Western Railroad Discussion > Another Great Northern Survivor...still in use...

I saw this crane come into Wenatchee this week, for a project going on to replace some rail in the Apple yard. Since I know the railroad isn't buying any "new" cranes....I thought i'd go check her out and see if she was "pre-merger". Turns out that she is....

BNSF 975415, originally the GN X-9102. Built in 1956 by American Hoist & Derrick. Model # 840-DE, Serial # J3317. She's a 40 ton Diesel Electric MOW crane that's been going almost 70 years...pretty amazing. NOT a lot of "pre-1970-merger" gear out there...so this is very special if you ask me.

Check out the original trucks with the hot box where the friction bearings used to be.

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Current state...

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Build plate and controls...

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Self propelled....with what looks to be some sort of motor powered axles...instead of drive shafts...

Anybody know what the gear type cog with the 90 degree lever on top of the truck is for? Engaging the drive axles somehow?

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I remember seeing rail dated "1905" in the apple yard.

NWRail Wrote:
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> I remember seeing rail dated "1905" in the apple
> yard.

Oh ya...it’s still there. Tracks 3 and 4 are early 1900’s. I believe it’s track 1 they are working on.

I’ve even found late 1800’s rail in Wenatchee that is still being used.

Posted from iPhone

Cool stuff. It would be interesting seeing that unit placing the prefab turnout in place.

What a great find! I appreciate you documenting all of these historic pieces of BN and pre-BN MOW equipment! Thanks for sharing them!

Tim Dickinson
La Verne, CA

Texican65 Wrote:
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> Anybody know what the gear type cog with the 90
> degree lever on top of the truck is for? Engaging
> the drive axles somehow?

Just a guess, possibly works like a cam to jam against the frame preventing the whole crane from tilting when the boom is off center...or just the opposite, used to tilt the crane slightly to allow the pile driver to better match an angled pile. Maybe?

I truly doubt my second idea, I don't think here is enough leverage with that handle to lift the bulk of the crane!

Rick Bacon
Windsor, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/21 15:04 by rnb3.

rnb3 Wrote:
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> Texican65 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Anybody know what the gear type cog with the 90
> > degree lever on top of the truck is for?
> Engaging
> > the drive axles somehow?
>
> Just a guess, possibly works like a cam to jam
> against the frame preventing the whole crane from
> tilting when the boom is off center...or just the
> opposite, used to tilt the crane slightly to allow
> the pile driver to better match an angled pile.
> Maybe?
>
> I truly doubt my second idea, I don't think here
> is enough leverage with that handle to lift the
> bulk of the crane!

These "cams" are to prevent the carbody/crane house from rocking when traversing
left or right over the sides!

We have these on an old 1941 American Crane & Hoist 40 ton self propelled crane
at the Pacific Southwest Railroad Museum in Campo, CA!

Spent many hours operating that crane, making lots of interesting lifts!

Mike

 

Dang! I was in Wenatchee this morning and would have stopped by for a peek had I known it was there.
 

Thanks for the info guys!

Anytime I see any old school MOW gear...I’ll try to capture it and post about it here. Glad some of you appreciate it.

Posted from iPhone

Thnks for the great inside and up close pictures Dow.