Eastern Railroad Discussion > C&O 250 ton crane finally emerges from hibernation

After a nice breakfast this morning at Over Easy located in the former A&GW/Erie/EL depot in Kent, Ohio, I sent Double D (Durf's Drone) up for a look at this former C&O 250 ton wrecker. It has resided inside the building behind it for decades, only briefly seeing the light of day one other time since the 80s. It's C&O #940000, still steam powered, and it's (still) looking for a home. The long building it was in was a long time customer for the EL, they did tank car cleaning and lining inside.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

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Wow, that is really interesting.  Do you know if it has roller bearings?  That sure would help to get it to a new home for continued preservation.

Topfuel Wrote:
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> Wow, that is really interesting.  Do you know if
> it has roller bearings?  That sure would help to
> get it to a new home for continued preservation.

It does not, it still has it's friction bearings. I imagine that and it's weight would be an issue getting it somewhere. Still has a steam boiler that's in good shape.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

The back still displays it's Chessie System "C", shown while still inside several months ago.

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

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EL833 Wrote:
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> It does not, it still has it's friction bearings.
> I imagine that and it's weight would be an issue
> getting it somewhere. Still has a steam boiler
> that's in good shape.

Darn.  That will be a problem.  Most RR's are afraid of plain bearings.

I wonder if the Age of Steam Musuem has a crane?  

Topfuel Wrote:
> I wonder if the Age of Steam Musuem has a
> crane?  

That would be cool if they have their eye on it.  Only 60 miles the way the crow flies but much more by rail and still doable.  Nice find Roger.

What's the story here?  How did this thing get hidden away all this time?

pennsy3750 Wrote:
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> What's the story here?  How did this thing get hidden away all this time?

It was part of a (small) private collection a Kent businessman had. Family sold the property and much of the collection from my understanding. See : https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,5984574,5984574#msg-5984574

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

It's at times such as this that I wish I were a billionaire! Wouldn't it be nice to rescue this item???

Bob Phelps
Micanopy, FL

RNP47 Wrote:
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> It's at times such as this that I wish I were a billionaire! Wouldn't it be nice to rescue this item???

...I agree, same here !

Roger Durfee
Cuyahoga Falls, OH