LOCOMOTIVE CRANES
OF THE
ALASKA RAILROAD

 

On May 2, 1914 the Alaska Engineering Commission was formed to plan a railroad from the coast to the interior of Alaska. On April 10, 1915 it was decided that the line would run from Seward to Fairbanks. The Alaska Northern RR was purchased and construction was begun. All equipment was lettered U. S. or U. S. Government Railroad. The name was changed to the Alaska Railroad after the line was finished in 1923. Here is at least a partial list of the rail cranes used on this line. Much of this information is from official records in the National Archives.

On January 1, 1922 the Alaska Engineering Commission had cranes 1-6, ditchers 10-102, and steam shovels 1-9 on hand.

Cranes

1 Browning C/N 1307 1915 25 tons  
2 Browning   1915 25 tons  
2 (2nd) Browning   04-10 15 tons ex-Panama #63 purchased 04-02-10 $7560; ARR 09-12-27; scrapped 09-46; 09-12-27 to ARR from Panama
3 Industrial Works C/N 3082 1915 20 tons  
4 Browning C/N 1327 1915 25 tons ex-Alaska Northern Ry
5 Browning C/N 5441?   20 tons  
5 Industrial Works C/N 3974 1920 100 tons wrecker  
6 McMyler   1920  35 tons  
7         scrapped 1942
X-43 Brownhoist C/N 6285 1917 15 tons Steam $12,250; Copper River & Northwestern #X-43 Cordova, AK; ARR #X-43 1939
X-45         see LC-14
65 Browning   12-14-09 25 tons $9,000

 

Steam Shovels

1 Bucyrus Model 70 3 Yards ex-Panama 1916
2 Marion Model 60 2_Yards ex-Panama 1916; surplus 10-31-28
3 Marion Model 60 2_Yards ex-Dalles-Celilo 1915; surplus 10-31-28; worn out, ordered scrapped 06-46
4 Bucyrus Model 45 2_Yards ex-Alaska Northern Ry C/N 1045 2 yards ex-Panama. Converted to 36‰ gauge recommended convert back
to standard gauge 07-11-31. (at Fairbanks this date) Off roster by 1943*
5 Marion Model 40 1_Yards ex-Alaska Northern Ry  
6 Bucyrus Model 70 3 yards ex-Panama 1916
7 Bucyrus Model 70 3 yards ex-Panama 1916
8 Marion C/N 1659
   (here 01-19)  
9 Bucyrus C/N 2246 1 yards on crawler tracks  

* Bucyrus C/N 1045 would have been built late in 1907 or early in 1908. Seven Bucyrus Model 45s were purchased for Panama 12-01-07 at $7000 each. ARR #4 is most likely on of this group.

 

Ditchers

10 American   (here 01-19)
101 Bucyrus 1_Yards 1920
102 Bucyrus 1_Yards 1921

 

Pile Drivers

6 Bucyrus 1916

 

An October 31, 1922 inventory gives this:

Steam Shovels #1-9
Ditchers #101-102
Pile Drivers #6
Locomotive Cranes #1-6
Wrecking Crane #55

Locomotive Cranes

LC-1 Industrial Works   1915 21 ton Steam AEC #1; ARR #1
LC-2           scrapped 1946
LC-4 Browning C/N 1327 1915 25 tons   Alaska Northern Ry; AEC #4; ARR #4 1923
LC-5 Browning     25 ton Steam (four bought in 1915-16)
LC-6 McMyler   1920 35 ton Steam Former ARR #6; (retired 06-09-49, listed as scrap 05-07-52)
LC-7 Ohio C/N 3813 12-12-27 25 ton Steam  Weyerhaeuser Tbr. Co. Rainier (Vail), WA; US Engineers Ft. Richardson, AK; ARR #LC-7 09-23-49
LC-8 Browning C/N 1296   20 tons   US Army; ARR 1945
LC-9            
LC-10 American C/N 1453   15 ton Gas A. J. O'Neill Lansdowne, PA; ARR #LC-10 (former #G-10) 1940, placed in service 1943 (Cat diesel engine 1950)
LC-11 Orton   1944 17 ton Gas ARR #G-11; Request to retire 03-23-51
LC-12 Ohio C/N 4274 05-08-43 35 ton Gas Transportation Officer Whittier, AK; ARR #LC-12 (former #G-12) 1945; Unknown ?, WA
LC-13            
LC-14 Ohio C/N 3890 05-13-29 22 ton Steam A. Guthrie & Co. Single Shot, MT; Knappton Mills & Lbr. Co. Knappton, WA 1930; Copper River & Northwestern Ry #X-45 Cordova, AK 1930 $12,000; ARR #X-45 1939 to LC-14 08-46
LC-15 Brownhoist     10 ton Steam retired 08-50, (listed as scrap 05-07-52)
LC-16 Brownhoist     10 ton Steam (turned over 08-08-47, request to retire it)
LC-17 Brownhoist     15 ton Steam retired 08-50, (listed as scrap 05-07-52)
LC-18 Brownhoist     10 ton Steam retired 08-50
LC-19 Brownhoist   1941 60 ton Diesel  
LC-20 Industrial Brownhoist   1941 15 ton Diesel ARR #LC-20 08-47 (purchased war surplus); (retired 03-60)
LC-21 American   1943 70 ton Diesel  
LC-22 Ohio C/N 4064 04-25-40 35 ton Steam New York Shipbuilding Corp. Camden, NJ; ARR #LC-22
LC-23 Ohio   1941 70 ton Steam  
LC-24 Ohio     70 ton Steam  
LC-25 Ohio C/N 4100? 1941 25 ton Diesel ARR #LC-25 03-48 (purchased war surplus)
LC-26 American     70 ton Diesel ARR #LC-26 03-48 (purchased war surplus)
LC-27 Browning C/N 3557   30 tons Steam ARR #LC-27 04-48 (purchased war surplus); Hulse Machine Inc. Seattle, WA
LC-28 Orton C/N 42891   25 ton Diesel Listed as surplus 05-48
LC-29 Orton C/N 42889   25 ton Diesel Listed as surplus 06-48
LC-30 Orton   1943 25 ton Diesel ARR #LC-30 06-48
LC-31 Orton C/N 42970   17 ton Diesel (placed in service 07-48);US Navy; ARR LC-31; Unknown shake mill Orting, WA (here early 1970s); Petitjean Bros. Mill Co. Fall City, WA (here 1984); Scrapped
LC-32 Industrial Brownhoist   1941 15/20 ton Diesel ARR #LC-32 08-47 (purchased war surplus)
LC-33 Browning     25 ton Steam ATS #8; ARR #LC-33 1946
LC-34 Cellen-Friestedt (Burro)   1941 5 tons Gas  
LC-35 Brownhoist   1943 25 ton Diesel  
LC-36 American     70 ton Diesel (placed in service April 1959)
LC-37 American       Diesel Stored with out boom at Anchorage May 1994.
LC-38 American 1836   01-43 25 ton Gas (rebuilt to Diesel 06-59); US War Depart.; USAF; ARR #LC-38 01-74
LC-39 Orton C/N S-136 1954 25 ton Diesel US Army #C-1717; ARR # LC-39
LC-55 Industrial Works C/N 3974 1920 100 ton Gas Wrecker 1920; (former #5 & 55) (converted to diesel 12-64)
LC-56 Industrial Brownhoist C/N 11489 1943 60 ton Steam Wrecker; US Army #7505 (retired at Belle Mead, NJ); ARR #LC-56 09-47 (listed as 75 ton); (converted from coal to oil 05-58); Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry Wasilla, AK 1984
LC-57 Industrial Brownhoist C/N 11482? 1943 60 ton Steam Wrecker; US Army #7509 (retired at Belle Mead, NJ); ARR #LC-57 09-47 (listed as 75 ton); Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry Wasilla, AK 1984
LC-58 Bucyrus-Erie C/N 21697  02-42 160 ton Steam Wrecker; U S Army #C-14 Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD
ARR #LC-58 (converted to diesel)
LC-107 Ohio     DE 300 Diesel Electric  
LC-111 American     60 ton Diesel  


Pile Drivers

6 Bucyrus 1919 Steam
7  

1916

 (Possibly Copper River & Northwestern)
8 Industrial Brownhoist 1951 Steam

 

Ditchers
(locomotive cranes with dipper sticks)

101 Bucyrus C/N 3503 1920 1_Yards Steam  
102 Bucyrus   1920 1_Yards Steam  
103           here 1937; scrapped 1946
LC-103 American C/N L-3432 08-57 50 tons Diesel Electric Ex-Ray McDermott Co. Harvey, LA; Alaska RR 1971; Alaska Central RR
LC-104 American C/N 2544 05-50 40 tons Diesel Electric  
LC-105 American C/N J-3107 03-53 40 tons Diesel Electric  
LC-106 Ohio C/N 4810 02-11-65 40-50 tons Diesel Electric (fitted with pile driver)
LC-108           (see American L-4359-L-4361)
LC-109 American C/N L-4360 02-87 40 tons Diesel Electric (see American L-4359-L-4361)
LC-110           (see American L-4359-L-4361)

NOTES:

09-12-27 to ARR from Panama
#62 Browning 25 ton lc
#63 Browning 15 ton lc
As of 08-16-39 only cranes #1, 4 & 6 were operable.

Offered by the Copper River & Northwestern in 1939.
X-43 Brownhoist C/N 6285 1917 15 tons $12,250
X-44 Brownhoist C/N 5971 15 tons
Unknown first owner
Hofius Steel & Equipment Co. (D) Seattle, WA
CR&NW 05-26 $5970
X-45 Ohio C/N 3890 22_ ton 1929 $12,200
A. Guthrie & Co. Single Shot, MT
Knappton Mills & Lbr. Co. Knappton, WA 1930
Copper River & Northwestern Ry #X-45 Cordova, AK 1930 $12,000
05-01-44 Bay City (Industrial Works) lc #2 arrived on ship
05-10-44 Bucyrus steam shovel #3698 “
12-45 25 ton Ohio steam crane purchased from Surplus Property Office

The "LC" looks to have been added the crane numbers between April and September 1946. Cranes disposed of before then would not have born this lettering. A document dated September 23, 1946 lists these cranes:

1 to LC-1
4 to LC-4
6 to LC-6
7 to LC-7
X-45 to LC-14
55 to LC-55
G-10 to LC-10
G-11 to LC-11 (added to roster between April 4 & December 23, 1946)
G-12 to LC-12 (added to roster between April 4 & December 23, 1946)

Locomotive cranes here 01-01-46 9
Locomotive cranes acquired since 01-01-46 20
Locomotive cranes retired since 01-01-46 10
Locomotive cranes in service 09-01-52 19

06-46 Steam shovels 3&4 worn out, ordered scrapped. #4 (2nd) arrived at shops from Pennsylvania 08-23-45. After much work decided not worth keeping.

An inventory dated February 1, 1949 lists these cranes:
LC-11(retired), LC-12, LC-19, LC-20, LC-21, LC-23. LC-26, Lc-32, LC-34, LC-35, LC-55, LC-56, LC-57 Ditchers D-104 & D-105

Locomotive cranes owned by the Alaska RR but for which numbers are not know.

American Hoist and Derrick

Number Model Date Owner
1812 825-CD 04-1941 Todd California Shipbuilding Co., Alaska Railroad
1813 825-CD 05-1941 Oregon shipbuilding Co. Portland OR, Alaska Railroad
L-3432 840-DE 09-1957 Missouri, Kansas; Texas Lines; Alaska Railroad 1971
L-3857 5030-DE 09-1969 Alaska Railroad
L-4359 840-DEH 04-1987 Alaska Railroad (fitted with dipper as ditcher)
L-4360 840-DEH 02-1987 Alaska Railroad
L-4361 840-DEH 04-1987 Alaska Railroad

This number is from ARR surplus records and doesn’t match the builders.
5697 Model C Listed as surplus 03-48


The Browning Company

Number Model Date Owner
680 #3 DT 1910 Alaska Railroad
787 #2 DT 1910 Alaska Railroad
1296 #3 1915 US Engineers Anchorage, AK
1494 #8 DT 1916 Alaska Railroad
3256 C-1 1942 Alaska Railroad
3482 M-1 1944 Alaska Railroad
? 30   Listed as surplus 04-48

 

Industrial Brownhoist

Number Model Date Owner
11351 60t W   USA #C-7, est. weight 60 tons Listed as surplus 06-48


Ohio Locomotive Cranes

C/N Model Lift Wheels Drive Boom Shipped Owner
4100 E 25 ton 8 diesel 50’ 09-15-41 Richmond Shipbuilding Corp. Richmond, CA, Alaska Railroad, Anchorage (possibly scrapped by The Purdy Co. Chehalis, WA early 1980s)

These numbers are from ARR surplus records and don’t match the builders:

263 G 35 ton Listed as surplus 01-48
853 G 35 ton Listed as surplus 12-47
854 G 35 ton Listed as surplus 12-47
9947 E 25 ton Listed as surplus 03-48

Orton Crane & Shovel Co.

C/N LIFT DRIVE DISPOSITION
42889 8 tons Diesel Listed as surplus 06-48

DATE WRECKING LOCO CRANES DITCHER PILE DRIVERS
09-23-46 1 9 2  
02-01-49 3 22 2  
04-01-49 3 22 (9 STEAM) 2 2
06-01-49 3 23 2 2
10-01-50 3 20 2 2
01-02-51 3 20 2 2
09-01-52 3 19 2 2
07-31-58 3 10 2 2
08-31-58 3 10 2 2
10-01-58 3 10 2 2
10-31-58 3 10 2 2
11-28-58 3 10 2 2
12-31-58 3 10 2 2
01-31-59 3 10 2 2
02-28-59 3 10 2 2
04-30-59 3 10 2 2
05-31-59 3 11 2 2
06-30-59 3 11 2 2
07-31-59 3 11 2  
08-31-59 3 11 2  
09-30-59 3 10 2  
10-31-59 3 10 2  
11-30-59 3 10 2  
12-31-59 3 10 2  
01-31-60 3 10 2  
02-28-60 3 10 2  
03-31-60 3 10 2  
04-30-60 3 9 2  
05-31-60 3 9 2  
06-31-60 3 9 2  
07-31-60 3 9 2  
08-31-60 3 9 2  
10-31-60 3 9 2  
11-30-60 3 9 2  
12-31-60 3 9 2  
01-31-61 3 9 2  
02-28-61 3 9 2  
03-31-61 3 9 2  
04-30-61 3 9 2  
05-31-61 3 9 2  
06-30-61 3 9 2  

 

 

Special thanks to John Taubeneck for providng this information!

Page created 3/28/05 and last updated 8/12/08

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