It's Alive! Looking a bit like something out of a sci-fi movie, Nevada Northern's 100-Ton Wrecking Crane A swings into action at the site of a minor yard derailment, during the 2010 Winter Photo Shoot. Built new for the Nevada Northern in 1907, this critter served the railroad in many capacities until 1982. When the line ceased operation, it became property of the newly created Nevada Northern Railway Museum and was eventually restored to operation in 2005. Requiring a specially trained crew of four or more people, it operates mainly on special occasions, such as the annual winter photo shoots. That said, the crane is also available for actual duty when needed and has been used in construction projects by the museum. Set-up time is typically several hours, during which the crane must be steamed up, positioned and it's outriggers deployed to prevent tipping. The crane's lifting limit is 100 tons out to a radius of 17 feet. For those who are wondering, the steam boiler on this unit is inspected and certified by the State Boiler Inspector, not FRA.
