I just saw in the new Walthers flyer they are releasing new operating cranes in Jan. It looks like they are DC but can have a DCC decoder installed? If so, does anybody know which decoder works for these?
I have one from the origional run. I installed a regular 2 function HO decoder (plus led for a rotary beacon) from digitrax. It was a little tight, but it fits. Next time I get to working on it, I plan on changing it out for a N scale decoder.
I have the non-powered version of that crane, and it’s a neat model. While I’m doing strictly DC operations, I’ve always though that cranes would be a natural fit for multi-function decoders. With some ingenuity, it should be possible to create a version that could rotate and with a boom that could be raised and lowered, and, possibly, with an operable hook, too. Since space would be at a premium, the decoder could be installed in or under the boom tender car, with the additional wheels used for power pick-up.
Wayne
As first I like the idea of a working crane, then I re read. So all it can do is go back and fourth? Seems like a waste of $70.00 to me. If I have to work the boom and turret by hand, might as well push it back and fourth as well.
Cuda Ken
So people complain about MTH and BLI putting City noises and Conductor chat in their locos, but have no problem with operating cranes? I would pay good money to see a grown man operate crane’s boom up and down at a show with a straight face. Just sayin’. [A]
Hmmm, I agree with Ken, if that’s all it does for as advertised as a “working crane”. The heck with it, seems like a waste to me as well. What exactly does the $70 get you?
There are $70 locomotives that do a lot more…
Just remove the present wires from the motor and connect the orange and grey wires to the motor contacts. There are small Z and N scale size decoders that handle one amp. Standard DCC wiring for pickups and lights.
As an example, I am running a couple locos with decoders that use open frame motors.
Rich
Roco used to make a fully functioning DCC crane.
It looked similar to a 250 ton crane, just with a European feel. Might have been possible to Americanize it.
Probably not a popular item since I never saw them in person or have seen much posted about them, other then in a Walthers catalog. The price and European look were likely the main reasons why they were not too popular. Or maybe they didn’t operate all that great, or used a DCC control system that isn’t popular in the US.
I picked up a similar-looking (but non-motorised) crane for $5.00 from the “Used” table at my LHS. I converted mine to steam with the addition of a stack and a few details. Good enough for a piece of machinery that spends most of its life sitting on a siding, I think. [swg]
Wayne
One of the posters above wondered what you got for $70. The crane above is shown on the Walthers website (http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/625-46800) at $229.99. I know someone who has one of these, and I believe that it came with a DCC decoder that allowed it to boom left or right and up and down. On the other had, if I remember correctly it did not have any power to move itself along the tracks.
So it looks like for $70 you can have it move along the tracks and manually operate the boom. Or for $229.99 you can manually move it along the tracks and electrically operate the boom.
I’ve seen those somewhat Americanized and in use (the Roco one) at shows, and it’s quite neat. They had it with an electromagnet instead of a hook - so the operator could pick up stuff and load it in a gon or on a flat car. Very effective and fun. It’s not at ALL like having the city and barn sounds in a loco decoder - don’t know too many diesel loco crews that carried chickens and cows on the engine, but the cranes really did workt he way the Roco one does.
It was also a use for the old Digitrax Challenger throttles - they had 4 knobs to control 4 different decoder addresses, there was a modification available to make it a handy control for the crane since it used multiple addresses and the throttle knob to rotate, raise and lower the boom, and other stuff.
–Randy
I didn’t know these cranes can move by themselves. The older steam ones certainly didn’t. Would love to see a well-detailed Bucyrus-Erie 250t ‘Big Hook’ with all the bells and whistles (literally) , flood lights under the boom and most importantly SOUND. And the rest of the wreck train with it. “Playing” the thing (the boom and of course the whistle) would be confined to when the nephews are over, generally it would just be sitting somewhere in the yard, on stand by, hissing softly.
I’ve pre-ordered one of these myself. I wrote an email to Walthers asking about what their recommendations were and here is the reply:
Gil, known as Bill somedays … [8D]
I have an original undecorated one I disassembled to send to the paint shop. I put a Z scale decoder into it without much difficulty, but the motor in it sounded like a weed-wacker. It was very noisy when I test rn it after putting the decoder in.
I picked up some of the originals in the powered version on a “close out” for $15 each, considering that fact that they are basically just “scenery” I feel I bought them for about what they are worth…
$70??? You have to be kidding me…
Mark
Yes the old steam cranes did move on their own power. I have an article from the April 25th 1908 issue of The Railway And Engineering Review on crane the the prototype railroad I model (the IC) had just bought. The photo in the article shows a crane very similar to the Tichy crane. This is part of the description from that article:
The crane is self-propelling by means of gears driving to one axle of each truck, but this gearing in no way interferes with the free movement of the trucks. A friction drive is provided in the gearing to each truck, so that any unequality in diameter of drivers is readily taken care of. Self-lubricating center and side bearings make the crane superior to most rolling stock for taking sharp curves. As the car is propelled from both trucks it will drive equally well with a load suspended at either end.
I didn’t realize they were self propelled either until I found that article.
Jeff
Disagree! It makes a great little work train. A van, an idler flat and a couple of gons…you can run a work train picking up old tie plates and spikes.
I agree…I like my crane and run it back and forth on my test track pulling a idler flat 2 gons…[:D]
Looks cool to me.
I for one Support the Crane!!!
I have one of (last years Run) in DC, at the time I just put it into inventory stock…
Now ya-all want to make me go get it out & play with it…
My only expectation of it was to go, back & forth on the rails, NOT do anything with the boom or the body (Rotate)…
However, in todays MicroServo Tech world, I am sure there is some one who has already DUN-iT, to make us drool, & flip out…
I am working on a MOW Car & using a Z Scale DCC decoder, my goal was only lighting on this one, but articles show that low voltage geared motors (mictro servos) can be DCC controlled.
So, Hey, It is an open book …
Go for it!!!
I’ve put a N scale decoder in mine so I can run it on DCC. I do wish I could turn the boom but you can’t have everything. It is a very nice detailed crane that is worth the 70 bucks I payed for mine.