Hello Friends

In Re: "So, the likelihood that the BRC crane #190 will not be coming to North Judson is high, which is a shame as she is one of the last steam powered derricks in existence and, despite some surface rust, in remarkably good condition."

Are we to understand that this unit may be available for donation to other groups?

Also, wasn’t this part of a collection of rail equipment that was formerly owned by the Sheriff of Rockford, IL which also included a 2-8-0 and a CMStP&P NW-2? I understand these were donated to Monticello Railroad Museum a little over a year ago – with the latter being restored to operation. What has happened to the rest of the equipment? Was there a change in the owner's plans?

According to photos from the Milwaukee Road Freight Car Photo Roster by Rick Beaber (see links below) from the The Milwaukee Road Photo Archives,which correlates to descriptions I have heard relayed by others, this equipment includes –

MILW X402 – a CMStP&P built branchline combination coach-baggage later converted to MofW service.

http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/bunk.htm

MILW X10 – a big-hook

http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/cranes.htm

X900280 – a CMStP&P Snow Flanger converted from a tender (appears to be in the backround in one of the Breifs photos)

http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/plows.htm

A MofW car constructed from primarily from a Pullman with a home made addition.

http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/misccars.htm

The big question is this – has any of this equipment ever been offered to the Illinois Railway Museum – which is the closest museum. Some of these pieces would also fill some of the remaining gaps in their collection. I had heard previously that there was a bit of a rivalry between the owner of this equipment and the IRM? Why?

I hope this info is useful

Tom


The Milwaukee Road Photo Archives
rrhistorian@hotmail.com

> Hello Friends

> In Re: "So, the likelihood that the BRC
> crane #190 will not be coming to North
> Judson is high, which is a shame as she is
> one of the last steam powered derricks in
> existence and, despite some surface rust, in
> remarkably good condition."

> Are we to understand that this unit may be
> available for donation to other groups?

> Also, wasnÂ’t this part of a collection of
> rail equipment that was formerly owned by
> the Sheriff of Rockford, IL which also
> included a 2-8-0 and a CMStP&P NW-2? I
> understand these were donated to Monticello
> Railroad Museum a little over a year ago –
> with the latter being restored to operation.
> What has happened to the rest of the
> equipment? Was there a change in the owner's
> plans?

> According to photos from the Milwaukee Road
> Freight Car Photo Roster by Rick Beaber (see
> links below) from the The Milwaukee Road
> Photo Archives,which correlates to
> descriptions I have heard relayed by others,
> this equipment includes –

> MILW X402 – a CMStP&P built branchline
> combination coach-baggage later converted to
> MofW service.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/bunk.htm

> MILW X10 – a big-hook

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/cranes.htm

> X900280 – a CMStP&P Snow Flanger
> converted from a tender (appears to be in
> the backround in one of the Breifs photos)

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/plows.htm

> A MofW car constructed from primarily from a
> Pullman with a home made addition.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/misccars.htm

> The big question is this – has any of this
> equipment ever been offered to the Illinois
> Railway Museum – which is the closest
> museum. Some of these pieces would also fill
> some of the remaining gaps in their
> collection. I had heard previously that
> there was a bit of a rivalry between the
> owner of this equipment and the IRM? Why?

> I hope this info is useful

> Tom

This may be a little off-topic, but isn't that a Wooden Soo Line flat severing as boom tender for the crane? I wonder how that got mated with the crane?

terry_dempsey@hotmail.com

> Hello Friends

> In Re: "So, the likelihood that the BRC
> crane #190 will not be coming to North
> Judson is high, which is a shame as she is
> one of the last steam powered derricks in
> existence and, despite some surface rust, in
> remarkably good condition."

> Are we to understand that this unit may be
> available for donation to other groups?

Tom - I will try to answer these questions as best as I am able.

IF we are unable to move the #190 to North Judson (we haven't given up trying yet), then the owner could possibly donate it to another group. That would be his decision of course.

> Also, wasnÂ’t this part of a collection of
> rail equipment that was formerly owned by
> the Sheriff of Rockford, IL which also
> included a 2-8-0 and a CMStP&P NW-2? I
> understand these were donated to Monticello
> Railroad Museum a little over a year ago –
> with the latter being restored to operation.
> What has happened to the rest of the
> equipment? Was there a change in the owner's
> plans?

Our contact has been the son of the owner of the equipment who is a police officer in Rockford. The "collection" DID include a Milwaukee Road EMD NW2 diesel and a 4-6-0 (not 2-8-0), both of which were donated to the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois. Much of the other equipment remains in Rockford.

> According to photos from the Milwaukee Road
> Freight Car Photo Roster by Rick Beaber (see
> links below) from the The Milwaukee Road
> Photo Archives,which correlates to
> descriptions I have heard relayed by others,
> this equipment includes –

> MILW X402 – a CMStP&P built branchline
> combination coach-baggage later converted to
> MofW service.

This car was donated to the railroad museum in Mendota, Illinois.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/bunk.htm

> MILW X10 – a big-hook

This derrick remains at Rockford and in fact, sits directly behind #190.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/cranes.htm

> X900280 – a CMStP&P Snow Flanger
> converted from a tender (appears to be in
> the backround in one of the Breifs photos)

I am not sure if this is part of the collection or not. Since it sits OUTSIDE of the fenced in area where the other equipment is located, it very well may not be.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/plows.htm

> A MofW car constructed from primarily from a
> Pullman with a home made addition.

Still at Rockford, this car is in horrible conditon.

>
> http://www.angelfire.com/home/milwrd/misccars.htm

> The big question is this – has any of this
> equipment ever been offered to the Illinois
> Railway Museum – which is the closest
> museum. Some of these pieces would also fill
> some of the remaining gaps in their
> collection. I had heard previously that
> there was a bit of a rivalry between the
> owner of this equipment and the IRM? Why?

Don't know about any "rivalry". The son we have talked to has only had good things to say about IRyM. As for the 190, it would hardly seem that it would fill in a "gap" in their collection as they already have at least two railroad derricks of this type, one of which at least, is steam powered. As for offering any of the other equipment to IRyM, I would not know about that.

> I hope this info is useful

> Tom


midlandblb@cs.com

> This may be a little off-topic, but isn't
> that a Wooden Soo Line flat severing as boom
> tender for the crane? I wonder how that got
> mated with the crane?

Terry - We were told that when the 190 was shipped in (on its own wheels at that time), the Soo Line put this particular flat car with the crane to act as an idler car. Apparently the flat car was retired and sold (or donated) to the owner. It is not the idler car that #190 operated with on the Belt Railway of Chicago.

midlandblb@cs.com

Some dumb questions from a novice:

1. What are "Andrews trucks", and why are they unusual?

2. Isn't the usual problem with steam derricks is the condition of the derrick itself, i.e. most of their undercarriages are better than the derrick?

3. Could complete trucks be swapped in, if not permanently, at least long enough for the move?

4. Isn't any potential recipient going to have to do this work eventually? I mean, an operating steam derrick that could be moved could go to the audience rather than forcing the audience to come to the derrick? I don't know, I'm just trying to think outside the box here. Maybe too much watching my daughers' "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" tape.

shawsinoly@aol.com

> Some dumb questions from a novice:

> 1. What are "Andrews trucks", and
> why are they unusual?

Scott - There are NO dumb questions! Andrews trucks were one of many "brands" of trucks that the railroads used. Many Andrews trucks were found under steam locomotive tenders. Other trucks from the steam era included Bettendorf and Vulcan. The 190's trucks are actually in very good shape for being as old as they are.

> 2. Isn't the usual problem with steam
> derricks is the condition of the derrick
> itself, i.e. most of their undercarriages
> are better than the derrick?

I don't know how to answer this question. We feel that the 190 is in very good shape; cab, boom and undercarriage.

> 3. Could complete trucks be swapped in, if
> not permanently, at least long enough for
> the move?

This was one of the options we looked into. There were problems finding trucks that would fit plus differences in the braking system. Of course, even if we HAD found other (roller bearing) trucks, the railroad would have apparently rejected the move for some of the other reasons listed.

> 4. Isn't any potential recipient going to
> have to do this work eventually? I mean, an
> operating steam derrick that could be moved
> could go to the audience rather than forcing
> the audience to come to the derrick? I don't
> know, I'm just trying to think outside the
> box here. Maybe too much watching my
> daughers' "Mike Mulligan and his Steam
> Shovel" tape.

An interesting question. It was always the idea of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum to eventually restore the 190 to operation. This included being able to "run" it. Monticello Railway Museum has a steam operated Illinois Central pile driver. During special days, it is "run" with passengers riding behind in an Illinois Central cupola caboose. Top speed; about 2 m.p.h. But it "chugs" and blows its whistle just like a steam locomotive. It is this type of operation that we eventually hoped to do with the 190. In addition to using it for lifting heavy items at the museum of course.

Thanks for your interest.

Les


midlandblb@cs.com