Charles Ro crane...

trammayo

trammayo

Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
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I picked this purchase up from the Post Office yesterday.

Charles Ro Crane (1).JPG
Charles Ro Crane (2).JPG

It has been converted to body mounted couplings - although I suspect that they were truck mounted orginally (seeing the truncated remains of such on the trucks). It's easy for me to swap the trucks BUT, what I have a problem with is that the crane swivel movement is controlled almost like a ratchet (but bi-directional).

I had thought that it would be easy swivel and that I would build a flat for the jib to rest on a bolster so that it could negotiate the sharp curves dotted around my line.

Has anybody had one to bits or knows of an exploded diagram? I don't really want to start bashing it around without some knowledge.

Also would like to see any pics of the model with matching cars (for me to copy and build).

Thanks in anticipation.
 
dunnyrail said:
I would just dig in unscrewing as you go. But take digital pics along the way for the reconstruct.
JonD
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Yes you're probably right - just worried that any springs might sprung!

Pics of the deconstruction are a good idea too!
 
I would bet you'll find a gear with a sprung pawl. Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to find you can either remove or bend the pawl back to free up the movement.
 
trammayo said:
I picked this purchase up from the Post Office yesterday.

View attachment 218360
View attachment 218361

It has been converted to body mounted couplings - although I suspect that they were truck mounted orginally (seeing the truncated remains of such on the trucks). It's easy for me to swap the trucks BUT, what I have a problem with is that the crane swivel movement is controlled almost like a ratchet (but bi-directional).

I had thought that it would be easy swivel and that I would build a flat for the jib to rest on a bolster so that it could negotiate the sharp curves dotted around my line.

Has anybody had one to bits or knows of an exploded diagram? I don't really want to start bashing it around without some knowledge.

Also would like to see any pics of the model with matching cars (for me to copy and build).

Thanks in anticipation.
Click to expand...

Well Mick, your Post Office certainly sells some interesting items :D:D:D

I'd reach for the screwdriver, but in a fairly sanitised room, so that you can easily search for low flying parts. I actually took Aristo bogies apart in my old garage, and miraculously retained all the springs :p:p:p
 
PhilP said:
Mick,
Is this not a USA Trains product??

Check out the USA Trains site:

http://www.usatrains.com/pdf/craneinstructions.pdf

Think you will find they call the matching truck a 'crane tender car'..
PhilP.
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That's another seller (together with purchaser) that didn't know what they were selling/buying! Thanks for that one Phil! Downloaded the PDF to peruse and use!

Rhinochugger said:
Well Mick, your Post Office certainly sells some interesting items :D:D:D

I'd reach for the screwdriver, but in a fairly sanitised room, so that you can easily search for low flying parts. I actually took Aristo bogies apart in my old garage, and miraculously retained all the springs :p:p:p
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Yes it's a brilliant service. Get it sent to St.Albans, shipped to Dublin, then sent to my local post office in Foxford. Then I get a text (and email) to say the parcel/s ready to collect - all for 3.50 euro!

It also thwarts the 'only post to mainland UK' sellers!

Ah yes, a sanitised room! My workshop comes somewhere near the extreme opposite! Could do with one of those sealed cabinets where you handle things with long gloves also sealed into it.
 
trammayo said:
That's another seller (together with purchaser) that didn't know what they were selling/buying! Thanks for that one Phil! Downloaded the PDF to peruse and use!
Click to expand...

Charles Ro are USA Trains, as far as I can work out - or there is some major link there. Been to their shop in Cross Street, Malden (northern suburb of Boston, MA) a couple of times in the past, and they deal mainly in G Scale items, with very little in the way of other scales sold.
 
Miamigo259 said:
Charles Ro are USA Trains, as far as I can work out - or there is some major link there. Been to their shop in Cross Street, Malden (northern suburb of Boston, MA) a couple of times in the past, and they deal mainly in G Scale items, with very little in the way of other scales sold.
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Pretty certain you are right - although I've never been there, but only picked up the link from my old internet surfing.
 
Miamigo259 said:
Charles Ro are USA Trains, as far as I can work out - or there is some major link there. Been to their shop in Cross Street, Malden (northern suburb of Boston, MA) a couple of times in the past, and they deal mainly in G Scale items, with very little in the way of other scales sold.
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And now I know more! I've just sent a message to seller, castigating him for describing its' origins wrongly! Wish I had logged on to here before eBay. Doh!:banghead:

I've just had to send an apology:sweating:
 
Back to your original question Mick - This should help you here http://www.usatrains.com/r1862.html They look great with a 1:20.3 set up, just add some Woodland Scenics figures. Lookks like that flat car you have will e the perfect starting points. Now go and grab a whole load of coffee stir sticks. Max
 
maxi-model said:
Back to your original question Mick - This should help you here http://www.usatrains.com/r1862.html They look great with a 1:20.3 set up, just add some Woodland Scenics figures. Lookks like that flat car you have will e the perfect starting points. Now go and grab a whole load of coffee stir sticks. Max
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It and the rest of the series are 1:24:

"American Series" and "Work Trains Series" are 1:24 Scale

mike
 
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maxi-model said:
Back to your original question Mick - This should help you here http://www.usatrains.com/r1862.html They look great with a 1:20.3 set up, just add some Woodland Scenics figures. Lookks like that flat car you have will e the perfect starting points. Now go and grab a whole load of coffee stir sticks. Max
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Thanks for the link - I've bookmarked it AND saved the pics! It's interesting to see the set-up with the crane having outriggers - would these normally be included if bought new I wonder?

Thanks for all the help folks much appreciated (even if I was a little confused!).

Still open for viewing pics of any of the items (no matter what Road) if anyone has them on a layout.
 
I *think* Casey might have a picture, or two, of the ?army? set on the CFR???
Pretty sure one of the 3CAG group had their set running there??

I seem to be ordering USA Trains spares regularly, if erratically, these days.. I could possibly add the missing parts to an order if they are available..
 
PhilP said:
I *think* Casey might have a picture, or two, of the ?army? set on the CFR???
Pretty sure one of the 3CAG group had their set running there??

I seem to be ordering USA Trains spares regularly, if erratically, these days.. I could possibly add the missing parts to an order if they are available..
Click to expand...

Cheers Phil - let me know.
 
trammayo said:
It's interesting to see the set-up with the crane having outriggers - would these normally be included if bought new I wonder?.
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I have the same D&RGW crane/tender in the link I posted. No outriggers or mounts for them when I got it new from RLD. I fitted Kaydee couplers at the end of each unit to alw coupling to normal Bachmann Spectrum/AMS stock and locos. That "bunk" section on the tender id really tall. Hence my comments that it looks fine with 1:20.3 scale Fn3 stuff.
 
maxi-model said:
I have the same D&RGW crane/tender in the link I posted. No outriggers or mounts for them when I got it new from RLD. I fitted Kaydee couplers at the end of each unit to alw coupling to normal Bachmann Spectrum/AMS stock and locos. That "bunk" section on the tender id really tall. Hence my comments that it looks fine with 1:20.3 scale Fn3 stuff.
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Thanks for your reply. It would be easy to make something that would do the job. I can fully understand the thoughts on 1:20.3 - the crane cabin itself seems to dwarf my 1:22 stuff!

kim said:
P&S Hobbies in York have 2 items from the work train on their site Mick, not cheap!
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Thanks Kim - I'll take a look. Not saying I'll be able to afford - collected a BH chassis from the P.O this morning:).
 
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