Greetings from "The Crane Across the Street"

April 3, 2000

Wow, it's been over three weeks since I last wrote. We've worked so many days and so many nights I can't keep track of what day it is. We've done about a year's worth of work over the winter and it's really taking it's toll on many of us.

Well, we finally got the bridge open. I guess we're only a few days late. Today I watched the first ocean boat go under the bridge around noon and it was quite a sight. We got all the cables attached, all the machinery working, the counterbalance chains on, the uphaul downhaul cables on, the electrical gear, all the structural steel, and we still have alot to do. Today we balanced the counterweights with additional weight added to each one. Tomorrow we put painters in the basket and spot paint up on top where it needs it. The laborers will go in the basket later and grease all the cables from top to bottom. That ought to be fun!

We started "load out" today of material used for temporary structural supports, road barricades and crane mats. The bridge should be open to all ship traffic now. It must be really embarrassing for the bridge, though, as their new horn is really a letdown. I think when you hear it, you'll be real disappointed.

The rest of the bridge is great. We're starting normal hours now so we will all be much happier. Lots of odds and ends to take care of and alot of cleanup. I think I'll be moving on in two to three weeks. I've got to say I really enjoyed it here in Duluth. I think Milwaukee Art Center is my next job. Hope to write you one more time.

Thanks.

"The Crane Across the Street"

3/07/2000
Hello again from "The Crane Across The Street" I heard Duluth was a cold place to be in March. Well today it was almost 70 degrees. When I boomed over the bridge this afternoon, all I could see was long underwear hanging in the warm-up shack on the top of the north side of the bridge. What a great day!

We were able to get all 4 of the 43,000 lb. shives up last week. The longest traffic delay was about 40 minutes. Almost everyone was patient and really didn't want to walk or drive under those while they were being lifted into place.

The first set of cables that attach to the bridge over the shives and onto the counterweights came today. They will come eight at a time every couple of days until we can get all 48 in place.

The ice went out last week in the canal and really wasn't frozen solid for more than a couple of weeks. What a great winter that was for bridge repair. For weeks my operator and oiler were concerned about keeping me warm enough to run right and now they adjusted things to keep me cool enough to run right. They say more snow and cold weather are on the way but for now it sure feels good.

Hi to all you kids out there that like cranes. Knowing you are watching me keeps me on my toes (tracks). Here's a couple of fun questions for you kids;

1) What do you suppose the headache ball is on a crane? (I really don't feel sick)

2) And what is the "Rooster-Tail" and where is it located? (I don't see any feathers)

Have fun with these and I'll tell you the answers when I hear from some of you.

Bye for now! "The Crane Across the Street"

Feb 20, 2000
The Channel under the Aerial Lift Bridge finally froze over. We had ducks here most of the winter. The local pigeons on the bridge have been trying to avoid a "Pine Martin" which has been seen up on the structure several times this winter. The local bald eagles have been here especially during the time of open water. With most of the gulls gone, they seem to enjoy better fishing.

Things have been going pretty well for me, except one day my operator told me he thought I was "slipping". I told him I've thought he was "slipping" for the last few months! Anyway, it turned out that my master clutch was slipping. We called the doctor/mechanic (Harry from Black River Falls, Wisconsin). He said I needed a transplant and that's just what he did.

He removed my torque converter, replaced my master clutch and had me feeling better in no time. Now I wish he would do something with my operator! Thanks Harry!

The bridge repair has been moving along. Some of the new support steel is in and hundreds of rivets have been replaced with bolts. We will soon add the new sheaves on the north tower. These will be a fairly heavy lift for me so I've been working out and getting in shape.
My cousins, the hydraulic cranes, have been very busy working on the machine rooms on each side of the bridge. Gearboxes have been reworked, new support steel added, electrical equipment is being updated with work progressing nicely. We've even been busy with snow removal lately!

The painters should have both lanes open for traffic in a couple of weeks. Traffic will still be closed for short periods of time so work can be done. This will be kept to a minimum.

Thanks to the "Corps of Engineers", "the city bridge crew" and "Grandma's" for the little things they do to help out!

Bye for now.

"The Crane Across the Street"

February 2, 2000

Hello again from "The Crane Across the Street" to the Duluth Shipping News.

A lot has happened since I first wrote you. I needed 20 more feet of boom to reach over the bridge so we added that to my jib. Now I'm 290 feet tall.

We have been using grease that lubricates even in very low temperatures. That really helps me keep running smoothly.

I don't feel as old as I used to because I joined the computer world. It's a small one that turns on a heater at 4 a.m. every morning and runs for three hours. It heats the water in my engine so I am warm for starting at 7 a.m. If you see me swinging, lifting my cable and booming alot around 7, it's to loosen up for the day's activities.

I need to be working well for the crew when they start. They are all members of the Duluth Building Trades. These are all local union members striving for the highest quality work, while still showing a high level of productivity. A lot is expected of me.

So far I helped remove tons of structural steel and hundreds of old rivets. Closing the bridge for short times really helps us do this safely. Thank you to all who have waited for those red lights.

We took all the old lifting cables off so now the 450 ton cement counterweights are sitting on temporary steel beams, a hundred feet in the air, waiting to be reattached. The old shives from 1929 are off and two of the new ones arrived and are being prepared for installation. My cousins, the two smaller cranes have been busy working on the machinery houses on each end of the bridge while Jr. and I are working on the top. We're all real busy working 6 days a week.

Thanks for all the smiles and waves when you drive by. Bye for now, "The Crane Across the Street".

We received this email sometime in November

Dear Duluth Shipping News;

Greetings from "The Crane Across the Street" or "The Crane in Your Front Yard" (if you're in the Corps of Engineers Building). Sorry I haven't written sooner, but being the new kid on the block (canal) my son, a somewhat younger version of myself, and I have been just trying to blend in. He's across the bridge and to most of you, probably looks just like me. Actually, I'm 270 feet tall and he's only 260 feet tall. He's still growing. Blend in? Well, we're not having much luck.

When we first arrived, we were greeted warmly by the Aerial Lift Bridge crew. Apparently, the bridge has been showing signs of wear for a while and an overhaul of some areas is necessary. The Corps of Engineers has allowed me to set right in their front yard. What a change for them. They have been very gracious and helpful even though I need a lot of space to function well. Grandma's Restaurant let me get assembled right in their parking lot, causing quite a stir for their customers. Blend in? I guess not! Be accepted? Yes, with great warmth and enthusiasm. I soon hope you'll all feel that way.

A little about myself you say! I'm a 165-ton "American" crane. "American" is my manufacturers brand name and I was made here in the good old U.S.A. My travel speed, down the road if it could fit, is .08 mph. I would rather not tell you my age, but I can tell you I'd need collector license plates. One hundred sixty five ton is what I can lift and it is also approximately what I weigh. That makes the ground pressure under my tracks enormous. I have to sit on very large crane mats to keep from sinking into the sand.

I'm operated by a man from the Duluth area and maintained by a woman from the Superior area. Both are members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Duluth Local #49. He points me in the right direction and she does the rest. I've noticed that about your species in other areas. Oh well, it all seems to work out. While the operator was pointing and the oiler (Kitty) was working on my machinery, I needed help from our Ironworkers from the Duluth Union Local. They all worked day and night to get me together. I know they think alot of me and our great country, because on the highest point of my boom, they all attached the American Flag. When I raised my boom off the ground and reached for the sky I didn't BLEND IN, but I was soon accepted. Across a very historic canal with a proud heritage my son would soon fly the same flag. We're all part of a great country in a great community involved in the restoration of Duluth's great AERIAL LIFT BRIDGE. It's real good to be here trying to blend in.

Bye for now, I'll write again if you want me to!