Boston Elevated Ry. 0551

Transit companies used crane cars to clean up wrecks and for track work. Industrial Works (later named Industrial Brownhoist) of Bay City, Michigan built crane car No. 0551 for the Boston Elevated Railway in 1911. (In Boston, rapid transit car numbers all started with zero to distinguish them from surface streetcars.) The BERy assigned No. 0551 to the Cambridge-Dorchester subway. This subway line became part of today’s MBTA Red Line. The crane car was accompanied by a tool tender trailer car such as No. 0553 which is also at Seashore. No. 0551 has a curved boom for tight tunnel clearances. It also has a special “inching” drive motor that can move it slowly for short distances along the track for accurate positioning. Normally, the crane car and tool car were pulled by a locomotive such as Boston Elevated No. 0514 which is also at Seashore. No. 0551 continued in service when the Metropolitan Transit Authority took over the BERy in 1947 and when the MTA reorganized as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in 1964. By the 1970s, the crane had become obsolete. The MBTA considered removing the crane mechanism and using the remainder of the car as a flat car in work train service. Seashore became aware of this plan and instead suggested that the MBTA donate No. 0551 to the museum in exchange for a newer flat car which Seashore could give to the MBTA. In 1977, the MBTA decided to purchase a new group of flat cars for work train service and agreed to donate the crane car to Seashore without needing a flat car in exchange. In 1978, Seashore brought No. 0551 to the museum on the highway monster. The crane came in operating condition although with some mechanical problems. It was still lettered for the Boston Elevated Ry. Since No. 0551 was not self-propelled (aside from its “inching” motor), Seashore moved the crane with another vehicle, usually Boston rapid transit car No. 0719. Seashore also acquired two more Boston crane cars, No. 0504 in 1981 and No. 3246 in 1956. At 17 tons, No. 0551 has a higher lift capacity than the other two cranes. The museum has repainted No. 0551 and done extensive mechanical restoration work. In 1994, Seashore sent the car’s traction motor to the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad’s Derby, ME shop for an overhaul. This made it easier for No. 0551 to move short distances under its own power. No. 0551 became one of Seashore’s most useful work vehicles.