Ballast cleaner? I am not familiar with that. What difference does it make if the ballast is clean or not? Looks like a specialized caboose, too.
From what I know, the cleaner ballast is, the better it drains. If it gets fouled with sand, coal dust, or other dirt, it holds water; it then becomes muddy, the track sinks, derailments, etc...
Fouled ballast means tie life is shortened. It makes track alignment and support less, and less efficient. Rails wear faster. Raising other maintenance costs. Eventually slowing train speeds, and increasing risk of derailment. Boxcab E50
Always learning something here. I sure didn't know about that. Hemi's photo makes it look pretty bad. It makes me want to go vacuum my layout, you know?
I never knew about this thread. From 03/18/1997 at Winslow, AZ, the Amarillo big hook. Shooting into the sun, but I couldn't reposition without serious trespass. That boom car sure looks like it was made from an old passenger car.
Two from the L&N at Knoxville, TN. A Cold Camp Car, 01/21/1978 and a Burro crane with magnet, 05/1979.
From 07/24/1982, Conrail's Allentown (PA) wreck crane at its namesake city. I'm not sure of its heritage, but my guess would be E-L or RDG.
Those 250 ton derricks were such brutes, now almost all gone. We still have the ex-DRGW 250 ton derrick here in Grand Junction. You cant believe how much steel and iron these things were made of until you stand beside one. Some years ago the YM used to have us move it around just to make sure everything worked. I dont know when the last time it was moved, nor even if anyone knows how to operate it anymore. Below in earlier times west of Tolland CO at work. And as it sits in GJ nowadays.
I couldn't find anything definite about its heritage, but doesn't that look like LV red peeking out around one front corner of the cab?
Hmmm. Could be, or primer. I've not been able to match an LV crane photo to this type, but a friend also wondered if it might be former LV given its location. I have some LV books that I'll page through.
A port-a-potty on wheels? Would be neat if it were motorized. I'm thinking a "Railrodder" sequel... ...need more coffee...
