Over the years, we have moved equipment to and from our Museum by truck and rail. Recently, things have changed.By rail: with the 40 year rule misunderstood by most railroads, congestion, and troubles in route, moving by rail has become harder to do - and donations also hard to find.By truck: with the economy kicking as it is, plus railroads turning down business that truckers get - most are too busy making bucks and don't have an interest in working a several day job with cranes, permits, etc. in moving our loads. We either can't find a company interested, or, they become interested when they can quote prices that are way too high.What has been your recent experiences? Has anyone acquired their own truck, trailer and insurance to avoid these? How about shipping on flatcars? Can a normal railrcar be placed upon a flatcar and shipped on it's own wheels?Anyone out there with experiences that can share with us?Jim

heber valley just transported two ballast cars from Ely to Heber with their recently modified highway rig. you may want to contact Mike Manwiller, CMO, for his opinion and thoughts. Melvin Sweatfield of the Heber Valley shop built a ramp for a section of panel track on the "low-boy" and the car was run up onto the panel track with an idler car, tied down and on the road This was much the same procedure used when Thomas comes to visit us.sc 'doc' lewis

Jim,The PRM has designed a portable loading ramp that will handle up to switch engine size diesels. Construction will wait on funds, etc., but we're definitely moving toward moving things on flat car and, as you know, we have some of our own flatcars for that purpose.Eugene

Hi Jim,The Railroad Museum of Long Island has not thought about purchasing a truck and associated equipment for moving rail equipment. With the traffic congestion and rules/regulations for moving things in the northeast - it's easier to leave it to the professionals.After having been involved with a few actual moves and a few proposed moves that didn't get past the RFP stage, Ill offer the following: Do hire trucking companies that move BIG stuff. The local tractor-trailer owner may be able to move small stuff, but railcars and locomotives need special equipment to handle the weight. The BIG guys are gonna have what you need and know the rules of the road for moving it.As for moving by rail. Visit the TTX website and look at the cars they have available. The size and weight of your object is critical, TTX has a car/s that can move anything. Personally, I'd remove the trucks from any railcar I was moving and place them on one TTX flat with the railcar body following on another.Finally, whatever you move or however you move it, I suggest the organization appoint ONE individual who has the authority to make on-the-spot decisions during the operation. That individual must be the person who coordinates and works with the crane companies at either end of the move and the transportation providers. IMHO, to successfully perform a complicated heavy move, there can be only one cook in the kitchen. Too many cooks will spoil the broth!Good luck.de Don, n2qhvRMLI

Greetings:Out here in San Francisco, since we do not have a rail connnection to the outside world, plus being a transit agency, we have different needs than a interchange railroad.All of our equipment is hauled by truck. We have had great luck with Silk Road transport from Arkport NY, and our local mover, Sheedy. The Silk Rd folks are very efficient and do their best to work with you on the moves, co ordinating with other moves in the area to help keep expenses to a minimum. Karl Johnson

About 30 years ago Orange Empire bought the ramp sections that MGM studios used to move its rail equipment around. Since then it was used many times to unload from flat cars and highway trailers. In more recent years we have had enough forklifts (either owned or rental) to pick up cars on each side at the bolsters. Also I think Silk Road (see Karl Johnson's post) has moved some items recently.The ramp from MGM was made out of 60# rail and was in two sections to bolt togeather with a joint bar set. The rails were held in gauge by pipe and rods between the rail webs. The top section had a bend between the top section that would set on the flat car and the ramp section. This top horizontal section had a notch on the bottom with the bottom flange following the notch. This notch would fit on the end of the flat car and the transported car would either be on wooden rails or lighter weight steel rails. The bottom section of the ramp had a taper on the bottom side of the rail to match the top of the railroad track. The bottom web was bend and formed the bottom of a triangle with the rail head. This whole bottom assembly was tappered to form a transition to the host railhead. To keep the ramp at the right location on the host track there are upside down U-straps on the bottom of the ramp.Once the ramp was bolted togeather and set in place a crib of ties and other timbers and wedges was constructed between the track and the ramp.Once or twice, we lengthened the ramp by adding in a 30' section of rail in between the ramp sections. This allowed for a less steep incline.

The East Troy Railroad moved several pieces of equipment over the road over the past 5 years. We utilized Big Red Machinery Movers of Milwaukee for some really big interurban cars, and Miner Rail Industries of Donnellson, Iowa to move streetcars and rapid transit vehicles.Both are very experienced and have their own equpment and personnel. Best to let the professionals do it because of the hazards involved and the hassle with permits and clearances.