SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
This steam-powered railway derrick was built in Wisconsin by Bucyrus-Erie as serial number 9869 for the Southern Pacific Railway in 1927. It weighs 256,440 pounds and has a lifting capacity of 320,000 pounds, or 160 tons.
SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
It was delivered to the railroad at Ogden, Utah on September 11, 1928 and was assigned to the railroad's Shasta Division as #680 and operating out of Dunsmuir, California. As built, the derrick was coal-fired and featured a gear drive to the axles to allow it to propel itself, at slow speeds, along the tracks.
SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
The derrick was renumbered to #7005 in 1932. In 1949 the boiler was converted to burn oil. In 1958, the derrick was transferred to Klamath Falls, Oregon.
SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on July 31, 2010
Around 1973, the Southern Pacific was in the process of scrapping all remaining steam equipment, and #7005 was on the list, however the crews in Klamath Falls preferred the steam-powered Bucyrus, so they secretly switched its number with that of a 120-ton Industrial derrick, #7020, allowing it to survive. It remained in service in the 1970s and 1980s, moving between Dunsmuir and Eugene, Oregon. In the late 1970s, the trucks were rebuilt with roller bearings, and at the same time the drive gears on the axles were removed.
SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on July 31, 2010
In 1994, the derrick was stationed in Eugene, and the railroad again called for it to be scrapped. The Eugene yardmaster instead sold it to Rick Franklin of Lebanon, Oregon, who donated it to the Western Steam Fiends in 1999. In November of 2000, the derrick was moved to Antique Powerland. It was restored to operation in June of 2001.
SPMW #7020 at Antique Powerland on July 31, 2010
Here is a video of SPMW #7020 in operation at the Great Oregon Steam-Up on August 4, 2007.
Here is a video of SPMW #7020 in operation at the Great Oregon Steam-Up on July 31, 2010.
More information and pictures can be found at Postcard Views of Southern Pacific's Shasta Route and the Espee Modelers Homepage.
Continue to Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society…
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