The big hook is the wreck crane sent to lift derailed cars and locomotives, rerail them or set them aside. Most wreck clearing goes to contractor crews with sideboom bulldozers, and crews say the big hook is coming for whatever heavy rerailing outfit shows up at a serious derailment. Its arrival means the line will be shut for hours at least.
Heard on the job
Six cars on the ground in the curve, they're calling the big hook out of North Platte, nobody's moving till morning.
Also heard as
- hook
- wreck crane
- wrecker