Crane wagons

ge_rik

ge_rik

British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
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A new addition to the line over the winter - a Toytrain crane wagon.

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I had thought of making my own crane wagon but then this came up on eBay with a BIN price of £50 (inc box) so I snapped it up (having been outbid before on these).

A couple of questions - anyone know whether it's based on a prototype? It looks to me like some of those vertical boilered self powered steam cranes which were used on standard gauge railways. If you have any pix of similar looking prototypes you could point me to I wouldn't mind trying to do some detailing on it.

Second question - were travelling cranes ever used to load and unload bulky freight items? It seems sensible to me for a light railway to invest in a travelling crane for loading and unloading rather than having to buy yard cranes for each station yard. It's my intention to use the crane for goods handling as well as 'works' maintenance - but just wondered if there was a precedent for this.

Rik
 
Loco cranes were used in some yards and docks for loading/unloading?

Not sure about travelling cranes being used as you've mentioned, but no reason why it might not have happened....
 
I can't see it being a regular thing Rik, but I can definitely see the railway calling on a PW crane for an unusual load (perhaps agricultural equipment or something on your line?).
 
funandtrains said:
How much! I thnk I paid half that when they were in the shops new.
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Yes, I recall paying about £35 for mine new from Snetterton Park Models, who are not exactly known for their bargain prices... ;)

Jon.
 
i recently read about crane use on US railroads
as noted mostly for ROW work, but also

as i recall, in the 20's-40s especially, cranes were used on regular freights to unload or load items from stops that did not have adequate facilities-
 
Deutsche Reichsbahn said:
The Toytrain crane will be produced again this year (see http://gscalenews.com/neuheiten-2012-lgb ), and costs ?45 new. So 50 pounds is indeed a lot...
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B@##*r!!!!! (And I don't mean Bother!)

Thanks for the info on suggested uses of crane wagons BTW
R

PS - Just found one listed on the Gaugemaster website for £39.00 new. I normally do my homework before making a rash purchase on eBay - serves me right!
 
Rule 8!
On your railway I'll bet they put a crane on the pick up frieght (and probably the 'mixed') just to handle the odd awkward item!
 
ge_rik said:
Deutsche Reichsbahn said:
The Toytrain crane will be produced again this year (see http://gscalenews.com/neuheiten-2012-lgb ), and costs ?45 new. So 50 pounds is indeed a lot...
Click to expand...
B@##*r!!!!! (And I don't mean Bother!)

Thanks for the info on suggested uses of crane wagons BTW
R

PS - Just found one listed on the Gaugemaster website for £39.00 new. I normally do my homework before making a rash purchase on eBay - serves me right!
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Just £33.96 at Back2bay6 have been thinking of getting one for my log train :thumbup:
 
ge_rik said:
Richie said:
Just £33.96 at Back2bay6
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Don't rub it in! :( :( :( :'(

R
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On the plus side your yellow one does look better than the new orange one :thumbup:
 
Richie said:
On the plus side your yellow one does look better than the new orange one :thumbup:
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playmofire said:
Hmm, I've been after one of those for some time. Sad to see, though, that the re-release won't be in yellow.
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Hmmm.... maybe I can get a bidding war going here for a very rare yellow ToyTrain crane wagon, in box.... Shall we start the bidding at, say, £50???? :thinking::thinking::laugh:

Rik
 
I did see an interesting conversion whereby the Toytrain crane cab was attached to a longer flatcar, offset to one end, with assorted paraphenalia at the other end. Looked interesting.

This is my unfinished derrick crane (American theme) project, mostly kitbashed and scratchbuilt.

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Tim Brien said:
I did see an interesting conversion whereby the Toytrain crane cab was attached to a longer flatcar, offset to one end, with assorted paraphenalia at the other end. Looked interesting.
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Was it this one Tim?

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The flatwagon is a Bachmann one I brought cheap at G-Rail a couple of years ago, and the Toytrain Crane is fixed to it....
 
Hi there,

travelling cranes werent often used to load or unload trains, exept in logging, where it was very common.
The reasons are often quite simple:
1.) traveling cranes needs LOTS of work ot install if they shall be strong. The easy travelers are just for easy load and tent to fall very quickly.
2.) to load or unload a train, u need to have the SPACE for like in a freightyard, where there normally was a stronger fixed crane installed.
its much to dangerous to do loading work on the line. not just because on mainlines there is other traffic arround. often u havent just the space to walk on the side of the train.

So traveling cranes are mostly used to do track-work like picking up sleepers or rails and help the workers with the "easy" work (i had the experience to carry arround things of 60 or 80 punds in the ballast....).
With the heavy ones most work is on lifting in/out bridges or rescuing derailed cars or locos.

The one u have is clearly a very small one. Its used for loading (small)log or for coaling locos (for what ist not high enough). This crane will take not very much more than 2 tons in reallity (near the crane) or maybe 500-700kg on "wide range".
Its a typical "helper" on MOW-places or as an easy picker in a depot (to lift metal parts like rods or wheels).


Greetings

Frank
 
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