Those huge cranes that lift and move locos inside a factory or service facility, has anyone ever failed adn dropped a loco?
Never heard of an overhead indoor crane failing … on WC we did once drop a locomotive off the jacks … that was nasty enough .
I am certain, in as much as they are machines made by man, there have been failures; however, I doubt that those failures would be widely publicized.
At my former (laid off right now) we had large indoor cranes like those we used them for lifting LARGE air conditioner chillers. One of our largest cranes had an 85 ton lift and one of the last days I was there it was faulting out and wouldn’t lift properly. It would fault out and not lift or drop for some reason, so I’m guessing there is some circuitry to prevent a major fail. And I do know that the cranes were inspected quite often to check for damages to the cables so I would guess that they also have an inspection plan to make sure nothing happens. I’d believe that companies that use these large cranes take serious steps to make sure nothing unfortunate happens.
I have never seen or heard of one failing… But I was present for the initial stress test on a brand new 16/2 ton bridge crane. When you hear the crane and the building you are in begin to creak, moan, and pop, as it flexes, It sure gets your heart going…
Those things seem to be pretty safe. I’ve never heard of one failing in the sense of collapsing and bending or breaking in the middle, or of the “hook” coming loose, or of the cables breaking, htough again I’m sure it’s happened. But that’s an inherently pretty stable set-up - indoors, from a bridge-like structure that’s well-supported at both ends on excellent foundations, shielded from the wind, unlike the “portable” crawler cranes or truck cranes or tower cranes and theior working conditions. Any Internet search will produce enough instances of those failing to make your skin crawl.
I have, however, read about at least 1 instance where a locomotive slipped off the L-shaped “legs” that were being used - 1 at each “corner” to lift it. Right now I cannot recall where or when - but had I been there, I’m sure I would - that would have been quite a crash !
I’ve seen a few magnets fail or quit during a lift of everything from ingots to scrap steel - the result varies from a ground-shaking thump to a cymbal and bell-like tinkle, plus sometimes some sparks and fireworks.
And always remember Crane Safety Rule No. 1: Don’t be under or near any load being lifted !
- Paul North.
AMEN!! I know when they moved them at work I personally would head for the next bay to stay out of the way.
Like all things mechanical they fail. When I went to school for a overhead crane inspection course I saw a video of a turbine being lowed into position in a power plant and the hoist brake failing. The tubine fell about 20’ into the lower case. Also alot of pictures of failures. There were pictures of 2 cranes that fell down in a steel mill, both in the same building, they were both carrying loads and got too close together and the run failed - beams that support the crane rails.
Also the crane might not fail but the rigging does thats lifting the loco.