Wreckers still in service

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1269

That is the part number for the counterweight casting. I have passed this on to my contacts over the pond to see what they know. This is the most likely match I could find:

1866 35 ton 08-42 G US War Dept. (USAC of E) Baton Rouge, LA

M Secco · **Joined:** Sun May 12, 2013 2:46 pm **Posts:** 245

Most likely mechanical ,not DE .

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1269

Checking through the AH&D records the best candidates for the Polish crane were built for the US War Dept. in 1943 and 44. The first diesel electric was built in 1945. Until the builder's number turns up I am at an impasse.

joe6167 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 11, 2021 4:22 pm

John T wrote:

Checking through the AH&D records the best candidates for the Polish crane were built for the US War Dept. in 1943 and 44. The first diesel electric was built in 1945. Until the builder's number turns up I am at an impasse.

Another recent post from the Museum (via Google Translate):

The collection of the Museum of the Engine House in Jarocin was enriched with the
"American" crane produced in 1942 by Hoist Derrick Co. St. Paul Minn in the USA (factory
number 53692), which was handed over to Towarzystwo Kolei Wielkopolskiej by
Przedsiębiorstwo Repair and Maintenance of Railway Infrastructure in Krakow.

The crane came to Poland by sea in 1945, probably with help from UNRRA. It worked in
the Department of Mechanized Road Works (abbreviated as DOM) Kraków-Płaszów, DOM
Sucha Beskidzka, Department of Mechanized Engineering Works and Subtrack (DOMI)
Sucha Beskidzka, Zakłady Mostowe (IM) and PNUiK Kraków.

In the last period of service in the Polish State Railways, i.e. until 2010, it was not used
as a crane for surface works, but as a pile driver for driving pillars and bridge piles.
Initially, the machine was equipped with a Caterpillar D17000 engine, replaced due to the
lack of spare parts with the Stalincem T-108, which allowed it to move at a speed of 6 km / h.

It has the ability to rotate 360 ° around its axis, load capacity 45t with a minimum
outreach of 3.7m and 7.5t with a maximum outreach of 15m. It is probably the only
crane of this type in Europe.

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1269

If the information given is correct then it is one of these cranes.
1845 35 ton 04-42 D Republic Steel Corp. Canton, OH
1848 35 ton 05-42 D Bethlehem Steel Corp. Lackawanna, NY
1851 35 ton 05-42 D Republic Steel Co. Canton, OH
1852 40 ton 01-42 D Basalt Rock Co.
Kaiser Steel Corp. Napa, CA
Circosta Iron & Metal Co. San Francisco, CA 1981
1857 35 ton 06-42 D Great lakes Steel Corp. Ecorse, MI
1858 40 ton 03-42 D Basalt Rock Co.
Kaiser Steel Corp. Napa, CA
Circosta Iron & Metal Co. San Francisco, CA 1981
1879 40 ton 08-42 D Daniel Construction Co.
Chatham Iron & Metal Co. Savannah, GA
1879 40 ton 08-42 D Daniel Construction Co.
Chatham Iron & Metal Co. Savannah, GA
1880 40 ton 08-42 D Daniel Construction Co.
Armco Steel Corp. Middletown, OH
1881 40 ton 08-42 D Daniel Construction Co.
Republic Steel Corp. Thomas, AL
1902 35 ton 09-42 D Charleston Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
Charleston Shipbuilding Co. Charleston, SC
1903 35 ton 10-42 D Maxon Construction Co.
B. J. Carney Pole Co. Spokane, WA

Pegasuspinto · **Joined:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 777

UP-X 251 (apparently actually registered as MPX251). is now preserved at the Arkansas Railroad Museum. It's an American Locomotive 250 ton crane with SN#W3970. Current power is a Caterpillar Diesel. The crane currently is mostly operable but we sure could use an operator's guide and any other literature.

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1269

Thanks for the update. Here is what I have on that crane:

American C/N W3970 250 tons 03-73 Wrecker Diesel
Texas & Pacific Ry # X-251 Fort Worth, TX
Missouri Pacific # X-251
Union Pacific # X-251 last assigned to North Little Rock, AR

If you can't get the documents from the UP try IPS Cranes in St. Paul. They own American & Ohio now.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2651

John T wrote:

Back in 2018 these wreckers were still in service. Have any of them been retired, donated or scrapped?

L3859 250t 12-69 D Union Pacific # 903046 (2nd) Avery, NE
At Salt Lake City, UT 06-01-17.

This one may be in danger, in Cheyenne WY, as UP seems to be disposing of equipment: https://www.facebook.com/michael.pannel ... Xc3BjievWl
Mr. Pannell managed to save nine cabooses from imminent scrapping in Cheyenne over the past few days, including several C&NW bay window, an MP, two or so Rio Grande, an SP, and one ex-RI by way of C&NW, still in Rock Island paint. Two photos, Mike Pannell. https://www.facebook.com/michael.pannel ... mjjmHPBPWl

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2025 10:00 am

I don't know if this was on anyone's list, but:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOTTORC ... 349434294/

Incomplete quote, with emphasis added:

Quote:

April 18, 2025, we received an e-mail that any equipment in the Bryant Yard in May 1, 2025, would be scrapped. US Sugar had been very generous with free storage there was a new customer needed the entire yard available on that date. US Sugar was very helpful with anything we needed and assisting with and facilitating the move to FEC.
As we were packing up on the 28th the shear arrived as we watched in awe the FEC tank car and the 150-ton steam wrecker 3377 were cut up. The next day caboose 806 and boxcar 3760 went to the FEC Fort Peirce Yard. Over the next 3 weeks we got everything we needed to get track in the ground in the park. About that time the cars show up on the Prot Orange team track and we were under the gun again to get them off the railroad and into the park ASAP.

Ozark Mountain Rail listing for the crane:

https://ozarkmountainrailcar.com/railEq ... temId=3625

Wreckers still in service

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