The orange load is a beautiful contrast. A well composed set of photos.

Dr Wayne, that's a truly inspiring load -- but aren't those parts of a cantilever bridge? Or can you explain how the crane fits together?

jwb Wrote:....can you explain how the crane fits together?

Well, there would be more parts to a real crane of this type, but the two long sections represent what's called the "bridge". In my earlier photo of the Erie Nothshore's yard crane, these are the members which stretch between the rails of the crane's runway, spanning the yard below. The sections shown on the first and last flatcars are the bridge end-members - they're bolted (or rivetted or welded) to the ends of the bridge members, and are the portion containing the double-flanged wheels on which the bridge assembly runs. The load on the flatcar between the two bridge member loads represents part of the trolley, which rides atop rails (installed on site) on the main bridge members. These are the wheeled members, and they'd be tied together by other sections not modelled.
Also not modelled are the electrical cabinets for the bridge and trolley, drive motors, gear boxes, drive shafts and pillow blocks for the wheels, collector rails and shoes, walkways, railings, an operator's cab, hoist drum(s), etc., etc. Some of those things would be fabricated on site, while others could be shipped crated, either on open cars or in boxcars.

The crane parts load and the yard crane are both based on cranes at the steel plant where I worked, although not modelled after a specific prototype crane.
There were also cantilever-type cranes used to unload coal and ore from lakeboats, but they were of a much larger type - their span required truss-type construction and the runway rails were at (or near) ground level, the crane supported on built-up wheeled towers.

Wayne

CP Rail intermodal yard Phila, PA January 1992

Bruce

Some cranes, Alco industrial switcher, PC gon and a P&LE hopper...should leave some opportunity to get moving here...Youngstown Sheet and Tube. [attachment=17521]
Charlie

How are those industrial switchers operated? I assume remote but where is the engineer located (in winter with snow) with a fully closed cab? Looks like the cab is not used anymore.

faraway Wrote:How are those industrial switchers operated? I assume remote but where is the engineer located (in winter with snow) with a fully closed cab? Looks like the cab is not used anymore.

There is no engineer, the locomotive is operated by the conductor from the ground. Conductors are used to being outside in all weather in a steel mill so no cab is needed. A windowless unit would probably have some bearing on a union rule of some kind I guess. No matter now, this is all gone
Charlie

It's not an Alco, but it is an orange steel mill switcher:




Wayne

Here are a couple orange Plymouths.[attachment=17525]
Charlie

Another Plymouth

[attachment=17526]

jwb Wrote:Another Plymouth

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Are there models of this "critter"..??

I think there's an unpowered Funaro & Camerlengo that's close. However, I can't currently find it on their site. EDIT: Looks like you can track one down on eBay. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Funaro-Camerlengo-F-C-601-PLYMOUTH-Diesel-Switcher-Narrow-Gauge-HOn3-1-PIECE-/231199617646">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Funaro-Camerlen ... 1199617646</a><!-- m -->

jwb Wrote:I think there's an unpowered Funaro & Camerlengo that's close. However, I can't currently find it on their site. EDIT: Looks like you can track one down on eBay. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Funaro-Camerlengo-F-C-601-PLYMOUTH-Diesel-Switcher-Narrow-Gauge-HOn3-1-PIECE-/231199617646">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Funaro-Camerlen ... 1199617646</a><!-- m -->

Were all of these narrow gauge..?? That's what is listed on the Bay....

no -- I also think thr F&C was either HO or HOn3.

East Broad Top Plymouth

Bruce