Although I realize this is a subject area that has all but died out LONG ago, I was wondering if anybody would have any information and hopefully detail photos of a Kohlenkran DR (Coaling Crane), especially the interior of the lower structure.

Now that I have retired from the military and settled down I am getting back into modeling and am working on my dream dio of a BR-52, BR-86, and Karl Gerat Moser.

One of the items I recently acquired was the CMK 1/35 Kohlenkran DR (Coaling Crane). It is a decent kit, but I hate the lower superstructure and plan on using some AKI Concrete effects and other detailing to improve the looks. I also have a huge issue of just having the thing sit there without making the scene look busy and want to convert it to an open door structure.

To date, I have not been able to find ANY information on the thing - especially what was inside. Obviously there was something - hence the door - but what?

I am imagining a shaft connected between the crane on top and the lower floor attached to several gears and/or counterweights and possibly an electric motor to control rotation of the crane but could be so far off base that someone out ther is laughing the back-side off at me right now. Thus my inquiry - if yoou have any info or especially photos - I would be gratefull if you would help out.

Thank you in advance
Robert

Sorry to say but I can offer no additional information other than to say this was an absolutely horrible way to refuel any sort of large steam locomotive.

I Googled "locomotive coaling crane" and found a number of various crane design photos (both real and model) but nothing much as to the mechanisms used to power them. Many cranes were manually powered so I suspect the lower base structure was fairly empty. The height of the base structure appears to varry relative to the size of the locomotives being serviced.

I will support this - as far as I can see when googling "Kohlekran" or "Kohlekran Reichsbahn" in most cases the lower base construction just seems to serve as a heavy counterweight for the crane and had almost no interior...

Regards,
Arne

Thanks all for your inputs. I am starting to agree and think I may be over-complicating this thing. Arne - I want to especially thank you for suggesting "Kohlekran Reichsbahn". I never tried that and that searc opened up a wealth of new information.

Although I tend to agree with your comments - my continueing searches have revieled 2 things - 1. almost all Kohlekran photos I have found have either a door or service hatch and 2. one photo in particular showed a Kohlekran with no crane attached on top, only a post extending upwards out of the roof of the lower structure.

This leads me to believe that the lower structure may have just been a reinforced connection housing with a simple pivot post attached inside to keep the loads the crane was lifting from ripping the crane off the top of the structure.

Anyway - Thanks all
Robert

I agree completely. A single metal column up the center of the tiny room which otherwise serves as a small storeroom.