Burro cranes

weekendrailroader · **Joined:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:02 am **Posts:** 293

That crane in Monitor, WA has been there for a couple years now I think.

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

The next time anyone sees a Burro please climb into the cab and send the builder's number and road number.

Randy Gustafson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:02 am

Texas State Railroad at Rusk has one, and it was recently discovered to be in far better condition than originally thought - may actually get used again around the shop.

Aarne H. Frobom · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:42 pm

The Steam Railroading Institute has one, but I don't know the size or serial number offhand. It sees occasional use, but is less useful than fork lifts and non-rail-borne devices. Ours has been repaired by volunteers with Detroit Diesel experience. It was a gift of CN but required convincing the railroad that they still owned the crane, which was abandoned at the site of the Lansing freight station. The retrieval expedition consisted of taking a battery and a can of starting fluid and letting the Burro winch itself onto a lowboy trailer.

Aarne Frobom
Reo Town, Michigan

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

Owosso-Steam Railroading Institute
Burro Diesel
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Ry #15027
Grand Trunk Western #50427
https://www.flickr.com/photos/scotthovi ... 7187700263

Please fill in the blanks.

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:37 pm

I found one while visiting Byesville, Ohio last week. I am unsure if it is owned by the (defunct) Scenic Railroad or by Ohio Central. Any info will be appreciated!
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5209425

Oregon Pacific Railroad has a burro stored in Liberal, Oregon. However it is missing a lot of parts, and is slated to be scrapped. (I forgot to take a photo when I visited the site in 2018, but I managed to find a photo on the OPR website).
http://www.oregonpacificrr.com/images/OPRMolalla122.jpg

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

Byesville-Byesville Scenic Ry
Burro Model 40 12½ tons Diesel
Ohio Central RR
Norfolk Southern #RC69001B40
BSR 2011
https://www.flickr.com/photos/n8myc/7129121959/

JMann · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:42 pm

Niles Canyon has one. It's used all the time in MOW service.

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/mow/burro-crane/

Trainkid456 · **Joined:** Thu May 05, 2016 6:30 pm **Posts:** 240

I’m not a crane expert and have no idea if this is a Burro crane or not, but there is one sitting on an unused siding at Bladinsville, IL on the Keokuk Junction Railway.

Thomas

choodude · **Joined:** Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:58 am **Posts:** 327

JMann wrote:

Niles Canyon has one. It's used all the time in MOW service.

https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/mow/burro-crane/

Their web page describes the crane as diesel electric, but I believe they are all direct drive through a multi speed gearbox. The hoisting equipment is clutch operated as well.

Brian

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

John T wrote:

The next time anyone sees a Burro please climb into the cab and send the builder's number and road number.

We have one on the New Hope Valley Ry. I'll try to get the info next week.

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

The plate should be in the cab. It shows the Model and number (such as 40-123) and the date.

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

Fun things you can do with a Burro crane.

https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/17841

Steve DeGaetano · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:06 pm **Posts:** 174

I went into our Burro today. The only plate I could find was on what appeared to be a transmission cover in the rear. The stampings were so shallow and filled with grime that at first, I didn't think anything was on the plate. I scrubbed with a rag and PB Blast, and this is what I found:

"SACU-100" and "64650." The latter is, I think, the serial number.

There is no date that I could find.

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

Thanks for checking Steve. As you guessed that is the transmition plate the Burro builder's plate is gone.