Wreck & MOW
Reading Company Wreck Crane Idler Car #90805
Background & History
The primary role of the Crane Idler Car happens when the train is in transit to a wreck, The height and length of the crane boom require that it be lowered enough to gain full clearance over the rails. The center of the idler car is like a trench to allow the attachments at the end of the boom to go below floor level. Once lowered into the trench area, the crane is disengaged so that the boom moves left or right along with the idler car during curves in the track.
The secondary role of the idler car is to carry those heavy items that are essential to setting up the crane for use. Tool boxes along the sides of the car carry rigging and blocks to support the crane while in use. Other boxes carry extra fittings, pulleys, snatch blocks, and spreaders that are used when the crane is picking up cars or locomotives.
Wreck Train Idler Car 90805 in Conrail Paint sits at Temple, PA in 1998.
(Photo Courtesy Charles Murphy, Jr.)
This picture shows crane idler car 90875 in Reading Green with the crane boom safely stowed for transit. We hope our car paint job turns out equally well.
(Photo courtesy of Charles Knox Freericks)
Our Idler car is currently painted and numbered for Conrail as CR 45503.
The goal for the MP&RE crew is to repaint the crane and idler car into the splendor of the full Reading yellow & green paint scheme. Both the crane and idler car currently sit in the Reading & Northern’s Hamburg PA yard adjacent to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum. They quietly wait their turn for restoration.