Congratulations on achieving a major milestone in the restoration of Silver Pony! I eagerly await seeing her open to visitors, and on the main line soon.
We have one 'big hook' in the collection but it has done no lifting in decades. One of our volunteers putters around it and oils it up. I think I have seen the engine running in the last year. As a railroad crane, it really does not have the reach to have done this job, and then there are the issues with outriggers, cribbing, lift slings and spreaders. All to lift one end. If we did that the other crane needed would be on site and on the clock, while maybe we worked out the kinks in trying to make ours work.
Bob Kutella
They definitely have the reach. It depends on where you lift the equipment. Both the diesel and steam (powered with air) big hooks were last used to unload either a passenger car or RI 938 (can't remember which) off flat cars a bit more than a decade ago. There was an article and photos of it in Rail & Wire. You can find back issues listed at http://www.irm.org/railwire/index.html -Jeron
I did not consider the steam wrecker to be anywhere near able to be used right now - without a lot of work and maintenance - and now during winter? In line, they would have the reach as a pair, but that was not the case where the decision was made to unload the PONY. It was done from the sides, with the rented cranes, and use of our wreckers would have required a set up using two tracks lifting from the sides. That to allow the shipping flatcar to escape with the PONY in the air.
Bob Kutella
Great pictures of the action. Any chance the photographer can get one more of the "Pony" on her new trucks without the cranes around??? You have me sitting on the edge of my chair here in anticipation!!! Thanks, John.
Sadly, I do not have time to be everywhere on every project at IRM. But there are the pics you are waiting for on the web. Google HICKS CAR WORKS to find their site, which regularly updates IRM activities.
Bob Kutella
Why not just post the link, Robert? It would be more helpful than telling us to "Google it." The efforts to show progress here are appreciated, though.
I am in no way a web guru but I believe our webmaster has a policy of no LINKS external to our main website. I am sure that is security and maintenance related. So, I felt it was 'legal' to advise where the requested pics could be found.
Bob Kutella
Thanks for the "hicks car works" link. I viewed it and enjoyed it. Its nice to see the 'silver pony' back on a set of wheels and looking so good for her condition otherwise. Again Thanks for the link. John Franta
Hi guys, wasn't sure where to ask this, but here goes.
Awhile back, I had heard that IRM had saved two Milwaukee Road Skytop Lounge cars from a sinking barge on the east coast. Is there any truth to this?
There was some interest and some discussion as to whether IRM could do this, save at least one of them. In a very short time the salvage folks had cut both bodies into two or more pieces so the project had to be dropped. They were not that good to begin with, and then almost impossible to connect the two pieces back together without investing millions. Probably easier to start by building a carbody frame NEW. Saving them never happened. Several other preservation groups agreed it was too late.
Bob Kutella
Not my job to speak for the Passenger Car Department, but there is a LOT of work remaining on the car. I would think one of the high priority tasks is to replace the many broken and missing windows to make to weathertight.
Bob Kutella