Steam & Excursion > How many Steam Cranes?

How many opperational Railroad Steam Cranes are there in the US currently? I am involved with the return to opperation of a 1920 Browning #8 Steam Crane. It's ex CB&Q believed to have worked at the Havelock shops in Lincoln Ne. It later belonged to Hughes Brothers in Seward Ne. and was used to move Power poles until all the guys that could opperate it retired. Then it was donated to our group and opperated until 12 years ago when tubes started to fail. The boiler was new in 1949. A replacement built by Browning. we believe it was at this time that it was converted to burn oil for fuel. It now has all new tubes and 9 new stays and all fasteners and piping is new to meet current Nebraska boiler regs. The boiler has passed it's State inspection and we are close to being opperational for the final state inspection.
It also has all new fire brick in the fire box. That should be early next spring.
So how many others are there opperartional?
Steve

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Three more photos of new fire brick, New studs on swing engine steam chest and new flanges on main valve for throttle on main engine.
Steve

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This site may be of interest: http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/cranes/steamcranes02.htm

Quite a project.  Good shots.

qman

The last time it was operational I spent 30 minutes operating under the watchful eye of the primary caretaker.
This, by far, was the hottest cab I have ever been in.  Granted it was in the midst of a Nebraska July, but with the boiler at your back, standing between cylinders,  pulling heavy levers this is a true man job. 
Keep up the good work Steve. 

Rick z

The Western Steam Fiends at Antique Powerland in Brooks Oregon have a fully operational Southern Pacific steam crane.  It is operated at the annual Steam-Up.
It is a 160 ton Bucyrus-Erie Wrecking Crane.

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> This site may be of interest:
> http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/cranes/steamcr
> anes02.htm

Wow. All sorts of Museum quality potential in that list. Very comprehensive.

wingomann Wrote:
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> The Western Steam Fiends at Antique Powerland in
> Brooks Oregon have a fully operational Southern
> Pacific steam crane.  It is operated at the
> annual Steam-Up.
> It is a 160 ton Bucyrus-Erie Wrecking Crane.

Here's a couple of pictures of the crane at Brooks (just off I-5) north of Salem, OR.
Bill Pyper
Salem, Oregon
 

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thanks Evan....great site.    Arlen