A friend just sent me three photos of a Chicago & Northwestern locomotive crane at the Boone & Scenic Valley RR. There is no mention of it on their website. Anybody know its C&NW number or builder's number?

Can we see the pictures? I might be able to identify it.

I have no idea how to get the photos from an email attachment to a post here. Send me your email address via a pm and I will send them to you. The crane is lettered C&NW but has no visable number.

Likely candidates
2120 40 ton 02-47 DE Chicago & North Western Ry #X262029
2184 40 ton 06-47 DE Chicago & North Western Ry #X262033
J3365 40 ton 01-57 DE Chicago Great Western Ry #Y48 (with PD)
Chicago & North Western Ry

The CNW 262033 was my first crane back in November 1975 in the Chicago Terminal Division. She was headquartered with me at Elk Grove Village Illinois ( Centex industrial park ). Sold for use in a scrap yard in 1980 after I was given a brand new American model 5030 40 ton locomotive crane CNW 262067.
I was just talking to a friend of mine (current UP pile driver operator but not a rail fan) he thought CNW 262029 is/was a pile driver and it may still be on UP property or just recently disposed of. The crane was almost 45 years old when I worked with it in Proviso in the early 90s. It doesn't make sense it would still be around at 69 years old.
He thinks the Y48 was scrapped or sold to Iowa Interstate.
As far as I know all original CNW cranes were aways odd numbered. There was never a 262066 or 262068 etc. The CNW never seemed to renumber cranes acquired through mergers hence the Y48.

Your new American crane was probibly one of these:

L4141 40 ton 05-77 DH Chicago & North Western Ry
L4142 40 ton 05-77 DH Chicago & North Western Ry

The C&NW seemd to like American cranes.

Have you two ever thought about writing a book or two about cranes? I'd be first in line to buy a copy.

Hey Charlie

I have a lot of respect for anyone that writes a book or historical thesis ,cause of all the research they have to do to make it accurate and none presumptuous .
I am challenged and overwhelmed when researching the difference between brands of toilet paper.
But I try and be accurate with first hand knowledge ,of cranes that is, even then I'll call someone I have worked with to see if I'm on track. Maybe someday .
Thanks.
Mark

Hi JohnT,

The crane I got in 1980 to replace CNW 262033 is CNW 262067 built in 1980 as a diesel electric . I believe it's serial no. is 4308. The two cranes you mentioned, serial nos. L4141 and L4142 were both DHs (diesel hydraulics ) . I don't remember their CNW numbers . They were 2 speed with optional low gearing ,2 axle drive. The one that was assigned to our Tama Iowa welded rail plant came to Proviso after Tama closed. Because it travels almost half the speed (4 mph in low ,9 mph in high )of our other cranes which made it too slow for the main line ,it was sent to Proviso yard. It had way too much power with too little weight to the drive wheels making it a very slippery crane. She died an early death and was cut up at Proviso in the early 2000s. The UP didn't want to spend the money to regear it so the sister to my crane CNW 262069 was sent in to cover the Proviso to Butler Wis. territory .
I know someone who knows someone involved with the B&SVRR but I don't know when they will get back to me.

Mark,

The C&NW bought two new cranes in 1982.

L4308 30 ton 08-82 DE Chicago & North Western RR
L4309 30 ton 08-82 DE Chicago & North Western RR Tama, IA

From your discription you had the 4309. Hopefully your contact at the B&SV will come through.

Here's a shot of four locomotive cranes at CNW's Proviso Yard removing #19 and #20 mains after being cut up into 220' long track panels in the summer of '87 and loading onto flatcars. A new addition to the south side of the diesel ramp forced the mains to be realigned.
The cranes and operators are L to R CNW 262029 40 ton DE American,The Greek (freight side) ; CNW 262057 60 ton DH American, Fitz (freight side) ; CNW 262067 40 ton DE American, me (freight side); CNW 262045 40 ton DE Ohio, Al (suburban).
The 029 and 033 were sisters.
No info yet about B&SV crane.

Question: Which did you like better ? The American or Ohio ?

Kevin K.

American over Ohio Kevin. Faster wire rope drum speed. Faster boom raising and lowering speeds. Faster swinging. Faster track travel for two traction motor models. Easier cab access. Most important to me is the American's roomier cab interiors ( if you drop something on the floor while sitting in an Ohio, you have to leave the cab and climb part way down the ladder and reach in to retrieve the item). Better boom wire rope drum to bail angle over the Ohio's. etc.
Last but not least , I think American Crane cranes are better lookers over all.

Well; I was doing my best to hang in there until you said the American was much better looking than the OHIO !!!!!! LOL Being a Bucyrus boy I just can't agree with you on that one !
John T and I are both lovers of anything locomotive crane; have you ever operated anything mechanical like a Browning, Orton, Ohio, Brown Hoist, American (darn them), etc.
For me the Holy Grail would be finding a McMyler Interstate. Almost 40 years of looking and still no luck.

Cheers !
Kevin K.

I must admit I am and Ohio fan. I ran a steam Ohio at Snoqualmie, WA years ago. When I worked at a large scrap yard in Seattle between 1977 and 1984 we had two diesel mechanical Americans, a DE American, and a diesel mechanical Ohio. The DM Americans were junk but we made them work. Every operator has his preferences and that is the end of it.