I stumbled across this ancient Burro crane rusting away in the wilds of Kansas today..

The neat sign on the boom ID's it as a Burro Crane, as does the builders plate. The Builders # is 85-A11, which is stamped on the plate as well as on the frame near the plate.

Does anyone out there have any idea what vintage this specimen is, or even exactly what it is?

Thanks

Jason Midyette

What you have found looks to be a 2 1/2 ton Type 10 Burro crane. These were in production from 1922 to about 1927. One of these is preserved at Mid-continent Ry Museum in North Freedom, WI. This vidio gives the history of the breed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftDUUkI_q48

Thanks for the information. Any idea how many of these early Burro Cranes survive?

Jason Midyette

Can't help much on production info, but it is all sorts of cool. I ran the one at North Freedom a couple of times. Never very much and wanted to learn more but then things changed and we never used it anymore. That one you have found has a few items on it that ours does not. That would be a fun and easy restoration compared to a steam locomotive or crane. MC crane has a Buda motor on it. Kind of a "Fred Flintstone" affair and crude, but I find them very interesting regardless. Try contacting the mfg they had all sorts of records preserved at one time. Not sure name of company who bought that Burro Crane line or if they are even in business. Worth following up on. Wish that thing was closer to me. Regards, John.

http://www.midcontinent.org/collectn/service/crane.html

As far as I know the North Freedom Burro is the only Type 10 preserved. Here is what I have on production:

1 1922 Cullen-Friestedt Co. (used on bridge job for N&W)
2 06-24 Norfolk & Western RR
3 06-24 Norfolk & Western RR #10062
4 Norfolk & Western RR #
5 Norfolk & Western RR #11057
6 Norfolk & Western RR #11056
7 Norfolk & Western RR #11363
18 1928 Northern Pacific #95
20 Norfolk & Western RR #10754
21 Norfolk & Western RR #11058
22 Norfolk & Western RR #11364
23 Norfolk & Western RR #11365
35 1931 Northern Pacific #96
85 unknown-abandoned in Kansas
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37298
96 1927 Great Northern RR #8
111 1927 Western Pacific RR #B-61
112 1927 Western Pacific RR #B-62
113 1927 Western Pacific RR #B-63
Mid-continent Ry Museum North Freedom, WI 1973

Very cool find.

John T, thanks for posting the link to the Burro history video. I greatly enjoyed it.

Yes thank you for the link it was interesting. Did a lot of crane work years ago both hooking and operating. I watched in amazement how a guy would set the chains on a wheel set, nod to get it going up and turn his back on the load before it was out of knocking you silly range. I know it is about trust with your operator and man on the ground, but I saw a guy get a crane block/hook in the face as he didn't see it coming. Anyway very interesting link with lot's of Chicago area footage in NW and surrounding burbs. Never knew they built diggers too! Regards, John.

I'm curious if you might try to obtain this crane and restore it. Looks like it would be a fun project and a nice item for a railroad museum.