Could you link to a Google Map/Sat or Bing view?Might just be a overhead transfer crane which were common-enough in mid-20th century team tracks, and not specific to intermodal (although most could have handled custom containers use in LCL freight).ETA - Did you mean this?
ETA (2): I checked Bing, to see if they had a better view - they show this straddle lifter in use, shifting around steel pipes and beams in that yard. The lifter is shown moving about the yard in various shots as you rotate the view.However, since Bing views may be older than Google views, it is quite possible that the "steel"-yard has closed and the lifter parked in a position out of the way at the end of Pine Street. (Pawtucket) - if that was the crane you were talking about.
soilworkThanks! I think thats the one. It looks like it has been abandoned for quite some time.
From the opening description:
Providence and Worcester's Pawtucket Yards was located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island alongside the Amtrak Northeast Corridor. Under New Haven, the freight shed was used by a subsidiary company, New England Transportation. Lately home to Boston Rail and Capco Steel for steel unloading and processing. Before vacating, Robert’s Chemical unloaded tanks cars of Peroxide in a fenced in enclosure. Sadly, 27 December 2011, the freight shed being demolished. Future of the yard in doubt.