MTH Crane and Tender

OK, for my $0.02. If you like the RK version and are specifically looking to a road name, I'd go ahead and get it now.

I have a C&O Crane/Tender that I run with my N&W Wreck train consist. It's for sale IF there is a N&W version that I like better offered later. For now, my N&W crew is utilizing leased C&O equipment.

Gilly

I got the Railking set for my Rio Grande MOW consist. It's decent but I would like a Scale set someday.

The Scale Crane & Tender are quite a bit different in look and feel.

I do like the way the crane works VS the old wheels on the side method but what I really want is a DCS controlled set.

Paul:

I would not assume that the RailKing cranes are not scale-sized, unless of course you know that for sure.  The ones you are referring to in the 2014 MTH catalog are representations of an "American" crane, which in real life was a smaller, lighter-duty crane.  The Premier ones you referenced are models of an "Industrial Brownhoist" crane that was a much larger, heavier-duty crane.

If you care about remaining true to the prototype, you can do some research to see if the Milwaukee Road owned one or both types of cranes, and then make your purchase decision based on that.  I don't know very much about the MR, but a very quick web search found the following photo, so it looks like they owned an Industrial Brownhoist crane...

If the MR owned both types, think about what "work" your crane will be doing on your layout, and go from there.  If they did not own both types, or you don't care about being accurate, you can always buy both!!

The Rail King crane is quite large and, as Joe says, may well be scale. I don't have the prototype dimensions but it is certainly big enough to be credible in a scale size work train. I have a previous version in Milwaukee Road paint, as well as the Premier crane in Milwaukee Road, which was made several years ago.

Another issue is whether you want the tender or just the crane. I have never seen a photo of a tender like that on the Milwaukee Road. The photos I have seen show flatcars filled with work train supplies, wheels, etc. used as idlers under the boom. The Milwaukee used old boxcars and passenger cars as tool cars and crew cars. If you do not have them, you should get both volumes of the Nighswonger/Morning Sun book, "Milwaukee Road Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment." Volume 1 is passenger and non-revenue equipment, including work trains. Volume 2 is revenue freight cars. Volume 1 has pictures of several Milwaukee Road cranes. The American crane as such is not shown, but there is a "burro" (self-propelled) crane very similar in appearance. There are also photos of a 100-ton crane like the MTH Premier version. Most Milwaukee Road major maintenance equipment such as cranes and snowplows was painted yellow (at least since color photography became popular). 

MTH cataloged a Milwaukee Road version of the Premier crane in 2005. I have one stashed away in a box somewhere. It's quite a nice model. It is hard to find these days; I don't think many were made. 

MTH Premier Milwaukee Road Crane

And here's one to the 2002 version of the American Crane in Milwaukee Road.

Rail King Milwaukee Road Crane

The Rail King Crane is a scale crane. It's a model of a smaller-capacity version (100-150 ton as I recall). Several of them have been contest winners at O Scale West after being converted to 2-rail with some additional detailing done.