Steam Crane Aesthetic Restoration

The Truckee Donner Railroad Society has two historic pieces of railroad equipment on public display in the Railyard Pocket Park.  In 2019, we completed the aesthetic restoration of the 1937 Alco rotary snowplow, which participated in the famous 1952 rescue of the snowbound City of San Francisco passenger train near Donner Pass.  

Next year, we will begin the restoration of our 1930 Bucyrus Erie Steam Crane.  With a capacity of 160-tons, the crane was used by Southern Pacific to help lift steam, and later diesel locomotives, back on to tracks after derailment.

Aesthetic restoration of the crane and signage for the exhibit will cost approximately $32,000.  So far, we've raised about $17,000, including a $10,000 grant from Union Pacific.  We need another $15,000 to reach our goal and complete the restoration project in 2022.