Illinois Railway Museum Blog

All of us know that Mark Secco, a long time IRM member and now retired, has devoted his life to cranes and heavy lifting.  Both professionally and at IRM.  His efforts were key to the recent use of our operational BIG HOOK in making a wheels swap on one of our cabooses.  This is posted under a new category, HEAVY LIFT DEPARTMENT, although there is no such official department at IRM.  It was Mark's suggestion for this heading.  He has submitted the following report:

We have received a new crane made by OHIO and it was donated by the Union Pacific following use at Sterling Illinois.  Reporting marks are CNW 262051.  Although retired, Mark was designated by the UP as overseer and coordinator for the necessary moves to bring the crane to IRM.  Mark first did an inspection of the unit, checking bearings and tie downs, monitoring mechanical items during the trip, and coordinated the moves of the crews, dispatcher, and corridor manager.

Once the crane is up and operational at IRM Mark hopes to reduce crane rental costs at IRM when such equipment is needed on site.  Both the new OHIO crane and our Bucyrus Erie CNW 6363 wrecker may be used singly or together as needed by the projects.

Here are some pics supplied by Mark of the crane being moved to IRM.

The Train

Crew Brief

Mike Alterio and Terry Elliott installed a new steel door and strengthened the doorway with new angle iron on our CNW 6363 crane.