Skip to main content

MTH HomeMy MTHProduct LocatorMTH NewsMTH ServiceContact Us

Uncataloged Rail King O Gauge Santa Fe American Crane Cars Announced

October 21, 2022 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has announced an exclusive and uncataloged RailKing O Gauge Santa Fe American Crane Car in Blackbonnet livery for exclusive distribution by M.T.H. Authorized Retailer Patrick's Trains of Wheeling, West Virginia. This crane is available in two unique car numbers and is expected to ship in January 2023. It will be extremely limited in production.

Item No. 30-79663 Santa Fe Blackbonnet American Crane Car
Car No. 1753
Early Order Price: $84.95
Click HERE to order.

Item No. 30-79664 Santa Fe Blackbonnet American Crane Car
Car No. 1764
Early Order Price: $84.95
Click HERE to order.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CRANE CAR

In the early days of railroading, the job of cleaning up a wreck was usually done by men and horses. The first steam-wrecking crane, a relatively small affair with a 20-ton lifting capacity, appeared in 1883. Its maker, Industrial Works of Bay City Michigan, introduced a fully revolving model a decade later. As the product became popular, Industrial Works, now renamed Industrial Brownhoist, and its chief competitor, Bucyrus-Erie of South Milwaukee, introduced larger and larger models to cope with increasing locomotive and car weights. By the World War I era, steam-powered cranes of 120-ton capacity, like our RailKing model, were a common size.

While a wreck train on the way to a wreck had priority over other traffic, cranes were subject to rather low-speed restrictions, typically around 35 mph with the boom trailing and 25 mph if the boom was facing forward. The larger hook closer to the cab was actually the main lifting hook, used for locomotives. The hook at the end of the boom was a lower-capacity auxiliary hook, used when more reach was needed. Slings, chains, and spreader bars were used to attach the hook to the car or locomotive being lifted; the hooks were never attached directly. While some cranes were capable of limited self-propulsion, that was only for positioning at a site, not for travel to and from wrecks or jobs.

Order directly from:

Patrick's Trains
142 29th Street
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
(304) 232-0714
www.patstrains.com
patstrains@aol.com

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a series of 2023 RailKing O Scale SD-45 Diesel Locomotives in five exciting paint schemes beginning early next Spring. Each of these unique schemes will be available in limited production quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in April 2023.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.


M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a series of 2023 RailKing O Gauge Heavy Duty Snow Plows in four exciting paint schemes beginning early next Spring. Each of these unique schemes will be available in limited production quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in March 2023.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

Follow Us On

© 2022 M.T.H. Electric Trains
6660 Santa Barbara Road - Suite 20, Elkridge, MD 21075 (410)381-2580
Original Post

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×