Burro Crane

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Matt uploaded a photo of the Burro crane:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=I ... 000019.jpg

What did they use this for? How did the crane move? Was it tracked or did it have rail wheels?

Did it have a unit number or was it even CPR equipment?

I remember that 9058 left the DAR to get repaired in Angus after it's accident with a Burro crane:
http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=DAR9058

[Chuck Conway]

Steve and group,

Burro cranes have been used by railroads for many years. They are versatile machines, sometimes seen around shops and even more frequently in maintenance of way service. They can be equipped with a variety of devices for specific jobs; tongs for lifting rail and ties, electromagnets for picking up metal items such as spikes, tie plates, etc., clamshell buckets, basic hooks, and so on. They are four wheeled, self propelled vehicles.

The next batch of JAM slides that I post will have a picture of one seen at Kentville in 1986. The one in the 1986 view appears newer than the one in Matt's view, although the boom flat on the far right of his picture appears to be the same as in the one I have. Note the middle flat has ramp rails so that the Burro can be loaded on a flatcar and more speedily transported long distances-they aren't very fast. Lionel has offered one in O scale for decades. No doubt some are available in smaller scales also. I'll post more info if I can find it.

Take care,

Chuck Conway

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I found a great note about the Burro crane right here on a topic concerning another DAR MOW item, the pile driver:
http://www.dardpi.ca/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=62

in which Jim states "In 1963 the pile driver was scrapped, but the frame was used to construct a "Burro Crane Transporter" #418135, which was a very long flatcar with rails on the deck and a set of ramps to load the Burro on the deck, where there was a coupler mounted to secure it. At the far end there was a support for the boom to rest on."

Photo of Burro crane "ensemble" on 3 flatcars:
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... 000019.jpg

Here's what I got off the photos for flatcar numbers so far: 42?303, No 4183?? and No. 418191

None of these numbers look like like 418135 as reported by Jim so I think we need some more photos. Clearly the bucket flatcar (418191) is visable but the other two are shakey.

[Chuck Conway]

Steve and list,

Here is a view for comparison. Judging by the 'dog house' on the flatcar, I'd say this car was the 418191, but I can't see the car number to be confirm this for sure.

.

BTW, I tried to add the file directly from my picture gallery, but this box indicated the file size was too large. Haven't run into that one before. Anyway, enjoy the view.

Chuck Conway

[downeastrailfan]

From what I have gleaned off various websites, Burro cranes were used for MOW, being too light to lift railway equipment.

Now that Chuck has enlarged the 1986 Burro shot at Kentville, I'm confident in saying it is a Model 40. Custom Finishing makes a brass and pewter HO scale model.

I think I saw the Burro once in the passing siding at Weymouth circa mid 80's, but I was about 5-6, so my memory is sketchy.

Is there any way of finding out what Burro numbers were assigned here and when?

[hollyhanes]

Steve I know an old employee who ran the burro crane. He is one of the fellows Holly hopes to video

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This would be very cool. He could probably tell us what number(s) of cranes were on the railway like Matt was wondering and if he's old enough he might even remember the story of Dayliner 9058 and the head on collision with a Burro Crane in 1966 that sent our Dayliner away for repairs, never to be seen again on the DAR.

There's two questions for an interview!


Has anyone else got some questions for Holly to ask on her interview?

DING!! The museum was looking for someone to do interviews with some old-timers but so far no one took the bait. Would Holly be interested in doing a few more interviews with previous DAR employees?

[hollyhanes]

Holly I believe would be interested in doing a few interviews and any suggested question would be great as we are working on our limited knowledge... We have alot of information on how the bridge in South Maitland was built and someinfo on every station or stop on the line ... Holly interviewed Bill Clarke a former station master and telegraph operator, Jim Hennigar former operator of Burro crane and section men and he did mention another piece of equipment ..., Herb Royles a sectionmen, and a conductor as well. Bev Buchanan answered a few questions as well. PS Bev email us we have a few more questions hanesh@live.com

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Alright then. I think a handful of us here can come up with some pretty decent questions for Holly.

Gentleman's birthday, hometown, currently living where? When did he start and retire on the DAR?

What department did he work for? Who was his boss?

Was this fine fellow involved in any other aspect of the railway apart from track maintenance? I assume as a Burro Crane operator he was Kentville based and took the crane to where track crews requested assistance? What did they use the crane for most of the time? Did a crew car always accompany the crane so he had a place to sleep when away from Kentville overnight?

Was he also the operator for the wrecking crane when required?

Was there any special license, certification or training required to drive or operate either of the cranes?

Was the crane rotated back to Montreal for regular major overhauls or repairs? How much maintenance work on the crane did Kentville take care of? Where was the crane most often parked when in the Kentville yard?

How many different Burro cranes were there throughout the years?

Was this operator involved in the 1966 crash with the Dayliner? Whether or not he was, does he know anything about the incident?

Were Burro Cranes involved in any other serious accidents over the years?

How was the crane moved from location to location? Was there more than one person required to operate the crane?

Who else on the railroad did this gentleman know? Take this list of the people we have listed on the wiki and ask him if he knew any of them and tell what he knew about them if so.
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... ory:People

What else does he remember about the Kentville yard and facilities?

What was your favourite recollection of the DAR? What was your worst recollection of the DAR?



By the way, regarding the Maitland bridge, have you seen the photos on the wiki showing the contruction of the bridge? These are priceless photos showing the bridge sections being floated into position during construction.
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... and_Bridge

[Tedsgrandson]

Hi Steve:

Regarding the crash involving the burro and Dayliner 9058, I've seen it reported a few times in the site that this happened in 1966. I also know that it was reported in the Gary Ness "Dominion Atlantic Railway Volume I" book that this occurred on Saturday October 31, 1966. However, in fact, this happened on Saturday October 30, 1965. There's a Chronicle Herald newspaper clipping on display at the museum in Middleton dated November 1, 1965 which reports this accident and shows a picture of the Dayliner following the crash. Also, if you look at a 1966 calendar, you will see that October 31 fell on a Monday, not Saturday as reported in the Ness book.

My grandfather worked as a ticket agent at the Digby Wharf. He retired in August 1966, and I remember him telling me about the accident while he was still working. Also, he knew Albert "Shine" Manning, the conductor on the dayliner that day. A year or two following the accident, my grandparents were on the train to Halifax and Shine was the conductor on this particular day. I remember my grandfather telling me that Shine said that the impact of the crash caused some of the seats to be lifted from the floors and squeezed together.

Just a small point, but I thought it worthy of mention.

Jim Joyce
Dartmouth, N.S.

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It's all in the details Jim. Your correction is much appreciated!

In fact, I wonder if you would take the time to expound on your grandfather as well as anything more you might know about Albert Manning. I definitely want to see both these names in the "People" section of the wiki. I won't put them there until I have their full names though just so I don't have to do it again in case there's a change.

Can you do that for the wiki?

[hollyhanes]

Yes Holly actually had the original bridge photos in her hands the fellow who owned them Jeff Yuill loaned them to her to copy and use for her project. She was very lucky to get them. Did you also know that the photos were found in a barn? They were inside the seat of an old sleigh.
Heather

[Tedsgrandson]

Hi Steve:

You asked me a while back about some more information on my grandfather. His name is James D. "Ted" Dakin Sr. He worked as a ticket agent at the Digby Wharf from 1928 until his retirement in 1966. During his time at the Wharf, he processed tickets to passengers travelling to Saint John on the SS Empress, the SS Princess Helene, and the Princess of Acadia I. In addition to the ferry tickets, he also processed reservations for passengers taking the train from Saint John to Montreal, and occassionally processed connecting arrangements for passengers going as far as Vancouver. He worked with, and was close friends with Charles McBride, who is currently listed in the "People" section of the Wiki. He was involved with the railway workers union at that time, and he knew all of the conductors and engineers who worked on the DAR. As a kid, he used to let me come down to the office, and everyone there knew me as "Ted's grandson", rather than by my name. At the time that he retired, the manager at the Wharf was Charles H. Hersey.

Regarding Albert "Shine" Manning, I know that he was a WW II vet and was a lifelong member of the Legion in Kentville. I don't know the year that he started or retired from the DAR, but I know that they have more information on him at the Middleton Museum. They have his conductor uniform on display at the museum, including his jacket and his cap, as well as a pair of glasses that he wore. They also have a few photographs of him. Terry, at the Museum, seemed to know him, and so I hope to get down there sometime soon and will try to find out more that I can pass along.

I obtained a copy of the article in the November 1 1965 Chroncile Herald which described the accident between the Dayliner 9058 and the burro crane. I will send this along through the mail for your information.

Jim Joyce
Dartmouth, N.S.

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OK Jim. Thanks for the info. I have put your grandfather into the wiki. Do you have any interesting photos of him or have you found any photos here that have him in it?

As well, do you have his year of birth or any other vitals you think are important?

Thanks Jim!

http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... 2C_James_D.

[Tedsgrandson]

Hi Steve:

Thanks for adding my grandfather to the Wiki. He was born in 1901, and passed away in March 1976 at the age of 74. I haven't seen pictures of him on the Wiki, but I will send along one.

Also, Charles McBride was born in 1909, and passed away in 1972. I believe that he was still working at the Wharf at the time of his death, although by that time, the wharf was at its current location at the entrance to the Annapolis Basin, rather than in downtown Digby. Charlie was also the Commodore at the Western Nova Scotia Yacht Club in Digby for many years.

I also found out from the Legion's website that Shine Manning passed away in May 1995 at the age of 72.

Jim Joyce
Dartmouth, N. S.