The crane (10) comprises a horizontal boom (14) or other support structure having at least one rail (28) thereon, a trolley (24) driven along the rail (28), a rope hoist (30), and a load carrying device (32). A control system (76) causes the driven trolley to be stopped momentarily at a first position (64). The control system (76) then restarts the trolley (24) and stops it at a second position (66) directly over a transfer position. The control system (76) includes an encoder (98) for determining the total length of the pendulum of the crane (10) and the load (34). The stopping of the trolley (24) at the first position (64) causes the load (34) to swing forwardly into the first quarter of a pendulum cycle. The control system (76) includes means (78) for adjusting the distance between the first and second positions (64, 66) to correspond with the horizontal component traveled by the load during the first quarter of the pendulum cycle whereby the load is stopped without any residual swinging movements.
