I have a 6-2316 gantry crane with the hook and other than canisters with an "easy" to catch wire loop, I don't have many fun loads which are easy to grab and easy to release. Here is one which works sometimes and not others: some glued together plastic logs. Who has some good ideas- especially kid friendly ones?
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Something large and heavy like a transformer. It would need a cable attached, of course.
Bill, you are on to something with heavy. the logs I show are way too light and also they have a tendency to be a PITA to try to line up to fit in a gondola or similar (they rotate too much). I think the desired combo is heavy and round or a shape which can spin a bit but still fits into a rectangular train car.
With my Gantry Crane, I like to move around parts that are used for toy trains and accessories. My crane has the magnet, but you could do something similar to what I show below. I took some hobby motors and made some wood bracing to look like a load. For your hook crane, you could make a high cross brace to easily grab. Load doesn't have to be a motor, like mine, it could be anything odd shaped that you want to use. Just make some framing and hoist away 
Thread on wire spools is fun for us kids.
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