D&RGW, 250 ton crane 028, Grand Junction Wreck train

gjslsffan Apr 29, 2016

  1. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Been gathering parts for this project for a while. Finally got the single cable sheaves (27 of them) from Athearn a few days ago, so getting a good start on this. Grafted the Roco boom to the Athearn hoist house and reworked the draw works to fit 21 of the sheaves in all the blocks and 250 ton hook. Also rebuilt the cable winders on the old Athearn design. Fitted Phillips head screws into them so you dont have to use that older crank type tool in the winders anymore, also made up a sort of clutch so they work better.
    A few modifications to the crane house as well like all the ladders sanded off the back and rounded a bit. Put on sheet styrene, cut a door and install it on the back, plugged a window, still need to cut another window out on the back, added a bunch of piping and grabs on the house as well as the rest of the crane too. The cooling coil is a P2K part and the rest were bent and installed, lot of handrails around the doors on this. Still a lot of work to do on this, and yes the whistle shows installed that way from a image I have. There are a lot of images of the "firemans side" of the derrick but detailed shots of the "operators side" are very scarce. The little White thing on top the house towards the rear is an exhaust stack and rain cap.
    However, the most challenging thing is going to be building the boom tender for this thing, still gathering parts for that project.

    I am so very lucky this crane sits about 2 miles away from my house so I have gotten a few pictures of the
    " Big hook, Samson the Grande" over the past 25+ years.

    Here are a few progress images
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    Thanks for stopping buy!
     
  2. John Smith

    John Smith TrainBoard Member

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    Great work!!! Must be crane month, as I just picked up one also... more on that later. Here is a pic that might help you with the small details!!! :ROFLMAO:o_O JMS DSCF1178a.jpg
     
  3. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Wow, how sad is that huh! What a great photo John. Do you know where that is?
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yikes. Someone forgot about this one! :eek:
     
  5. John Smith

    John Smith TrainBoard Member

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    Yes. I took the picture in April 2015 in Vicksburg, MS. The Vicksburg & Southern RR interchanges with KCS in a small yard right by the Mississippi River(Which is 200yards behind the crane... near the water tower). I was headed south... and absolutely love to take the Natchez Parkway from I20 down to Natchez and cross over into LA there(Hate I10/I12!!!). Went on a little drive downtown, saw the yard... then saw the crane. I believe it says MSRR 1000 or MSRC 1000. Do not have any more info than that! Glad you liked it! JMS
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    What is the vine? Kudzu?
     
  7. John Smith

    John Smith TrainBoard Member

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    More than likely Kudzu. It is all over the south! Years ago while traveling in SC, there were signs that said "Cut the Kudzu!".
    It seems people were trying to poison the kudzu, and really only killing the trees instead. So, they embarked on a campaign to get people to cut it at the roots instead of using poison. No different from the English Ivy I have at my house that needs attention now and then! JMS
     
  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Was looking at some photos of the derrick, and noticed there were some more details I could add under the crane house, the model did not show how heavy this thing was built, man there is a lot of steel on this. There is a heavy ring of steel with holes in it around where the house attaches to the bottom of thing, there are also huge heavy rollers on the back and a kind of hook looking thing on the bottom front.
    Made the ring w .188 styrene channel with a bunch of holes drilled every scale foot, then wrapped .030X100 strap around the top of the channel to make a lip for the rollers. The rollers are Z scale wheels with the flanges ground off. I then used .060 styrene and carved the roller mounts and attached all to the house.

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    Last edited: May 8, 2016
  9. John Smith

    John Smith TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent work!!! JMS
     
  10. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Here are a couple progress photos The rigging of this thing has taken the last 2 days to do a lot of silk line on this little bugger. now some glazing for the windows and weathering. Whew! I need a drink after all this cable rigging.

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    Thank for stopping by:)
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Paul Liddiard

    Paul Liddiard Staff Member

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    Outstanding! Remind me to call you on the nest derailment!
     
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  12. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Certainly does look like the work and patience paid off!
     
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  13. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    Once again some amazing work and attention to detail. But I expect nothing less from you ☺

    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
     
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  14. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    amazing work and detail
     
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  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am jealous of the nice railing and grab iron work. Mine are never so straight and uniform. :(
     
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  16. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    I feel exactly the same. I would also have broken at least 3 drill bits making holes...


    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
     
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  17. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    Straight grab irons is the sign of a sick mind.........

    Absolutely top notch work Tom! Thanks for letting us see it!
     
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  18. Twist

    Twist TrainBoard Member

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    Wow,
    fantastic work and great details.

    Chris
     
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  19. rch

    rch TrainBoard Member

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    Spectacular, Tom! I can't wait to pull it up on the big screen when I get home.
     
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  20. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Making a bit of progress on the derrick tender lately, A lot of scratch building on this thing what a unique car, looks like it was all done at the car shop, over at Burnham, those folks did quality work over there.
    A pic of the prototype and my version of same a ways to go yet tho. A bunch of little details to be made and added.

    RG boom tender-1.jpg

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