Athearn or Bachmann Wreck Crane

[CoolRuehle]

I'd like to purchase a wreck crane. I have the Tyco product (if you want to call it that) that I purchased for $2 at a garage sale.

Which has better detail, the Athearn or Bachmann? Was the Athearn ever in kit form?

TIA,
--Jon

 

[Ronzzr11]

Athearn made a Blue Box version, which I have on my layout.
Ron

 

[wheeler1963]

Jonm the Athearn 250 ton crane was available in a kit, now they are in the RTR line. But you can still find the kits around. I have several of them.

 

[Cjcrescent]

Jon, if you don't want the extreme size of the Athearn, or Bachmann, there is always the Tichy wreck crane, which is 120 tons. It's a styrene kit with a lot of parts. But, unlike many other kits out there, all the parts fit where they are supposed to. It was a very enjoyable kit to build. If you have had any experience building plastic models growing up, you can easily build this kit.

 

[PlowGuy]

I recently purchased the Athearn RTR Crane and Tender, seems to have the most detal that I have seen so far, The LHS had an Athearn BB crane as well, for 1/2 the price, but no tender. It was still nice, but not as detailed as the newer RTR model. The TR has metal wheels and has more "heft" to it if you will.

Jus finished custom painting it tonight, just waiting on some decals to arrive!!!!!

 

[CoolRuehle]

Jon, if you don't want the extreme size of the Athearn, or Bachmann, there is always the Tichy wreck crane, which is 120 tons. It's a styrene kit with a lot of parts. But, unlike many other kits out there, all the parts fit where they are supposed to. It was a very enjoyable kit to build. If you have had any experience building plastic models growing up, you can easily build this kit.

HA! That's pretty amazing that you mention this. I am actually building the Tichy crane as I write this. I love it so far, a GREAT kit!!

 

[CNR Glen]

I've always wanted to build the Tichy crane. I have the Athearn and recently finished building the light Walthers crane but I like detail on the Tichy.
I built an idler/tender for the Athearn crane out of a rivarossi combine loosly following a Canadian National Protoype.

 

[cct70]

The tender in the Athearn RTR derrick (crane) sucks though. VERY light weight and while some north east roads had light tenders for their derricks, for a 250 ton derrick, you want something more beefy. The Athearn crane tender would be more suitable for the Tichy derrick. UP's derricks usually had six axle long tenders, utilizing old passenger car trucks, but the WPMW 37 (Industrial Brownhoist stem, converted to diesel which the Athearn are loosly based from) uses an old 50' gondola with the end of a boxcar welded into one end for cables and slings. The WP cut steps into the ends to get up into the car and what amounts to a caboose style platform into one end for access. The WPMW 37 is currently operative at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola California and is a joy to operate. We use the heck out of it, and I am now the 2nd generation in my family to operate it. My Dad is very proud of his old Derrick being used to this day for its intended purpose with its original owner, the WP.

 

[CoolRuehle]

I've always wanted to build the Tichy crane. I have the Athearn and recently finished building the light Walthers crane but I like detail on the Tichy.
I built an idler/tender for the Athearn crane out of a rivarossi combine loosly following a Canadian National Protoype.

It is a complex kit for most people. If you like to build, this is for you. If you are a RTR guy, then pass on it or have someone else build it.

--jon

 

[CoolRuehle]

The tender in the Athearn RTR derrick (crane) sucks though. VERY light weight and while some north east roads had light tenders for their derricks, for a 250 ton derrick, you want something more beefy. The Athearn crane tender would be more suitable for the Tichy derrick. UP's derricks usually had six axle long tenders, utilizing old passenger car trucks, but the WPMW 37 (Industrial Brownhoist stem, converted to diesel which the Athearn are loosly based from) uses an old 50' gondola with the end of a boxcar welded into one end for cables and slings. The WP cut steps into the ends to get up into the car and what amounts to a caboose style platform into one end for access. The WPMW 37 is currently operative at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola California and is a joy to operate. We use the heck out of it, and I am now the 2nd generation in my family to operate it. My Dad is very proud of his old Derrick being used to this day for its intended purpose with its original owner, the WP.

Hi Tom,
Great information on the tender for the big crane. And a good story to go along with the good photos; thank you for sharing this with all of us.
--Jon

 

[GN.2-6-8-0]

For those unfamilier with the Tichy 120t crane heres a picture of mine.
As said a beautiful kit that goes together as one should.

 

[CSXPAID]

heres the size difference between the tichy and the athearn

later,

DEVLYN