Today I got a good look at the bottom of a BNSF crane near Marysville, WA. They rolled it about three weeks ago. See:

http://www.northcountyoutlook.com/story ... /8734.html

Too bad they scrapped their 250 ton wrecker last summer.

Looks like an Ohio Crane . The largest Ohio is a Model 650 which weighs 302,000 lbs.
The article says 390,000 lbs. which is about 2 to 3 thousand lbs, less than what a 250 ton wrecker weighs . At least it's easier now to grease the boom tip sheaves.

As far as I know the biggest crane the BNSF has is Ohio #5157, a DE-600.

While on my way to Thanksgiving dinner I noticed that the BNSF crane is still in the ditch just south of Marysville, WA. I guess they don't need it very badly.

They probably don't have anything (anymore) that can pick it up. They're thinking - Can we scrap it in place?

The crane seminar at ATRRM at Union gave me pause. Since I am the crane operator at our organization, I learned two new ways to flip over a crane. Now I know. It was a DOH! moment. One that I am glad I learned on the ground instead of in the cab. And I wouldn't be surprised if the op on this crane did not make a mistake. Stabilization problem leaves a lot of leeway.

Dale

Many years ago I worked in a large scrapyard here in Seattle. One sunney Monday morning I went to work just knowing it was going to be a good day. The first thng I saw in the yard was one of our American cranes over on its side. The operator wasn't able to lift a load out of a gondola so he locked the load break and lifted with the boom hoist. When he swung the load to the side he couldn't let go. Over went the crane on the left side. Fortunatly it landed flat and the operator was able to limp away. It took a week and two rented cranes to get it back on the track.

The crane is an Ohio DE 600. Probably BNSF #975507. Paul O'Shell of American & Ohio sent three photos of the wreck but I can't figure out how to post them here.