I didn't want to add this on the already started topic of the scrapping of the steam crane but was wondering about the following.About 15 years ago i went with a friend to see some RR equipment down at Orville,Ohio wich was privately owned and kept on a short part of the old CA&C/PRR right of way,i think on the soutwest side of town? I think the guy's name was Art Davis?

Anyhow we went to look at a steel EJ&E rear cupola caboose he had for sale.I think everything else he had was basically for sale but for a high price! He also had 3-4 big RR wreck cranes,a small steam loco,coaches and some other RR equipment all parked on 2-3 tracks there.I thought at least one of the wreck cranes was steam powered but could be wrong? The odd thing about everything there was it was all painted either silver or a drab olive green as he must have had quite alot of surplus paint in those 2 colors! I have never been back there since and wondered if this stuff was still there? or where it may have went if no longer there?

Hello:
In answer to your question a friend of mine who likes RR Wrecking cranes reported to me that he saw them about a year and half ago. I think he said there were two, but there was other rolling stock as well.
I remember being in Crestline, Ohio in the late 1970's and saw a very Metallic Green RSD-1 and other items headed onto its way to Orrville, Ohio. I know that I have at least one photo that I took that day.
Believe that this rolling stock was purchased by the owner of the Kopper's tie plant there, but can't swear to that.

Kevin

About 1989 I was a member of Bluegrass RR Museum in Versailles, KY. We purchased Porter #717 0-6-0T from Art Davis. (This loco was subsequently sold to an individual in California). We used one of the steam cranes to pick the loco, and the green RSD-1 to switch the Conrail flat car under it to load for transport. I have video of the operation. I'm wondering if we are the most recent crew to use a steam RR derrick to pick and load a steam locomotive?? The equipment is painted silver because Art got a good deal on excess paint from NS signal dept. He hires a local guy with a spray gun.

I haven't been to the Orrville site in over 20 years, so don't know the current status.

The small steam locomotive mentioned above is affectionatly known as "Jessie B". I don't remember why. I believe it is of B&O lineage, and is a 0-6-0 with tender...about 60 tons?

Checking Google, there still appear to be three cranes as well as a bunch of other goodies. You'll need to explore the yard to find them:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=orrv ... 6&t=h&z=18

Of course, it's hard to know when the image was taken, and unfortunately you can't get very close with Street View.

Steve Hunter

When i was there that green RSD-1 was there.I totally forgot about that.I know there was other RR stuff on 2-3 tracks with equipment but just can't remember now.I was kind of in awe just seing that many big wreck cranes in one place! Those and the small steam loco caught my attention along with everything being painted silver or green.I suppose even in those colors it was at least preserving the equipment and better than no paint at all.

I also mentioned John Taubeneck's perserved railway crane list in the other thread; here is what he lists for Art Davis in Orrville, OH:

Industrial Brownhoist C/N 11604? 250 tons Wrecker Steam
ARDX #401 (here 07-09)
American Wrecker Diesel
CSX #403 (not here 07-09)
Bucyrus-Erie C/N 33779 12-44 250t SW
Chicago, Cincinnati & St. Louis #X50006
Norfolk Western #550006 1954
stored at Brewster as of 11-72
Retired 01-79
Art Davis as ARDX #404 (here 07-09)
Industrial Brownhoist C/N 12064 250 tons Wrecker Diesel 08-52
Baltimore & Ohio #X-216 to #940500 05-28-82
CSXT #940500 01-09-89
Art Davis as ARDX #403 06-92 (here 07-09)

If you go to the bing search engine, under maps, look up south crown hill road in orrville and use the birds eye view you get some much better views of the equipment and site.
resolution down to the 25 foot scale.
looks like three wrecking cranes, several heavy weights... look like sleepers? One or two combines, a round end car, etc. and a small steam loco.....

Am I seeing things, or does it look like there's a New Haven washboard MU combine in that mix too? Anyone know anything about this car?

The MU combine (along with the other lightweight New Haven Cars) is owned by John Birmingham of Boulder Scientific Company in Mead Colorado. Cars have been stored in Ohio since 1991. The round end car is ex New Haven Bunker Hill. In 2005 some work was done on that car towards moving it to Colorado, but the project died on the vine.

I am somewhat amazed that any of the equipment is still there. Art Davis was well into his 90's when I last saw him (2005)

Jason Midyette

Mark -

I checked Cornrad's book and it shows at Orrville, in addition to the saddletanker sold to BGRM, a Baldwin built 0-6-0 tender engine of about 32 tons. Built for Strum & Dillard as their #105. No mention of a B&O heritage. When J. David published his book, he showed no built date and an uncertain serial number (maybe 53155). Could this be the engine you mention as being the "Jessie B"? I wonder if someone has since verified the s/n and built date?

Les

I was busy prepping the 717 and flatcar, and it was snowing, and I didn't pay a lot of attention to the other steamer. Yes, it could be as small as 30-35 tons, but I don't remember. I remember somebody talking about B&O, but can't elaborate.

Bottom line is I know there is a small 0-6-0 with tender that is called "Jessie B".

I can find out, but it will take me a little while to do it.

Just curious, is it possible to obtain a copy of John Taubeneck's list of perserved cranes?

PM me (that goes for anyone who is interested.) I'll find out if I have his permission to forward it to you, or if he wants me to send you his e-mail address so you can get it from him directly.

Don't know if this one qualifies, but here it is. We have this little jewel on the RMNE/Naugatuck.

Portland Terminal Co. (MEC-B&M) 198 is a 25-ton Diesel-Mechanical locomotive crane, built 1954 by American Hoist & Derrick, St. Paul, Minn., serial # 2067. Powered by Caterpillar Diesel engine. Purchased from Guilford Rail System (successor to MEC and B&M) in 1996. Cosmetic restoration completed in 1997 to circa-1979 PTM Co. appearance. The unit is fully operational (thanks to countless hours of restoration work by RMNE volunteers), and sees frequent use on the Naugatuck Railroad.