As I was trolling the layout this weekend I decided that I needed to take a look at an old PRR wrecker crane from my fathers collection. We never really ran it that much if ever, so after running my new rs-3 down along the roundhouse, I then realized they would never couple up. The height on the crane was huge, and nothing I had on the layout was even close. So off to the shops upstairs in dad's living room so he could install some offset couplers. After some disassembly he asked me about the wheel size on these cranes. I told him I had no clue. They appear to be much larger than 36 inchers. I guess my question is if anyone would know what the prototype cranes used for wheel diameter? We may try some 36 inchers during the week to see what she looks like. Thanks in advance.
Rich
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
PRR used 33" for their 250 ton derrick. Found from this diagram: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=w250.gif&sel=der&sz=sm&fr
Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad
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The wheels only had to carry the weight of the unloaded crane. When placed for use, outriggers and jacks were set up to take the load while lifting. When the overturned locomotive (or whatever) was back on its own wheels with rails under it (or on a flat car with rails under it) the jacks were stowed and the outriggers run back in.
And now you know why boom cars had all those tool boxes. And why 250 ton cranes have funny looking end sills.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
PJM20 PRR used 33" for their 250 ton derrick. Found from this diagram: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=w250.gif&sel=der&sz=sm&fr
I belive that this is a drawing of the 490900-490905 series PRR 250 ton cranes from Brownhoist. Here is a photo from RailPictures.net of 490905 (now Conrail 45218) in 2003:
And again in 2013 in a photo from internationalsteam.co.uk:
I found a partial list of Brownhoist cranes. The 250 ton cranes start appearing on page 40. Perhaps looking up some of the cranes will give you a good feel for the wheel size.
http://bjmi.us/bay/1he/bus/ib/ib-crane-listing.pdf
After looking at the cranes, it appears that the wheel size is very close or the same as is used on freight cars.
S&S
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
From Great Northern equipment diagrams:
GN X-1740 through X-1743 had 33" wheels. They were 250 ton cranes.
Ed
Thanks for the replies fellas. I would have never guessed 33 inch wheels judging from the size of the current wheels on the crane. When I get back over to my parents house(where the layout is) I am going to measure them and getting a better idea what to do.