While COVID-19 may have TVRM closed to the public, that hasn’t stopped them from continuing with other projects. One such project is a state-funded project to help build new storage tracks at Allied Metals. The first major step was accomplished on Friday, May 1st when the new switch was installed for the spur. To move it into position, the museums 150-ton Derrick Crane was brought over for the installation of it. The crane itself was originally built in 1917 by the Bucyrus Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Southern as the steam powered D-68, believed to have been based in Knoxville. It was converted to diesel about 1970, and renumbered to 903008. The boom on this crane came from the Raleigh based derrick that was originally built for the original Norfolk Southern Railway.
The power that brought the Derrick over was TAG 80, a EMD GP38 that was originally built for the Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway (The TAG Route) in 1968. It is also believed to be the first production high hood GP38-series locomotive. It was used to bring the Derrick over & to help supply air to the main reservoir that powers some of the appliances.
Being a railfan myself & having good lighting available to me, I couldn’t resist grabbing a few shots on my phone of the consist posing while the Derrick was in use. I wish I had my camera with me, but oh well. Like I’ve said before, working at railroad museum does have a few perks.
