Manitowoc's 18000 and 21000 were a later solution for achieving the stable base of a ringer crane with the mobility of a crawler crane. Especially when it has a Maxer wagon (the pile of counterweights with its own wheels). The 21000 has eight crawler tracks, two in each corner. Many of these photos were in the above referenced "stinger" post. I moved them to their own post because a 21000 is currently working at the power plant in Romeoville, IL so I should be adding a lot of photos to these notes. My photos of the 21000. While I was there, I took photos related to the management of the coal pile. A 21000 was used in 2011 to build 499' smokestacks for a power plant. Only eight 21000s were built.
(Update: a 21000 with Maxxer wagon was used to rebuild a blast furnace.)
This video provides an overview.
And this is a closeup of the "counterweight wagon" called a "Maxer."
David Faul posted two photos.
J & H Trucking Inc. posted three photos with the comment: "Billy Shirley hauling a 99,000 lb. Manitowoc 21000 counterweight wagon from AL to TX."
Rail & Highway Heavy Loads posted two photos with the comment: "Anyone know what this is?"
["ballast truck" and "counterweight wagon" are the popular answers.]
Glen Cleary shared
Domenic Casa posted six pictures with the comment: "Oxford ct power plant." It is an "18000 with maxer." Riley Anderson One of my favorite jobs is installing tube bundles!
Ryan Alexson posted three photos with the comment: "250 tons on the 18000."
Louis Fedele posted two photos with the comment:
Miguel Perez posted six photos with the comment: "M18000 with maxer. Mexico."
Ben StalveyBen and 4 others manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Manitowoc Crane Enthusiasts. Hanging Maxer pretty rare
[I guess "Hanging Maxer" means the back wights don't have wheels. But I did notice the special yellow frame to hold the load until all of the forces were vertical.]
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd posted two photos with th comment: "The Manitowoc M18000 is ready to lift bridge beams. The configuration is using 91.4m of main boom, 42m of backmast, 223t of crane counterweight, 145t of carbody counterweight & 390t of Maxer counterweight."
This video provides an overview.
And this is a closeup of the "counterweight wagon" called a "Maxer."
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| Wade Zeckser posted What is it? Greg Scher That's the counterweight wagon from a 18000/21000 -- the same wagon is used on both rigs. Greg Scher That wagon is set at the 50-foot radius swing. I have the same wagon on my 21000 right now. I have 245-feet of luffer in mine at the moment. |
David Faul posted two photos.
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J & H Trucking Inc. posted three photos with the comment: "Billy Shirley hauling a 99,000 lb. Manitowoc 21000 counterweight wagon from AL to TX."
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Rail & Highway Heavy Loads posted two photos with the comment: "Anyone know what this is?"
["ballast truck" and "counterweight wagon" are the popular answers.]
Glen Cleary shared
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| Dale Lanham commented on a post [So is that an 18000 or a 21000?] |
18000
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| Brandon Storie shared Louie Dee 18 in beast mode Brandon Storie Ground zero few years ago, rebuilding world trade center Louie Dee We hauled that out of there 68 loads later |
Domenic Casa posted six pictures with the comment: "Oxford ct power plant." It is an "18000 with maxer." Riley Anderson One of my favorite jobs is installing tube bundles!
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| David Neil Duncan posted Ben Stalvey Awesome 18000 with maxer a beast of a crane |
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| David Neil Duncan posted Ben Stalvey 18000 680 ton crane Ben Stalvey If you put a maxer wagon on her she will lift 825 tons Robert Burbridge This is the workhorse. The MLC doesn't have the reliability. Ben Stalvey Alot issues with the new MLC? Robert Burbridge From what I have dealt with, is the tray losing calibration, all the updates, 6 software updates, oil leaks, etc. It's not a machine that doesn't make you nervous anytime it's working. This is only my first hand knowledge. But they are trying to resolve the problems. |
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| Nick Magnotta commented on the above posting |
Ryan Alexson posted three photos with the comment: "250 tons on the 18000."
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| 3 Ben Stalvey light lift Ryan Alexson Thing literally cost 30 million. |
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| Austin Strut Kay posted
Work has stopped on a train bridge as a CSX intermodal consist train barrels through this morning in Adams, TN
Manitowoc 18000
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| Uwe Scharfe posted, 2 18000s Uwe Scharfe Happened aprox 8 years ago In Baku Azerbaijan. Cause:= Ground on one side slighly out of levell = over she goes sideways! [Note the boom is crumpled to the side over the left crawler. Judging from the comments, The connection between the boom and the mast is two "pendant bars" connected to a "bridle." Speculation is that when the crane started tilting sideways because of soft ground, one pendant bar and then the other. That is why the boom fell to the side. And some commented that they were glad to see the mast stays are strong enough to hold the mast even with a shock load.] |
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| Jeremiah Rice posted M18000 79m main boom 12m maxxer 164.5t girder 31.2m radius Ben StalveyGroup Admin Sweet 18000 with maxer even. Jeremiah Rice Will be changing to 18m tray soon. William Oldani Seams like an Awful lot of Crane for a Road Project! Must be a BIG Budget! Jeremiah Rice Limited room in areas so need to lift inline. 165t plus rigging @ 40m plus ground bearing pressures are a big issue bigger crane less toe pressure. Plus still have the marine to go. |
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| Nick Spinning commented on a posting [18000 Maxer] |
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| William Oldani commented on a posting [18000 Maxer] |
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| Tyan Alexson commented on a posting
[18000 Maxer Comparing this photo with the one above shows how the wheels can be turned for swiveling vs. travelling. The guy also provides scale. Manitowoc must have used tires designed for mining trucks and huge front-end loaders.]
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| Rick Shepherd commented on a posting [18000] |
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| Tim Freitag posted, cropped One of the two 18,000s strolling across the road on our job. Tim Freitag Walnut il |
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| Matt Crader posted Saw this on the Space X page. Looks like Lampson has an 18000 down in Boca Chica [TX]. |
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| Keith Emond commented on Matt's post Another angle. |
Louis Fedele posted two photos with the comment:
New Castle Delaware Croda.. Manitowoc 18,000 280’ main 360,000 lbs @ 55’
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Miguel Perez posted six photos with the comment: "M18000 with maxer. Mexico."
Ben StalveyBen and 4 others manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Manitowoc Crane Enthusiasts. Hanging Maxer pretty rare
[I guess "Hanging Maxer" means the back wights don't have wheels. But I did notice the special yellow frame to hold the load until all of the forces were vertical.]
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| Matt Mohd Ji posted This is awesome. This is something we asian dont get to see moving huge crane in 1 pieces. Ryan Babjak I’ve never seen that before. Is there a issue with road width something on site or a very long move? I know Mammoet doesn’t allow their cranes to crawl without mats at least they didn’t last job I was on with them. So I guess that is a alternative. Great Picture !! Riley Anderson Ryan Babjak I read the article a while back when this came out, I think it was on a wind power project and they were using this setup to move between locations quickly. It also allows them to work as soon as they arrive and not have to unload the crane from the transporter. John Suckoe Anything to cost the customer more money . David Whitehead John Suckoe probably saved $$ in the long run by saving hours of tearing down and setting up multiple times vs 1 time charges for engineering and fabrication. Not worth it for just a few turbines, but for a farm with several, I can see the time and money savings. [Some comments call it two Goldhoffer trailers. Others call it a SPMT. The key is the jacks at the end of each outrigger. They leave the crane mounted, but jacked up, to do a wind turbine. The many rubber tires would have less soil pressure than the crawler tracks. But the high center of gravity over a narrow transport would still require a very level road. I'd think a boom buggy would be a cheaper and safer way to spread the load.] |
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Video of MAXER wheels coming off the ground (source) He never did show what kind of load was being lifted.
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| Aaron Payne commented on the video post Fully loaded and extended wagon on 21000 |
A 21000 help add some pollution control equipment to the Miller Power Station.
Waseem Hendricks posted 30 photos of a 16000 and 21000 doing some tandem lifts.
Ben Stalvey posted two photos with the comment: "Throwback Thursday Manitowoc WI style. Nothing like booming straight up a massive 21000....."
Kevin Karner Ben Stalvey How many 21000’s were produced?
Riley Anderson Kevin Karner ALL had 3 of them, but I think only has 2 now.
Berry has 1 in south Texas (old ALL machine)
Beyel has 1 in Florida
TVA has 1
Mammoet has 1
there was 1 overseas at a shipyard I think (it was painted blue)
I think it was only 7 built.
Waseem Hendricks posted 30 photos of a 16000 and 21000 doing some tandem lifts.
Ben Stalvey posted two photos with the comment: "Throwback Thursday Manitowoc WI style. Nothing like booming straight up a massive 21000....."
Kevin Karner Ben Stalvey How many 21000’s were produced?
Riley Anderson Kevin Karner ALL had 3 of them, but I think only has 2 now.
Berry has 1 in south Texas (old ALL machine)
Beyel has 1 in Florida
TVA has 1
Mammoet has 1
there was 1 overseas at a shipyard I think (it was painted blue)
I think it was only 7 built.
[These photos were taken during a test.]
This provides insight as to how the crane is assembled.
Ruben Calderon posted three photos with the comment: "Moving our Manitowoc 21000 last week....all 8 tracks, swivel, carbody, wide strut frames and upper super structure with the lower counterweights!"
Aaron Payne posted two photos with the comment: "That last 21,000 post had me thinking about 2007. Detroit MI Local 324 fixing to pic 1,000,079.00. Took it out 97 ft. Blast Furnace Rouge Steel"
Benjamin Burnett Big monster had a set of 2250 tracks at each corner. Thing was a beast. Tracked over 50' with 1.2 million pounds on the the hook.
Benjamin Burnett 198 trucks to ship out, if I remember right.... Easily could have been 98 though lol...
Steve Salvatore Benjamin Burnett in what configuration does take 98 loads? Let alone 198?
I sold a 21000 out of my fleet a couple years ago and with 300’ main, 300’ luff, 140’ mast, full Max-er it took 72 loads.
Ryan Abbott Benjamin Burnett +\- 40 loads of counterweight alone?
Steve Salvatore Ryan Abbott 49 loads that were either just cwt or cwt mixed in with other components.
[I've noticed that a hydro crane takes almost as many truckloads as a lattice boom crane because they can carry the boom segments on the same trailer that has counterweights.]
Aaron Payne Steve Salvatore if I remember correctly I believe we had like 75-80 truckloads. A lot of counterweights.
Bob Brickman I always thought the 21000 is cool.
How many 21000’s were built ?
What is max capacity of a 21000 ?
Aaron Payne Bob Brickman 1,000 ton
Five photos of the BERRY 21000 being built with full Maxer and 200' main with 240' luffer for oil platform work.
When I read that a 21000 had been assembled at the Will County Power Plant (currently named NRG #18), I made a trip to see what I could see from public land. The advantage of a big crane is that you can at least see the booms.
I added some of my photos to a post by Ben Stalvey asking if a 21000 is being used.
Riley Anderson The new cranes in that capacity class are easier to transport, MUCH easier to assemble, have better load charts and much better ground bearing info and are more mobile. The 21000 is a very old design compared with the 1000 ton cranes of today and sadly it has been drastically outdated.
This is an overview of what you see after you cross Romeo Road (135th Street) from the trail-head parking. On this visit, about half of the coal storage land is being used. The crane is parked in its jackknifed position, as I expected.
And this is after I zoomed in some (70mm and cropped) to get a close up of the plant and crane from the trail. Note the boom of a "little" crane under the inverted-V of the 21000's booms. (The boom attached to the crane's house is the main boom and the other boom is called the luffer jib or simply the luffer.)
Then I walked west along the trail to get a better angle.
If it wasn't for some landscaping and a conveyor belt, this would have been a good view. The tracks are in the shadows so it is hard to see that the corner of the crane has two crawler tracks.
After I left the trail-head parking, I used to road that used to go to the old Romeoville Road Bobtail Bridge to see what I could see from across the canal. Below is the view soon after you cross the BNSF tracks as an overview. Those trees on the left along the canal are a problem. As I went down the access road, I had a hard time finding a gap in those trees.
But I did find a gap.
One advantage of a 24mega-pixel digital camera is that I can zoom by cropping the photo. At camera resolution, it looks like there is a dolly with four wheels to hold the luffer jib. (I confirmed that "dolly" is the correct term from the product guide: "Luffing jib attachment includes dolly to support jib point during jackknife erection and lowering.") Cranes with a luffer cannot raise the luffer unless the main boom is almost straight up. This dolly helps hold the weight of the luffer so that the main boom can be lowered to the angle we see. As the main boom lowers, the wheels allow the luffer's tip to move away from the house.
I optically zoomed in (105mm) on the main part of the crane even though a lot of it was skunked by a building.
We can see the outside crawler tracks on the front and that it is an ALL rental.
A couple of weeks later I made another trip to see if I could find some action. The luffer was in the air, but the hook was hanging on the other side of the building. I spent a while watching but nothing happened.
The reason I'm down here by the Chicago Ship & Sanitary Canal was that I passed a westbound BNSF container train on my way here so I went to this crossing to take a video of it.
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A BNSF truck was parked by the crossing when I arrived. After the train passed through, he got over the rail, lowered his rail wheels, and took off.
By now you are probably wondering why I've spent so much time talking about a train in some crane notes. Since it was early in the afternoon, I had figured that either the hook was going to stay at its current location for a long time or it would move a few times during the afternoon. But when I turned around, the hook was not only raised, the crane had turned towards its parking position and it was lowering the luffer jib. That means it was quitting for the day!
I had planned to be watching the crane from the west side by the time it was lowering the luffer. But I had to stick with this angle since it was in motion, I think. It was moving so slowly that I could not tell if it was moving by just watching. So I started taking a sequence of photos. It was moving, but way to slow to take a video of the movement. (A MLC300 lowered its luffer, which was considerably longer than its main boom, quickly enough that I did take a video of that action.) I wish Microsoft apps would display the seconds in the file timestamps, but it turns out this action was slow enough that one minute resolutions is almost good enough.
I interrupted my photos of the crane because a tow was going downstream (from Chicago to Joliet).
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There was a lot of wind noise because there was a lot of wind. It occurred to me that is why the crane was quitting for the day. By the time I turned my attention back to the crane, the tow add moved far enough to be in line with the luffer. If I ignore the fence in the foreground, I got a decent view of the retractable pilothouse as well as the luffer boom being down. I switched from my desktop to my laptop which does have a photo display application that will display seconds.
As I left the BNSF crossing area, I took an overview photo.
I then went back to the trail-head parking and took photos as I walked along it hoping to find a gap in the trees that aligned with a gap in the buildings. I did find this. This was taken at the full 200mm zoom of my lens.
I still can't see the top of the primary counterweights. But I can see that it has a Maxer wagon. I also caught that the dozers for managing the coal pile have BIG blades.
I walked as far west as I can go on the trail and still see the plant to get the best angle I could of the inverted-V to show how far the main boom is lowered.
Walking back, I found another gap worthy of a 200mm closeup. You can clearly see the two front tracks and part of the outside rear track. And this view shows more of the Maxer.
I do plan to make more trips. It should be easy to catch the boom in the air from the trail.
Years ago, I read an article saying this plant would quit burning coal. They were going to close the smaller units and convert a big unit to gas. The article said about 50 workers would be laid off because about half of the current staff manages the coal storage.
A while after reading that article, I made a trip to take a photo with an empty coal pile. But the pile was full to the street! I haven't seen it that full since then, but they still maintain a coal pile. I noticed that the current satellite image is of the correct age to catch the full pile.
But the purpose of this section is to catch the scrappers that were working when I took photos of the 21000 on Jun 7, 2019.
I've noticed that many contractors now use a big articulated-steer agriculture tractor instead of a dozer to pull scrappers. Here they are loading the scrappers on the top of the pile
Then he is dumping the coal closer to the street so they are expanding the pile.
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| Aaron Payne posted When the Ringer looks like an ant compared to the 21000. Still love that old rig better tho! [Note that the 21000 had eight crawler tracks.] |
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| Brandon Storie commented on Aaron's post When you think the 21000 is big lol [The bigger crane is a 31000. Manitowoc made just two of them.] |
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| Richard Rolls posted building up a 21000 at work [One of the better views of the Octa-Track that I have seen.] Derek Recob What's the rope diameter? Mark Goodrich 1-1/4 Corkey Crane #2 was actually the first one built to satisfy ALL Crane, Manitowoc's biggest customer. #1 went to Maxim-Mamoet joint venture, so both argued that they got the first 21000. #4 was at the WTC cleanup. It was so heavy that it cracked the seawall. I was running #2 on 9/11/01 and by mid-afternoon I was getting calls that they were taking it and to be prepared for a 24/7 disassembly, but they only took some extra parts and boom sections. ALL was able to piece together #4 instead. I was on #4 after it left the WTC. Riley AndersonRiley and 4 others manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Manitowoc Crane Enthusiasts. I'm not sure which one this is. The serial number was posted last year when Berry took delivery of it. ALL owned (3) 21000's. Serial 2, 4, & 7 I believe. They sold this one and at last count still have the other 2. I believe Richard posted that he has #7 in Canada with him. Maybe he or Mike can elaborate as to which (2) machines ALL has left in the fleet. Richard MorrisonRichard and 137 others joined Manitowoc Crane Enthusiasts within the last two weeks. Give them a warm welcome into your community! Unfortunately, the 20 year old technology makes it uncompetitive to move. Great lifter though. The #7 in my area had sat for 2 years prior. That's a lot of real estate taken up, in somebody yard. [I remember reading somewhere that it is 117 truckloads to transfer.] |
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| Jason Nlkl commented on Richard's posting Here's one back a few years in Dallas, massive crane for sure. |
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| Joe Wallin commented on Richard's posting |
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| Roger Krueger posted Someone was interested in seeing the last 21000 next to the 31000. |
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| William Platou posted Not my pic .. 21000 going up in South Texas .. from big to small it's all physics..pulleys and triangles... Earl Click Sheaves dude not pulleys. William Platou I get it, in crane language its sheaves; in physics its pulleys-its true a crane is triangles either compression or de-compression.. Gary Fox A 21,000 is going together at Ottumwa IA. Parts started arriving last week. |
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| Aaron Payne posted When you send your biggest operator over for a pic to compare the size of the 21000 head section. RIP Fat Bastard we all miss ya bud! Detroit 324 |
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| Corey Thomas commented on the above posting Worked around this crane. Seems like it has been for sale for awhile! |
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| Mario Alberto Martinez posted La manitowoc 21000 OCTA-TRACK [You can clearly see the pairs of tracks in each corner in this photo.] |
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| Mike Steele posted 21,ooo at Kennedy space center Dannie Joel Shields Duke web ran the erection part he said the crane I had 750 foot of Boom. Mike Steele We built them Dukes gang set them 725 total 1m and a half on the maxer yes it was All rented from mamoutt Arthur Moran Tallest thing in Florida Brian Peterson Pretty high above sea level for Florida. [According to the comments, they are building a lightning rod.] |
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| Aaron Payne posted When the oilers score a 55 gallon drum of Armor All. Local 324 |
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| Jason Wiskochil commented on Aaron's posting This is the 21000 in the Coal Burner in Monroe...haha...awesome |
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| Jason Wiskochil commented on Aaron's posting |
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| Aaron commented on his posting |
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| Aaron commented on his posting |
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| Aaron commented on his posting |
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| Ben Stalvey posted Manitowoc 21000 lifting a 478 ton vessel at a chemical plant in Illinois [Ben called this a "hanging tray" setup and said they were rare. Other comments indicate they were rare because "counterweight wagon" was a better solution.] |
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| Ben Stalvey posted Mike Larson thanks for this awesome picture. Equipped with 180 foot of main boom and 220ft of luffing jib. This 21000 with maxer placed this 314,000lb load with rigging 125 ft up. The 21000 is Manitowocs second largest crane with a capacity of 1,000 tons with maxer. [And here is an example of the 21000 with a wagon.] |
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| Tom Wojak posted 21000 Chillicothe Iowa |
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| Dan Ford commented on Tom's posting |
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| Screenshot @ -1.06 shot from the worker basket, TC Shockley video comment on Tom's posting |
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| Screenshot @ -1.32 shot from the worker basket, TC Shockley video comment on Tom's posting Brendon Petersmith TC Shockley that's awesome! I don't get that perspective very often. And really hard to believe its 130 feet taller than the 2250 in the video. But really happy it looks somewhat smooth and not sending you guys swinging off to who knows where! Which happened now and then im sure! This rig will humble anyone in a minute. TC Shockley Brendon Petersmith it’s actually pretty smooth for the most part, I enjoy working with it every chance I get. Brendon Petersmith It doesnt do anything fast, that's for damn sure! Ill fly you guys anywhere you wanna go! Its been a pleasure. |
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| Kris Must posted Roy Stone Where does All have a 21000 up at? David Russian I work for ALL, I believe this pic is a few yrs old. This looks like a refinery in Philly. [This is also posted in bending booms.] |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Kris' post There has been one in Romeoville, IL, since June. I've been going out there every few weeks. I see I'm way behind in posting photos and videos. https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/.../manitowocs... About a month ago, it was joined by a 2250. There used to be four smokestacks in this Oct 9, 2019, view. |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Kris' post |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Kris' post I found a Jul 2, 2019, photo of the 21000 where they were lifting the worker-basket away from the smokestack that they were working on. Between the boom and mast of the 21000 is the boom of a little crane. I presume it is used for assembly and disassembly because I have never seen it move. I have found angles through the plant to confirm that it is using a Maxer wagon. Obviously, I'm photographing from public property. |
This provides insight as to how the crane is assembled.
Ruben Calderon posted three photos with the comment: "Moving our Manitowoc 21000 last week....all 8 tracks, swivel, carbody, wide strut frames and upper super structure with the lower counterweights!"
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Benjamin Burnett Big monster had a set of 2250 tracks at each corner. Thing was a beast. Tracked over 50' with 1.2 million pounds on the the hook.
Benjamin Burnett 198 trucks to ship out, if I remember right.... Easily could have been 98 though lol...
Steve Salvatore Benjamin Burnett in what configuration does take 98 loads? Let alone 198?
I sold a 21000 out of my fleet a couple years ago and with 300’ main, 300’ luff, 140’ mast, full Max-er it took 72 loads.
Ryan Abbott Benjamin Burnett +\- 40 loads of counterweight alone?
Steve Salvatore Ryan Abbott 49 loads that were either just cwt or cwt mixed in with other components.
[I've noticed that a hydro crane takes almost as many truckloads as a lattice boom crane because they can carry the boom segments on the same trailer that has counterweights.]
Aaron Payne Steve Salvatore if I remember correctly I believe we had like 75-80 truckloads. A lot of counterweights.
Bob Brickman I always thought the 21000 is cool.
How many 21000’s were built ?
What is max capacity of a 21000 ?
Aaron Payne Bob Brickman 1,000 ton
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| Matt Mohd Ji posted Willy White I was out there when they built that. Iron Workers 888 out of Orlando put it together and then run by a Maxim operator. It was Maxim’s out of Orlando 21000 with a Maxer. Took 100 loads to get it off Base. Willy White They built 2 of these platforms, then changed the design of the rocket and started over. They will have to re-build it again after they launch the Artemis rocket next year Steve Salvatore Willy White these units do not take 100 loads to move. 300’ main, 300’ luff, 140’ mast & full maxer was 72 loads to move. Willy White They used the same crane to build the lightening protection at 39a and 39b.. 21000 with a maxer and 500 feet of stick if I remember correctly. Mannon Adams Hell of a luffer. Jonathan David Owens Ran this crane over a year 260/280luff loved it. Corkey Crane 21000 Maxer is awesome on heavy picks. However, that headache ball will eat your lunch, especially with fully loaded wagon and a pad with high/low spots! |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on Corkey's comment on Matt's post I never thought about how much that worker basket would "bounce" while swinging if the wagon was not on a very flat pad. With that much leverage, I can imagine that any little up&down at the wagon would be a lot of up&down at the basket. The job was removing a smokestack at the power plant in Romeoville, IL. |
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| Ryan Stoner commented on Matt's post I'd put money on it that ALL Crane wouldn’t have a Maxim crane on their website. Pretty sure ALL Crane, not Maxim, had that 21000. |
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| Maarten van den Akker posted Manitowoc 21000 Foto was taken in south Africa |
Five photos of the BERRY 21000 being built with full Maxer and 200' main with 240' luffer for oil platform work.
Phil Smithers: had 200 an 240 in memphis then 200 an 260 on the next tva project.
Mando Maqueda posted some photos (including comments) of the luffer in the air.
In the meantime, ALL is also running one of theirs.
(new window) I have seen this video before, but I can't find it in my notes.
(new window) I have seen this video before, but I can't find it in my notes.
My Photos of the 21000
When I read that a 21000 had been assembled at the Will County Power Plant (currently named NRG #18), I made a trip to see what I could see from public land. The advantage of a big crane is that you can at least see the booms.
I added some of my photos to a post by Ben Stalvey asking if a 21000 is being used.
Riley Anderson The new cranes in that capacity class are easier to transport, MUCH easier to assemble, have better load charts and much better ground bearing info and are more mobile. The 21000 is a very old design compared with the 1000 ton cranes of today and sadly it has been drastically outdated.
June 7, 2019
This is an overview of what you see after you cross Romeo Road (135th Street) from the trail-head parking. On this visit, about half of the coal storage land is being used. The crane is parked in its jackknifed position, as I expected.
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| Const 20190607 8232-40+20 |
Then I walked west along the trail to get a better angle.
If it wasn't for some landscaping and a conveyor belt, this would have been a good view. The tracks are in the shadows so it is hard to see that the corner of the crane has two crawler tracks.
After I left the trail-head parking, I used to road that used to go to the old Romeoville Road Bobtail Bridge to see what I could see from across the canal. Below is the view soon after you cross the BNSF tracks as an overview. Those trees on the left along the canal are a problem. As I went down the access road, I had a hard time finding a gap in those trees.
But I did find a gap.
One advantage of a 24mega-pixel digital camera is that I can zoom by cropping the photo. At camera resolution, it looks like there is a dolly with four wheels to hold the luffer jib. (I confirmed that "dolly" is the correct term from the product guide: "Luffing jib attachment includes dolly to support jib point during jackknife erection and lowering.") Cranes with a luffer cannot raise the luffer unless the main boom is almost straight up. This dolly helps hold the weight of the luffer so that the main boom can be lowered to the angle we see. As the main boom lowers, the wheels allow the luffer's tip to move away from the house.
I optically zoomed in (105mm) on the main part of the crane even though a lot of it was skunked by a building.
We can see the outside crawler tracks on the front and that it is an ALL rental.
June 25, 2019
A couple of weeks later I made another trip to see if I could find some action. The luffer was in the air, but the hook was hanging on the other side of the building. I spent a while watching but nothing happened.
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| 20190625 8290 1:18pm |
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A BNSF truck was parked by the crossing when I arrived. After the train passed through, he got over the rail, lowered his rail wheels, and took off.
By now you are probably wondering why I've spent so much time talking about a train in some crane notes. Since it was early in the afternoon, I had figured that either the hook was going to stay at its current location for a long time or it would move a few times during the afternoon. But when I turned around, the hook was not only raised, the crane had turned towards its parking position and it was lowering the luffer jib. That means it was quitting for the day!
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There was a lot of wind noise because there was a lot of wind. It occurred to me that is why the crane was quitting for the day. By the time I turned my attention back to the crane, the tow add moved far enough to be in line with the luffer. If I ignore the fence in the foreground, I got a decent view of the retractable pilothouse as well as the luffer boom being down. I switched from my desktop to my laptop which does have a photo display application that will display seconds.
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I then went back to the trail-head parking and took photos as I walked along it hoping to find a gap in the trees that aligned with a gap in the buildings. I did find this. This was taken at the full 200mm zoom of my lens.
I still can't see the top of the primary counterweights. But I can see that it has a Maxer wagon. I also caught that the dozers for managing the coal pile have BIG blades.
I walked as far west as I can go on the trail and still see the plant to get the best angle I could of the inverted-V to show how far the main boom is lowered.
Walking back, I found another gap worthy of a 200mm closeup. You can clearly see the two front tracks and part of the outside rear track. And this view shows more of the Maxer.
I do plan to make more trips. It should be easy to catch the boom in the air from the trail.
Coal Pile Management
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A while after reading that article, I made a trip to take a photo with an empty coal pile. But the pile was full to the street! I haven't seen it that full since then, but they still maintain a coal pile. I noticed that the current satellite image is of the correct age to catch the full pile.
But the purpose of this section is to catch the scrappers that were working when I took photos of the 21000 on Jun 7, 2019.
Then he is dumping the coal closer to the street so they are expanding the pile.
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