We scrapped a 60' 1900 vintage Pullman car frame and were told by the crane operator that the weight was around 20,000 lbs+. Does anyone have any experience with these weights, as the scrap dealer is telling us it's a whole lot less?

Crane scales can vary greatly. We recently handled an Alco 12V244 with generator set. The crane operator told the trucker it weighed 56,000 puls pounds.

I have hauled these before and they weigh a little over 43,500 pounds.

I tried to tell the crane operator that his scale was wrong, would not believe me. So over size permits were purchased, later it was weighed and I was right, no permits were needed. Owner was not happy.

If you do not believe the scrapper's scale weight, weigh it on someone else's scale first.

Are talking about a wooden car that had a steel underframe applied or a car built later as a steel car?

Steel cars did not come into existence until closer to 1910 than 1900.

Wooden frame, truss rods for support.

Some crane operators do not take into account the rigging. Depending upon cables, slings, spreader bars (strongbacks), the rigging on the hook can weigh anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. Sometimes it can be enough to screw up your actual load weights, the truck drivers don't like that.

Johnathon