Useful relics at Portland Co?

[Benjamin Campbell]

A non railfan friend who lives within sight of the old Portland Co said that they started some demo work there today. I peaked in the window of the largest structure last fall and noticed several smaller 'jib cranes' still in place. These were generally used to swing heavy pieces into position over lathes and other machine tools. Could be neat (and useful) to save several of these if they are going to get scrapped. I wonder if any other useful relics of the Portland Co days are within?

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Jib cranes were sometimes used for coaling locomotives, I don't remember seeing any pictures of one on the WW&F but maybe one could be used for other things near the shop or at the sawmill?

Mike Nix

[Bernie Perch]

Wasn't there some sort of crane between the turntable and the coal shed in Wiscasset?

Bernie

[John Kokas]

Bernie, I think you're correct.  Time to get my 2 Feet to Tidewater out again!

[Mike Fox]

There was a jib crane on the Wiscasset Roundhouse, attached to the outside wall of the run through bay.

[Graham Buxton]

Brendan posted this image of the Wiscasset turntable to RYPN in 2016 that appears to show a jib crane ...


Here is that earlier thread: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39754

[Jeff Schumaker]

If you look closely, there appears to be a bucket attached to the crane cable.

Jeff S.

[John Kokas]

Yes, definitely a bucket.  My bet - a coaling jib for the engines,  there are several videos out there showing how it worked on the B&H.  I think if we could get one or two it would be neat to have one at our coal dock.

[Benjamin Campbell]

I may be misnaming the pieces I am referring to although I have seen them referred to as 'jib cranes' by machinists. They are a smallish iron I beam or in many cases a section of railroad rail ranging from 8 to 16 feet in length and fixed in the horizontal position with an upwardly sloping top brace. They are mounted to a column or wall on a pivot which allows them to swing in an arc. A pulley and chain fall travels the length of the rail allowing heavy pieces to be machined to be swung over lathes - millers etc. The B&MRR's shops had them mounted over every machine tool.

The Portland Co buildings contain at least a few of these and who knows what other useful remnants from it's manufacturing days. It would be neat to save useful artifacts which may have played a part in the construction of #9 and other narrow gauge equipment. Work is underway so time is of the essence. Any Portland area members want to check it out?

What about the wood foundry patterns which are or were stored in one of the Portland Co buildings?

[Mike Fox]

Those are also Jib cranes Ben. We have long talked the useful advantages of some of these strategically placed.

[Mike Fox]

Wiscasset Roundhouse Jib Crane

[Bill Baskerville]

Wow, look at the kink in that track in the lower picture.  Our road crew does a much better job of keeping our track in good shape.