Excessive overhang on the 219 Crane

looking good Steve!

Nice.

Could you just change the boom?

Now you need a nice custom brass plate numbered 510 or 519 to really set it off

I've been thinking about doing one of these myself.  I have a 500 series crane and it just makes it under the hell gate and track side accessories.  The boom is definitely a factor to consider if you want to run the crane.  

Ill have to dig out some of my beaters of these, seems that you could mount the 810 base to the 500 series base--

I believe this to be a rhetorical question, but is the 500 series crane a relatively recent invention?  Recent as in not made in prewar times, but invented by MTH.  I'd like to see a picture of one.  I'm a crane guy.  Used to be a union laborer and work with cranes all day.  I have a pretty decent 219 that has never been run on the track but presides over a maroon 200 series gondola that holds the office supplies on my table I use to figure blueprints.  I'd like to see what a 500 series crane looks like,  out of curiosity.

Not sure if I like the remodel job. But I can imagine the big boy could present problems for a runner.  No creative energy is ever wasted.  It just gets added on.  Have fun,       BK

Lionel never made a 500 series crane

AS I understand it, the 500 series crane was a MTH invention.

Steve

MTH shows 10-2006 &7 from 2001. 

I think what they did was take a crane body and mount it on a 500 series flat car. I assume the under carriage clamps fit on and holes drilled for the crane. I do not believe they just put 500 series trucks on a 200 series crane. 

One way to get rid of the overhang is to make a hinged boom.

I keep my curves clear to avoid overhang issues. Straights are not a problem and a gondola running behind allows the boom to stay low. I run a double track main line with right hand running on 72 and 87 curves. Not sure if the 7.25" track spacing will allow a crane to be run on the inner loop.

Steve. It looks like the 500 series crane has the same boom as a 200 series. Thus no relief from the overhang.

Here are 3 cranes on 42,72 and 87 loops. Note track spacing is not 7.25" because of switches.

Plus a matching work caboose.

500 series crane. For your bidding enjoyment.

Yeah well, it sure looks like they plopped a 219 crane on a 500 series flat.  I guess that makes sense .  Or not...

 Thanks a million for the pic and catalog listing.  Nice work digging that up.  Doesn't look right.  Boom down baby, chain her tight, let's go back to town.

The 500 series looks nice, but has the same superstructure as a 219 so the overhang will be to much form my layout. My half breed will not look as nice, but it will function for me and that's what's important.

Steve

Cutting the boom in half and using a hinge would work. This is what some real cranes do.

I run mine on a outer loop and keep the outside curve clean at the height of the crane with no problems. Low stuff can be near the curve.

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

 My half breed will not look as nice...

Steve

Looks like a major improvement to me!   I think your crane is a really neat double-take attention-grabber, with or without a custom paint job. The 810 looked too big for its own frame, looks very fine on the 219 platform.  The 810's curved boom also looks better than the straight boom.  Another great "Tinrodder" project extraordinaire!

david

I've finally had time to make a little headway on this project. Didn't have any 200 series trucks so some 500 series with spacers will have to do. Now it's time to start on the boom assembly.

Steve

You could put 500 series trucks on the tender instead.

Will the boom and bracket fit into the 217 crane cab?