Caption: Canadian National "Big Hook" 50073 (a 1920 Industrial Works 120-ton crane) is shown at CN's yard in Fort Erie back on February 9th, 1973.

Often times before the era of contractor cleanup services, the larger railways had wreck auxiliary trains based out of strategic locations or major divisional points on the system for clearing up derailments. They usually contained a "big hook" suitable for lifting large mainline locomotives that might need rerailing.