D&RGW "Big Hook", was it retired?

[Topo]

Anyone knows the fate of D&RGW Bucyrus "Big Hook" #028? :confused:

I only have found some pics of it in GJ and Byers Canyon, around 1975, but none after that.

Was it retired/scrapped? When?

[slimjim]

It is still around.

[ 10. June 2004, 20:48: Message edited by: slimjim ]

[Topo]

Hi, Jim.

Now, that's are good news. Do you know if there are pictures of it?

I'm going nuts trying to locate decent colour images of this thing, and the sole until now are the two aforementioned ones.

Thanks for your help

[William Cowie]

These two cranes are hanging out at the UP Burnham shops on an MOW train. Since I have no idea what 028 looked like, I figured it couldn't hurt to ask if either of these could be it. If it's a possibility, I could go down and take more pictures...

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album11/acc.jpg

[Flash Blackman]

William:

I think it is unusual to see MOW cars painted with white roofs. I don't think I have seen anything like that before.

Nice old GP30 out there!

[William Cowie]

Are you serious, Flash? smile.gif That's old-fashioned snow! The pics were taken during the tour of UP's Burnham Shops, part of the Rocky Mountain N Scale show.

By the way, apologies for the wide picture, but it gets too small if you shrink it any further.

Here's another shot of that GP30:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/album09/abq.jpg

[Flash Blackman]

William:

I was just trying to emphasize to you that I am infrequently around snow, if ever. smile.gif Hope I can make the Denver Gentleman's Club!

[William Cowie]

If anybody can, it's you! :D But you'd have to bring along that SP SD-24!

[HemiAdda2d]

Great shot! Great Scott! Wow, that is a neat crane, with the aging GP30 in the background.....

[Keith]

Just posted the question of the 028 to the DRGW list. Hopefully, I can get more information and maybe some leads on color photos.
Will pass along more as I find out.
Besides, the question has my curiousity as well.

[JASON]

Hey fellas,geez I wish I could be there! :(

[Topo]

Thanks, William, Keith & others. ;)

I've been browsing thru my D&RGW books, trying to clasify the derricks in the William photo.

The orange one, in the right side of the pic, seems to me to be the Industrial Brownhoist D&RGW #030, judging by the boom shape and size, but is only a guess.

The big, white one, seems similar in size to the 250-ton #028, but the boom is definitely different (also are the odd cut in the rear roof and the windows ubication), so it don't seems to me to be "our" Big Hook (maybe an UP one?). :(

P.S.
William, here you can see the #028 in one of the images that I have located:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/drgw/drgw-m028abp.jpg

[Keith]

The other crane in Williams photo is the 027.
I've got a semi close up of said crane, also shot during the Burnham Yard tour. have to silver crane as well, but don't see a number on it.
Jim Eagers Rio Grande Color Guide is handy, in that it has ALL, or almost all DRGW equipment. I'd strongly recommend it if you don't have it yet.

[Topo]

Originally posted by Keith:
...
Jim Eagers Rio Grande Color Guide is handy, in that it has ALL, or almost all DRGW equipment. I'd strongly recommend it if you don't have it yet. Yep, it's one of my bedside books. :D

You're right, this Eagers book is a must for the Grande fans. The "Trackside" by Ozment/Sandrin is a good one too.

[Keith]

The Ozment book is another good one!!

Current information on the 028:

Currently in Grand Junction. Same paint scheme as the 027 as seen in Williams photo.
Still used as required.

Click here to see a 1998 Jim Griffin photo of the 028 (http://www.geocities.com/drgwlpd/drgw.html)

From here, scroll down to Rolling stock, cabooses and MOW Equipment, on Left side of page.

Then scroll down to cabooses/MOW equipment. The 028 photo is the first one.

[Topo]

Thanks Keith!

It's nice to know that this ol' Big Hook has survived! :D

BTW, good pics in the Griffin site.

[Keith]

Nice fellow to talk to also!
I met him at GATS in Denver last year.
Was selling copies of his DRGW book. Brought my copy in and had him sign it too!!

Might be able to get other photos of
the 028 - AKA - Sampson de Grande.

From another DRGWt. list member, but with the 028 in Silver paint. Update if/when I know more.

[Topo]

Hi,

I'm interested in DRGW books, but I don't know about the Jim Griffin book. Could you give me more details about it (title, editorial...)?
I usually order US-RR books in Raritan Bay Hobbies (http://raritanbayhobbies.com/index.html) (large selection and good prices). Maybe they have also the Griffin one. tongue.gif

Actually I'm planning to model the 028 in H0, re-working a Roco crane, so any colour pic of the DRGW Big Hook will be welcome! graemlins/wink.gif

[Keith]

Information on the Griffin book, as taken directly from the Colorado RailRoad Museum website:

RIO GRANDE RAILROAD
By James Griffin. Travel west through the Rocky Mountains on the legendary "Rio Grande" railroad. Also known as the D&RGW, it is a favorite among railfans and modelers for its breathtaking scenery and its fascinating narrow gauge legacy. On its journey from Denver to Salt Lake City, the Rio Grande ran through the six-mile-long Moffat Tunnl, one of America's miracles of railroad engineering. This book treats the reader to a wealth of information, including overviews of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as famous passenger trains such as the vista-domed California Zephyr (Chicago to Oakland) and the Royal Gorge (Denver to Salt Lake City).
160 pages, 100 color and 60 black and white photos, hardbound. $29.95

[Topo]

Thanks Keith! (thanks also for your mail) smile.gif