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ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31581		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:18 am ]
Post subject:  ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
The Western Railway Museum wishes to dispose of SPMW 7100, a 120-ton steam wrecking derrick and support car. It is surplus to our collection and does not fit our mission statement.

It is available free to another museum or possibly for sale to another responsible organization or person, as-is, where-is. Several years ago it was estimated that dismantling and trucking it would cost about $40,000.

Movement by rail is not an option.

Attachments:
SPMW 7100.jpg
SPMW 7100.jpg [ 65.7 KiB | Viewed 12193 times ]
Crane tender.jpg
Crane tender.jpg [ 50.02 KiB | Viewed 12193 times ]
Author:  u25b [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
I am not trying to be smart here, but can you explain how that doesn't fit your "mission statement".

Wes
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
From WRM's web site http://www.wrm.org/about/mission.htm
Quote:
The mission of the Bay Area Electric Railroad Association is to preserve the regional heritage of electric railway transportation as a living resource for the benefit of present and future generations.

A heavy wrecking crane which was never used in an electric railway setting in our region just doesn't fit.
Author:  u25b [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Fair enough
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
I should add that the Board of Directors has reluctantly decided that the crane will be scrapped if no action to move it off the property has begun within the next year.
Author:  Nova55 [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
And that is why I no longer am associated with museums..
Author:  Charlie [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Just curious, would the museum keep it if enough donations were received to offset the money made from scrapping it? If so, any idea of what the scrap value would be?
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Charlie wrote:
Just curious, would the museum keep it if enough donations were received to offset the money made from scrapping it? If so, any idea of what the scrap value would be?


When a museum makes the decision to deaccesion something like this, it means it JUST DOESN'T FIT. You don't put a streetcar on the Cass Scenic Railroad. You don't put an Amtrak diesel at Promontory Point or on the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington. And you don't put a Maine narrow-gauge two-footer in the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Even if you fend off the scrappers, the crane is tying up track space and needs to be painted every few years. In effect, it's another "mouth to feed." To preserve this even if the current custodians were amenable, you'd have to set up an endowment for future painting, a pole shed, etc.

Can you make a sincere case that this thing is worth that trouble?
Author:  J3a-614 [ Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Steam cranes are at least as rare as steam locomotives, so that makes the case there as to being worth the trouble.

Problem is, how do you get the resources, how do you buy the time?
Author:  Charlie [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Ah, thanks for the explanation ADM IV. Sure hope they can find a good home for the crane along with the two WP steam locomotives and other mainline passenger cars that don't fit their mission statement.
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 12:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Mr. Mitchell's comments are absolutely correct on all points - we are not interested in raising money by scrapping a rare artifact. In fact, I suspect that when all the costs of scrapping are considered we would be lucky to break even.

Over the years, we have had many visits by people interested in getting the crane. None have come back, I guess after considering the reality of how big the project is.

As a Director, I definitely prefer giving the crane to a good home, and I'm sure that the rest of the Board agrees. If some individual or group can develop a plan for its removal and demonstrate the financial resources to carry it out, we will certainly consider it.
Author:  Al Stangenberger [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 1:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Charlie wrote:
Ah, thanks for the explanation ADM IV. Sure hope they can find a good home for the crane along with the two WP steam locomotives and other mainline passenger cars that don't fit their mission statement.

In the opinion of our Board and the Collections Committee, the WP equipment mentioned does fit our mission statement.

WRM is located on and owns the largest surviving section of the Sacramento Northern Railway, which was a subsidiary of the Western Pacific. The WP steam locomotives and the mainline passenger cars are considered to be part of the collection interpreting the passenger and freight trains of the WP as SN's owner.

The Western Pacific not only owned the SN, they shared trackage with it. In Marysville and south, the SN put wire over the WP main line because of a SN bridge in poor condition. This electric operation on the WP mainline started in about 1925 and lasted until 1965. Any railfan who ever rode the California Zephyr to California will remember riding in a dome car with the trolley wire just a foot or so above the windows. Probably every oil fired steam locomotive that the WP ever owned operated under this wire.
Author:  Jim Lundquist [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
Guys - I know first hand how hard it is to part with some of the collection. These things must be done. Hope you can find a good home for it. Wish we could get it to Campo.

Jim
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
OERM has at least one intact SP steam crane, and the better part of another. Anybody know when these were last hydro tested, or fired? Lovely relics that outlived their time.
Author:  Jim Vaitkunas [ Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ex-SP Steam Wrecking Derrick available
I suggest that you send your notice to Rod Fishburn, the moderator of the ARM/TRAIN Parts Committee. His e-mail address is: rodfishburn@earthlink.net Rod will be happy to send on your notice to virtually every railway museum and tourist railroad in North America.

I realize that most of the movers and shakers in our industry read these items in RyPN's Interchange, but maybe someone else who doesn't will get the notice from Rod and follow-up with you to save this interesting piece of equipment from the scrapper's torch??

Just a thought.

Thanks!
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