Comments on: Tired Old Dog IVXX 50014 (Ivaco Steel, nee-CN 50014) is an Industrial Works 200-ton wrecking crane, serial number 5137, built in 1928. I snapped it sitting on the scrapping track waiting to meet the hot wrench at Ivaco Steel in L’Orignal, ON June 5, 1991. It was just a mere 73 years old at the time (34 years ago).

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Fri, 30 May 2025 04:13:58 +0000

Thanks Michael. I continue to find a few old photos from my days ‘working on the railroad’.
Steve: If equipped for self-propulsion, a full floating vertical propelling shaft ran down through the center of the rotating deck and car body and through this shaft a pair of inclined counter shafts, and spur and bevel gearing under the carbody to the inside axles of each truck. Maximum self-propelled travel speed ranged from 2-4 m.p.h.
This travel gearing could be disengaged when the crane was in transit or being moved by a locomotive at a wreck site.
I scan and send some technical literature on wrecking crane fabrication to your personal email.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Thu, 29 May 2025 13:31:01 +0000

What method of propulsion did this thing have?

By: Klaucker

Klaucker — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:56:46 +0000

Great capture Paul !

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Wed, 28 May 2025 20:40:04 +0000

Thanks for the year correction in my above Caption
MrDan : Thanks for your comment. My inventory records also confirm its long tenure as part of the London, ON auxiliary.
I worked wrecks at Canfield, ON in October 1971, and Simcoe, ON in June of 1975 where CN 50014 was one of the wreckers on site.
Other photos and inventory information I have in my files confirm it was at Fort Erie in August 1945, London July 1960, Capreol March 1970, Brighton March 1977, Coniston June 1977, and Pointe St. Charles shop December 1981.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Wed, 28 May 2025 20:05:24 +0000

Photos show this one was London-assigned for some of the 1950′s and 1970′s. It probably cleaned up its fair share of wrecks and derailments in Southern Ontario over the years.

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Wed, 28 May 2025 15:17:52 +0000

My math sucks!
It was just a mere 63 years old at the time (34 years ago).