Originally operated as the centerpiece of work trains involved in cleaning up derailments and wrecks throughout the Denver & Salt Lake Railway’s system, the 1913 derrick played a key role in maintaining the Continental Divide crossing at Corona (Rollins) Pass.
The 120-ton steam crane, which weighs 285,000 pounds, was built for the Denver & Salt Lake Railway in 1913 by Industrial Works in Bay City, Michigan. It was originally numbered 10300 and it played many roles in clearing up derailments and wrecks across the railroad. However, it played a big role maintaining the railroad at the Continental Divide along Corona (Rollins) Pass before the Moffat Tunnel was constructed. It was in service for over 75 years.
This steam crane is considered “extremely rare” because it is still in its “as built” condition. Along with the steam crane, its companion, DRGW Derrick Blocking and Truck Car Number X-3317 was also moved to its new home in Granby. The car was built in 1951 for use in the railroad’s maintenance-of-way department from a boxcar that was built in 1930. The car carried replacement wheelsets, or trucks, to the site of train derailments and wrecks that occurred across the Rio Grande system. It operated with other maintenance-of-way equipment as part of the Derrick Work Train.
The derrick was in the UP Burnham R.R.Yards in Denver lettered as 029 D&RG from 1947 when the D&RG RR bought the D&SL RR to when we moved it. We moved it from the Burnham Yards to the Forney Museum, then thru the Moffat Tunnel to our Moffat Museum. Terry’s Crane Service used 2 – 200,00 pound cranes to lift our derrick, from the Granby house track, and turn it 90 degrees, in mid air,so we could place it on our house track that we built. We have painted the derrick black and will number to 10300 with Denver & Salt Lake Railway lettering.
Check out this video by Denver 9News to see a remarkable video that they did of the move:
Click here to watch the 9News video on the DSL Derrick.
We have, at the museum, an O scale model especially made for us and only available thru the Moffat Museum.
Quick Links: QR Code Displays
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• Moffat Tunnel
• Blue Bear
• Hell Gate Bridge
• “The Moffat Road”
• #200 Mallet Locomotive