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Indiana Transportation Museum Purdue University Crane?

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Indiana Transportation Museum Purdue University Crane?
Posted by Trainzguy2472 on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 11:14 PM

I'm part of the Purdue Railroad Club, a model railroad, railfanning, and railroad historical club at Purdue University.  Currently, we're trying to compile a list of all the railroad equipment that the university has owned (for the uninformed, Purdue maintained a steam locomotive testing program until 1938 and had a rail-served coal power plant on campus until the late 1960s). 

I'm looking for any information about the Purdue University-lettered 15-ton Orton crane once owned by the infamous Indiana Transportation Museum.  Does anyone know what happened to this crane after the demise of the museum?  I can't seem to find any definitive information as to whether it was scrapped, sold, or remained on site.  If it survives, I'd like to know where it is or see pictures of it in the present day.

Thanks!

Matthew Cheng Smile, Wink & Grin

Come check out my Youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSlaF4fvDX1brq6YOeODLPw

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 8:06 AM

If this wasn't discussed in the relevant threads on this topic over at RyPN, a request there would probably get you an answer within hours,

Has your 'other' research determined precisely when the Toleman locomotive left campus, and what became of it?

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 11:09 AM

Infamous .... Hope you are including the current owner of the corridor as well. BOTH sides of that messy issue have some major problems.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by rrnut282 on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 11:46 AM

Check Hoosier Valley Railroad in North Judson.  I remember seeing it somewhere, and that is the first place that came to mind.  

Mike (2-8-2)
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Posted by Trainzguy2472 on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 9:42 PM

You must be thinking of the Purdue crane they have.  That's a different one.  It is smaller in size than the one at ITM but I believe actually has a higher weight capacity (20-ton, I think).

Matthew Cheng Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 10:10 PM

Currently, we're trying to compile a list of all the railroad equipment that the university has owned (for the uninformed, Purdue maintained a steam locomotive testing program until 1938 and had a rail-served coal power plant on campus until the late 1960s). 

My son was pointing out the remaining few of track from that line when my wife and I were visiting him last May. My favorite Purdue related rail picture is the one taken in 1928 of two Birney's passing each other about a block uphill of Triple X.

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