Links to photos of how handy it is to own a working derrick when you are constructing a turntable.

http://www.railroadcity.com/gallery/index.php?id=85

http://www.railroadcity.com/gallery/index.php?id=86

Thanks

Nice work! I wonder how many museums/tourist railroads have a working big hook?

This photo is a bit old, but Mid-Continent has used their ex-MP wrecker quite a bit. Definately handy to have around for the heavy lifting.

The Nevada Northern has two operational. Former Kennecott Nevada Mines Division Brownhoist and a 100-ton Industrial Works steam crane purchased new by the NN in 1907 and pictured below at work in January 2006. For more on the latter, see: http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/thrott ... 081905.htm

Just a note on the MOPAC wrecker. I talked to Bill Ria last summer about the condition and why it was put out back. After I got it running in the early 70's {with some good help from Warren Tissler RIP}, Bill kind of took it over for a number of years. Bill was a wrecker operator on the SOO Line, a real operator I might add. He knows these hooks as good as anyone could. It's boiler was in great shape in the 70's and surely wasn't worn out from use, but needs the jacketing completely removed for inspection, which it would probably pass. I don't think it has to have a form 4 like a locomotive, but as usual the funds are not there for it. There is also a matter of a brake or clutch that is froze up causing the winch drum not to brake, as witnessed by a crew during a "display" in use. Bill said it is nothing serious to fix, but he got busy with other things too, so it was shoved out back and sits. Too bad, I feel that the wrecker and the #6 {another blasted 0-4-0 tank engine} would be the cat's meow for running on weekends for public interest. Hope to meet you some day, John.

Add the Calfironia State Railroad Museum to that list.

A few years ago when it held an anniversary "rail fair" its 250-ton steam powered derrick was displayed lifting a small industiral locomotive up and down. Then on the last day its ex-WP SW1 stubbed its toe on a switch and derailed. The CSRM shop crew and the derrick put on a unplanned living history display when they picked up one end of the switcher and set it back down on the rails.

And ----

Several of the electric museums have work derricks that streetcar companies used for track construction/reconstruction. These usually have a low capacity because they were usually only moving rails, etc around.

OERM has one of these from the 42" gauge Los Angeles Railway with a 5-ton lifting capacity.

OERM also has an ex-Stanta Fe "Burro" crane used for track work along with its transport ("mother") flat car.

TVRM has an ex-Southern 150 Ton derrick. We used it Friday to unload a pair of rolling bearing switcher trucks when they arrived from Indiana. It has also been used recently to dis/re-assemble a pair of passenger car trucks when they were converted to roller bearing and unload timber for a bridge rebuilding. We have also used it the past four years as one of the entertainment units for DOWT. It might not always be the most handy, but it sure beats the cost of renting a crane when we can use it.

Tim Andrews

I call it having the right tool for the job!

Later!
Mr. Ed