Crane (Wooden Train/Brio/Thomas Compatible)

This is a bit more ambitious design the the train station. It uses the same base track. The silde rail moves, the crane can swivel 360 degrees and raise and lower. I designed the lifting hook around a 3/8" nut. It's enough to draw the magnets on the train cargo pieces, but it's not the greatest. I didn't have a good magnet handy to use, so I may redesign tat section later.

Everything is designed to be snug. I did not have to sand every piece, but some required more than others. I wanted the crane to move easily into position, but not slide out from where it was placed.

I may redesign the whole thing at some point, this is totally functional, but there are some bits I could have planned better. It does not work with the warehouse building from the train station.

The pin needs to be installed through the slide rail from the bottom, then the crane arm has to be fitted such that the tracks on the outside of the arm align to the nubs inside the pin. After the crane arm is slid around to position, two clamp ring halves fit together to secure the pin by the groove.

I press-fit the nut into the load arm.

EDIT: 01/26/2025 - I uploaded the base track. It was shared with another print I made that seemed clearer to me when I uploaded it several years ago. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4656027/files (Train Station).

I should probably redesign the whole thing.

Category: Toys & Games