W.C. Richardson's cranes

[Guest]

Wow - thank you very much for the detailed answer to my question!

[guest]

your the man! russ was good but your 2nd to none.

[William Lafferty]

The Richardson had twin 45-ton American Hoist & Derrick cranes, each powered by a GM "Twin Four" Diesel, while 15-hp electric motors controlled the booms' swing and four similar motors drove the crane's lateral motion on deck driving an eight wheel truck. The current for the motors (and magnets) was supplied by a 6-cylinder GM Diesel driving an Allis-Chalmers 100 kW, 300 volt generator. Both the hoist engines and generators were located in the crane cabs. The booms were 75-feet with 44" Cutler-Hammer magnets and Owen 4-yard clamshell buckets serving four hatches. So... That's how it was able to do its job in 1974. The work was done by the American Ship Building Company yard at South Chicago during the winter of 1950-1951.

[Guest]

THe Jan 10 "Today in Great Lakes History" mentions an incident in 1974 when the W.C. Richardson was toward to lighter the Benson Ford. How were the cranes on the W.C. Richardson powered? I always that they were steam operated, but that doesn't seem likely if the boat was towed for this operation. Thanks.