I am looking at an old issue, September/October 2000, of Live Steam, which has a story by Conrad Milster about Lehigh Valley Derrick Barges 401 and 402. These were purchased by a private party from the railroad in 1970. The author relates some anecdotes of operating the barges (steam crane derrick) in 1972. Any idea what would have become of these? Scrapped?

probably scrapped..

I know a few guys who are VERY well versed on LV maritime operations, tugboats and all that, and if these barges existed, it would probably be known in LV-circles by now..
but they arent listed as LV survivors:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~scottychaos ... other.html

its possible one or both are still languishing somewhere, but its highly unlikely.
IMO, its safe to say they are scrapped.

One LV barge does survive however! :)

http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org/log/0602.htm

Scot

If its anywhere its knee deep in crap at Wittes.