Whereabouts of ITM Purdue University Orton Crane?

Trainzguy2472 · **Joined:** Wed Jan 25, 2023 12:13 pm **Posts:** 5

What ever happened to the Purdue University crane that the Indiana Transportation Museum owned? I've found lots of conflicting information about its whereabouts. One spreadsheet claimed it went to the Monon Connection Museum (I've been there and it wasn't there), another source said it went to Logansport (but where in Logansport?) and someone on this forum claimed it went to a place called "Schlatter Bros" but posted a dead link. If it survived the ITM's mass scrappings, where did it go and can it be viewed?

This is for a research project by the Purdue Railroad Club (model railroad, railfanning, and railroad history club at Purdue University) so any recent pictures would be very helpful!

FYI, the crane in question is not the same as Hoosier Valley's Purdue crane. I believe it is a 15-ton crane. Not sure what tonnage Hoosier Valley's is.

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:10 pm

NS 3322 wrote:

BigBoy 4023 wrote:

The two cranes, Nothing has much been said regarding either of them?

Rumor has it they are too expensive and difficult to move. Aka scrap is their future.

Reliable info is very scarce sadly.

The Purdue Crane was moved back in October to Schlatter Brothers property in Francesville. (Photo by Joey Schlatter).

Can we please stop speculating?

Trainzguy2472 · **Joined:** Wed Jan 25, 2023 12:13 pm **Posts:** 5

That's one of the posts I mentioned. But since there's no photo included (appears link must be broken), I can only include it as "anecdotal" evidence in our research. A photo, however, would be concrete proof of its whereabouts. We (as a club) also intend on making this research publicly accessible, so it would help if readers could see a picture of the crane.

jayrod · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2023 7:03 pm

You can contact Schlatter Boys and ask. I’m sure they’d help. Their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/schlatterboys/

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

The Purdue crane at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum and the one that went to ITM are both about the same size and are probably the same model. Purdue purchased the HVRM crane first, around 1945 as I recall. It was powered by a gasoline engine. They then purchased the second crane from Orton. It was powered by a Detroit Diesel. The coal crews at Purdue liked the diesel-powered crane much better and Purdue eventually installed a Detroit Diesel in the first crane. I don't have a photo of the crane that went to ITM, but I could furnish a photo of the crane at Hoosier Valley if so desired.

Les

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

I asked on the Indiana Railroads Bull Session Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/indrrbs and received this reply:

"The one you’re talking about is now with a private owner near Medaryville, the other is on display in North Judson at the railroad museum I volunteer at"

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2023 8:59 pm

Trainzguy2472 wrote:

That's one of the posts I mentioned. But since there's no photo included (appears link must be broken), I can only include it as "anecdotal" evidence in our research. A photo, however, would be concrete proof of its whereabouts. We (as a club) also intend on making this research publicly accessible, so it would help if readers could see a picture of the crane.

Thanks to Facebook, I had to literally teleport back to 2019 to refind the photos:

Attachment:

PurdueCrane10.jpg [ 104.44 KiB | Viewed 6034 times ]

Attachment:

PurdueCrane11.jpg [ 115.91 KiB | Viewed 6034 times ]

Photos by Joey Schlatter - 2019

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1270

What happened to the Ohio crane that was at Noblesville?

Trainzguy2472 · **Joined:** Wed Jan 25, 2023 12:13 pm **Posts:** 5

Thanks for the information, everyone! I followed the link to the Facebook post, and it turns out Joey Schlatter himself replied and says he still owns it. Mystery solved!

Also, does anyone happen to know when the crane was purchased by Purdue, or when it was retired?

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1270

This is all I have on it:

Orton 15 tons Diesel 1961
Purdue University Purdue, IN

Is there anything left of Orton? Maybe they have records.

jayrod · **Posted:** Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:20 pm

I think they’re out of business. Last I heard they were doing parts sales a repairs out of a smallish building.