The Big Muskie by Bucyrus-Erie (Strip Mining Dragline)

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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Apr. 12, 2014 11:38 pm

Seen the Big Muskie Bucket in my Ohio travels today...
I imagine it's name came from the name MUSKINGUM.

Big Muskie Bucket

Here is some history of Big Muskie from the beginning to the end...


 
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Sun. Apr. 13, 2014 6:42 am

I can remember as a child my dad taking me to see one of those big machines in operation. I can't recall which one it was, but it was awesome.
Last edited by lsayre on Sun. Apr. 13, 2014 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
creek44
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Post by creek44 » Sun. Apr. 13, 2014 6:51 pm

That brings back memories of long ago. I recall going on a school field trip to see the Silver Spade. I see that it has been scrapped.

http://www.hcrhp.org/silverspade.htm

 
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Hambden Bob
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Post by Hambden Bob » Mon. Apr. 14, 2014 6:04 am

Thanx,McGiev's ! I remember seeing both of these Machines as a kid. They were from the Amazing Times in Our Country when we Built Things. Maybe the Best Part was we could think"Outside The Box" and accomplish it. Now,we're only capable of asking:Do you want fries with that?".........Here's to the Days Ahead,Gang! :flex:

 
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Willis
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Post by Willis » Tue. Apr. 15, 2014 11:31 am

The Silver Spade was in my backyard. Growing up it was mining a few miles away and I could hear the door close on the bucket at night when it was quiet. These machines were enormous, looking at pictures do not even begin to show the scale of them.


 
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Post by franco b » Tue. Apr. 15, 2014 11:38 am

Looking at pictures and the video the bucket looks tiny compared to the size of the machines. They just look overbuilt.

 
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Post by samhill » Tue. Apr. 15, 2014 11:39 am

I got to see one close up & if I recall right they had an elevator that was somehow in the center pin for the operators to use & a on crane maintenance shop for the crane wright & greases. When moving across a road they had to first shut it down & bury the road under tons of material so they wouldn't destroy it.

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Apr. 15, 2014 12:39 pm

The Big Muskie ran on electricity...imagine the size of that portable cable it drug around mining the 10,000 acres.

 
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Post by shortcut » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 7:54 pm

I got to see the Muskie in action years ago, at night it looked like a moving factory. you could see it from several miles away at night as there are not many lights in the area. The old bucket sits at the miners memorial just east of McConnelsville, Oh.

 
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Hambden Bob
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Post by Hambden Bob » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 8:32 pm

Good To Know....I'd like to visit that sometime...Thanx !


 
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k9 Bara
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Post by k9 Bara » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 8:50 pm

Extraordinary, I enjoyed the story. Thank you for sharing.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Nov. 16, 2014 8:53 pm

That was sure some big iron.

Here is a post-card of a dragline in the anthracite region.

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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Sat. Mar. 28, 2015 10:53 pm

I just happend to drive by the park that this bucket is in today on my way to look at a engine lathe. That is the largest peice of iron I have ever seen. There was a young guy that stopped there just after I did an we talked a little. He told me that his dad was in the mining crew that used it and cut it up when it was done. He said that is the small bucket, and that the muskie was cut up where the park is. He said that the there was a belt that moved the coal from the mine all the way to the power plant way off in the distance.

 
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Hambden Bob
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Post by Hambden Bob » Sun. Mar. 29, 2015 2:19 pm

Still A Staggering reminder of a Time when American Men & Machines weren't Afraid to "Go For It" And/Or "Go For Broke" ! Here's To Them ! :up:

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