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    • History 1896 – 1985 former McHugh Companies
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    • Here are several videos of various McHugh projects.

McHugh 125 Year History – Hauling, Rigging, Cranes, Railroads

McHugh has over a 125 years of safe, innovative, and personal service. 

The McHugh’s infamous equipment color scheme of green and red is a 125 year old tradition.

The McHugh family started in the service industry in Philadelphia, PA in 1896 with the Charles James McHugh Co. as a hauling, rigging, and service company that was assigned Pennsylvania hauling authority certificate #87. Hauling was done with with six teams of horses and eight special wagons, as well as with two steam tractors used for rigging. In 1916, the C.J. McHugh & Son Company was formed and the business expanded with motorized trucks and hauling trailers. The E.P. McHugh Co. was established in 1929 and a 10-ton lift capacity crane was purchased from the Insley Company in 1931. In May of 1945 the E.P. McHugh Co. purchased the world’s largest truck crane, a 20 ton lift capacity machine from the Bay City Company. Again in 1950 the E.P. McHugh Company purchased another of the world’s first largest truck crane, a 45 ton lift capacity machine from the Lorain Co.

McHugh Bros. was started in 1958 by the late Jimmy McHugh and continued into the crane, rigging, heavy hauling, and later the railroad business. Click on the links below to lean more about some of Jimmy McHugh’s more interesting and innovative projects below. 

Jimmy McHugh helped develop many crane innovations     Jimmy McHugh innovation helps develop a steerable heavy-haul trailer.
Jimmy McHugh’s interest in steam railroading and how he helped saved a short line railroad Jimmy McHugh helped the Rockhill Trolley Museum by transporting many historic trolleys

McHugh Locomotive & Equipment continues the tradition today by developing innovative solutions to the locomotive and rail equipment needs of short line and regional railroads, industrial rail operations, railroad and trolley museums, and heritage railroads. Contact us to see how we can help you. 

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