jib supports and tool trucks for the larger cranes. These vehicles were known as Crane Tenders
The Geelong fitters crane is a most interesting "vehicle". It is a K crane underframe that has had the headstocks and undergear removed leaving the side sills and centre underframe section carrying the crane turntable casting. This cut down underframe has then been placed on two axles with small diameter wheels. From the available data, the identity of crane appears to be the cut down deck of K 107: built 1881 and scrapped at Geelong in 1951.