MOW equipment era

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m interested in Bachmanns’ 250 ton crane and boom car…

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=619

and I’d like to know about what era this unit would fit. Would it be suitable for the 1940’s/50’s on the Southern Railway System (USA)?

Thanks,

Jarrell

2

Jarrell,

That would definitely have been used in the 40/50’s era. Too bad you missed out on these units:

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH7527

Maybe you’ll get lucky and they will produce another run for you.

Don Z.

3

groan I’m sorry I missed out on that also!

Thanks for the info on the era, Don.

Jarrell

4

By the way, a 250 ton crane is technically NOT a peice of MofW equipment.

It would belong to the Mechanical department, specifically to the car department, those people who work on railcars. MofW equipment belongs to the Engineering department, those people who work on the tracks. The Life Like small crane with the straight boom could be a MofW bridge crane, but the 250 ton crane and the Tichy crane would be wrecker cranes from the Mechanincal department.

Dave H.

5

Thanks for the correction, Dave. I learn something every day around here.

Jarrell

6

Jarrell, I have several 200t cranes (I’m a MOW junky - yes I know engineering dept etc, it’s just easier to write MOW on the boxes!). The Bachmann is perhaps the worst og the cranes. Aside from being UP and painted Armor Yellow, the detail is not that good. I have three different Athearn’s in different UP paint schemes, black, red, and green - all actual colors - UP never had a yellow crane!! The Athearns have good detail and should be available at train shows or Escam.

Not being a Southern Railways fan, I would take an educated guess that they, as well as most other RR’s, used basic black during your time period. If you can get one “undec”, a set of decals should be all you need to add, + whatever weathering you want - remembering that most RR’s stored their cranes outdoors when not in use.

Also remember that these cranes had 6 wheel trucks and you need to check all the wheels for proper gauge and freedom of swing. Also check clearances on your layout. Atlas standard switch machines, tunnel portals, and clearances on curves need to be checked - don’t ask how I know this!!

Good luck finding one!![:)]

7

These cranes are still in service even though most has been converted to diesel.These cranes are used in MOW work where heavy lifting was involved such as bridge work and derailments…

So MOW isn’t that far off seeing cranes are sublettered MOW

http://www.trainweb.org/chessiephotos/photos/mow/crane01.jpg

A CR steam crane.

http://crcyc.railfan.net/mow/wreck/cr50089.jpg

The water car

http://crcyc.railfan.net/mow/wreck/cr45305.jpg

NS Crane

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=167488&nseq=0

So we can see cranes lasted into modern times.

Sadly…

Those icons of railroading is being replace with these cranes.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85013&nseq=13