250-TON CAP. "FISH BELLY" BRIDGE-CRANES

[Anonymous]

Hi. I would like to model in HO-scale a prototypical 250-ton capacity "fish belly", double-girder, overhead bridge-crane which would have been used in locomotive manufacturing/assembly shops during the late 1800's/early 1900's. These travelling cranes would typically have been of riveted--- as opposed to welded--- construction, and would have spanned distances of 60-to-80-feet or more, depending on the application. Can anybody out there provide me with good sources of info (e.g.--- books, videos, photos, internet sites, etc.) with which I could research this topic?

Thanx for the help! [bow]

JJJ

[dehusman]

I doubt there would be such an animal in the pre-1900's. First off why would you need a 250 ton crane when the engines didn't weigh that much. I know of 2 large photos of bridge cranes in engine shops, unfortunately they are both in RR offices which aren't open to the public. Check steel mill sources, they'd be the same cranes.

Dave H.

[ndbprr]

In all probablity cranes were purchased from crane companies from the very beginning. One of the biggest was Whiting crane which is now defunct. However you might want to contact someone like American Bridge and Iron which is owned by USX. They may be honored to have somenone want to build one of their cranes and could probably provide you with the drawings if they were so inclined. I once approached a company for a different purpose and when they found out I was a modeler wanted several custom models built for a pretty good price I might add.