Hi,

Over the years I have developed an interest in railroad cranes. The use of these machines has dwindled greatly in the last 20 years so I have become interested in their preservation. I would be glad to trade or provide information on preserved rail cranes.

John

jtaub@juno.com

John -

the San Diego Railroad Museum has three rail crane:

1 45 tonner from the Navy - used all the time to unload cars, pick up wheel sets, unload rail/ties trackside, etc. It's self propelled.

We also have a former steam driven smaller crane - look Goldberg.

We have a former ATSF crane on rails which was used for unloading gons/flats in San Diego. It's just getting back into service for 25 tons.

see www.sdrm.org for more details/photos.

Jim

JimLundquist55@yahoo.com

The Museum of Transportation in St. Louis has two locomotive cranes, both operational. One is an 18 ton Pyke that was an ex-C&NW unit we obtained from the UP. It was built in 1984. The other is an Orton 25 ton model that came from the US Army. It was built in 1953. You get aa glimpse of the Pyke crane on the restoration projects page of our web site as it is lifting the new cab onto our Lackawanna camelback 4-4-0 for a test fitting. The roof for the cab was delivered last week, by the way, and progress continues.

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com

The B&O Museum has three cranes. There is a B&O wooden crane that dates from the late 19th century. There is a Washington Terminal steam crane which is not operational, and an ex-B&O Industrial Brownhoist diesel crane that is operational, although it is currently having some cosmetic work done in the shop. I don't know the tonnage ratings on them.

B&O Railroad Museum
kevingillespie@usa.net

If you really want to have a good time playing "Iron Hand" forget about those big "Bucyrus" and "Industrials"....those things will kill your back setting them up and breaking them down...Me, I prefer something a little more "Sporty" to do my wrecking.... a beloved 'Bone is just the thing, they'll put a Holmes to shame in the "Balls" department, and they're real cozy to sleep in too.


ELEVIN120@aol.com

The Willamette & Pacific has a 250 ton diesel crane in their Albany yard. I think it was built in the 50's, still has a crew car and tender as well. Another crane in Oregon is at the Oregon Electric Museum. It's an old SP steam powered crane, it is operational and self propelled.

Taylor

thrush@smt-net.com

Years ago, someone in Oregon sent us (at L&RP) a photo of an SP steam crane sitting in Eugene, that was apparently threatened with scrapping. I presumed it did indeed go to scrap, but wonder if the one at the Oregon Electric Museum might be it? Anyone know?

The Willamette & Pacific has a 250 ton
> diesel crane in their Albany yard. I think
> it was built in the 50's, still has a crew
> car and tender as well. Another crane in
> Oregon is at the Oregon Electric Museum.
> It's an old SP steam powered crane, it is
> operational and self propelled.

> Taylor


ryarger1@nycap.rr.com

Mr. Levin: I like that! :)

Thanks,
Gerald Kopiasz, President
Heartland Railroad Historical Society


Heartland Railroad Historical Society
hrrhs@aol.com

Hi,

Thanks for all the crane tips. If anyone would like a copy of my list of preserved rail cranes just deop me a line.

John


jtaub@juno.com

Personally, I prefer the steam powered cranes. This one is operational at Tacoma's Camp 6. She is a 15 ton crane built by Ohio Locomotive Crane Company. She was used by Tacoma City Light to supply coal to one of its power plants. An interesting note is that when the crane was donated to the museum, the city forgot to take her off the operational list. When we restored her to operation, we contacted Ohio Crane to see if any parts were available, and found out that she was still listed as active, and there were several parts sitting in the warehouse.


crisolite@aol.com

I almost forgot, the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA also has a steam powered crane.


crisolite@aol.com

On the subject of cranes, it should be noted that the big railroads have pretty much quit using heavy duty wrecking outfits. I believe Norfolk Southern is in the process of disposing of their last big derrick. The railroads pretty much rely on contractors to clean up derailments that involve lifting equipment. Anyone know how many heavy wreck cranes are still active on class one railroads?

The principal users of rail cranes - other than the smaller "Burro" type employed by RR M/W departments - are industries such as scrap yards and steel mills. These cranes are very tough to move(many have friction bearings)and have a limited resale market, so often get dismantled on site when their useful lives are over. I know of several that will probably get cut up despite being in working condition.

Alan Maples

EverettRailroad@aol.com

> Hi,

> Over the years I have developed an interest
> in railroad cranes. The use of these
> machines has dwindled greatly in the last 20
> years so I have become interested in their
> preservation. I would be glad to trade or
> provide information on preserved rail
> cranes.

There is a "cousin" to the railroad cranes at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois. Number X238 is a Illinois Central Railroad PILE DRIVER. It is operational and has been used in the past to power a "train" at certain special functions at the museum. Riding behind it in a genuine IC caboose at the (top) breathtaking speed of about 3 miles per hour is an experience I highly recommend.

Les

> John


midlandblb@cs.com

> On the subject of cranes, it should be noted
> that the big railroads have pretty much quit
> using heavy duty wrecking outfits. I believe
> Norfolk Southern is in the process of
> disposing of their last big derrick. The
> railroads pretty much rely on contractors to
> clean up derailments that involve lifting
> equipment. Anyone know how many heavy wreck
> cranes are still active on class one
> railroads?

> The principal users of rail cranes - other
> than the smaller "Burro" type
> employed by RR M/W departments - are
> industries such as scrap yards and steel
> mills. These cranes are very tough to
> move(many have friction bearings)and have a
> limited resale market, so often get
> dismantled on site when their useful lives
> are over. I know of several that will
> probably get cut up despite being in working
> condition.

> Alan Maples

Norfolk Southern just had an auction of 11 125 ton cranes, 2 240 ton crane and 8 240 ton cranes. I don't know who was high bidder but they were spread out across 1/2 the US.


dgrant8@uswest.net

> I almost forgot, the Northwest Railway
> Museum in Snoqualmie, WA also has a steam
> powered crane.

They also have this one. (GN? NP?)

Washington Steam Railroads and Locomotives

brianfr@speakeasy.org