Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The traveling cranes were ex-WD stock , and fitted with outriggers , rated at 3 tons with a fifteen-foot radius , 4 Â 1\/2 tons at 11 f Intended as recovery cranes in the event of a derailment , neither saw much use .
Simplified: The traveling cranes were bought from the War Department , and were fitted with outriggers , they could lift up to 4 Â 1\/2 tons . They were intended to be used as recovery cranes if there3 was a derailment , but they were not used much .