Great Northern 441 Luxury Locomotive Lodge

The Big Lift

Armada of heavy equipment

An armada of nine semi loads of heavy equipment from Patrick Construction of Havre, Montana, descended on Essex on September 10, 2009.

The next day, four massive sideboom Cats lifted GN 441 off the east leg of the wye track and carried it east at a snail’s pace.

Even though the 441 has lost a lot of weight - its diesel engine, main alternator, traction motors, air compressor and other mechanicals - it still weighs nearly a quarter million pounds.

Sideboom Cats lift GN 441

Communicating by hand gestures and eye contact, the crew carefully guided the 441 past the Izaak Walton Inn.

Sidebooms carry GN 441 past guests

Guests were treated to front-row seating for the show.

Sidebooms move GN 441

Sideboom Cat tilting

Lowering 441 onto its track

Lifting the 441 onto its track was challenging because the sideboom Cats' leverage was awkward.

Even with its counterweight fully extended, this Cat pack lifted its outboard side when the locomotive wouldn't budge.

After repositioning several times, and using an excavator to help lift the rear coupler, they were able to lift the 441 and swing it towards the track.

Once they accomplished that, the Cat packs had the leverage they needed.

GN 441 is lifted onto its track Patrick Construction crew

“If you felt a slight breeze from the northwest that afternoon,” Tom declared, “it was Jamie and I breathing a sigh of relief.” The Patrick Construction crew worked straight through the four-hour operation; they didn’t pause for a break until the 441 was sitting safely on its track. At last everybody could relax and smile for a group photo.

Next:

Bringing Montana Indoors

All photos copyright Tom or Jamie Lambrecht

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