How do you get the coal in a great big Harz Railway steam engine? Not with some sort of Carnforth-style coaling stage, but using one of a pair of electric coaling cranes!
While I was watching, the crane with a taller cab was in use. This is preferred as you can see the bunker on the loco. Sadly, I don't seem to have taken a photo of the operation, but the coal is lifted in a grab and dropped straight into the bunker. This didn't take that long while I watched, although I have no idea how full it was before they started.
I know these are electrically operated as there is a fat cable running from the back of each. It seems loosely laid on the ground. It looks heavy, but I assume it has to be dragged around by the crew occasionally to stop the crawler tracks running over it as the crane moves around.
Digging around on the web, I found a 3D printable model!
1 comment:
Good to see another example of these in use. Similar devices seem to have been widely used in Germany (West, East and unified) for several decades, known collectively as baggers, though most I've seen are i/c powered.
There are several models, Busch do a GDR one ready made, and this kit by Kibri is rather nice: https://www.goldenvalleyhobbies.com/11281-kibri-h0-fuchs-mobile-rope-excavator
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