Bucyrus Steam Shovel, Antique Beauty! Options

[CP]

Thought I would post this pic for folks to see, hope you like it as much as I did.

This old Bucyrus Steam Shovel sits on the Lump Gulch Placer, and rumor has it this machine was used to dig on the Panama Canal prior to it's life here in Colorado.

[79CHIEF]

C.P.
Great picture of this old steam shovel. A little bit o' sand blasting and some grease in just the right places and this thing could be put to work again. :P OK maybe more then just a little bit o' work but still a great old relic.

[Denise]

This piece of equipment is still in great shape.
We heard it last ran in 1972 on Kerosene.
Dan M. with the Nederland Mining Museum knows more about this beauty then I do. I just thought you all would like to see a picture of it.
I hope everyone enjoys it.

[Denise]

He's trying to put some more information together for me about it,
and as soon as I get it, I'll let you all know.
Stay tuned....

[Trilobite]

Wow,that worked on the panama canal?!
It must be worth a lot of money nowadays!

[Denise]

I got this in the mail From Danny Martin from the Nederland Mining Museum.

Hi guys, in October of 2005 I moved the Bucyrus 50-B from the site to
the museum the History Channel came out to film the entire process. They
will be premiering it in their new series Mega-Movers this April.
Several weeks before the move I finally tracked down the Durand family.
Thirty eight of them came out to watch the move, the history of the
shovel is greater than anyone ever expected. The story of the shovel
being down at the Panama Canal is very true as you will see in the
movie. This steam shovel is now the most famous one in the world, with
its incredible history I will be able to Nationally Landmark it as it
will become a National Monument in the United States. It is the single
most important piece of placer mining equipment know to exist in the
world today. People from all over the US have been calling me about the
machine. I've been dealing with Hollywood everyday with all the details
about the movie as they are in the final editing process. They will
probably contact you for permission of pictures you have on your web
site of the interior pictures of the mining museum. I told them you had
better ones than I have. I think it would be great if you could promote
it on the front page of your web site, I could supply you with all the
details of the movie and the Real now known history. The History Channel
is giving us first run rights to show the movie one week prior to it
coming out on national TV. The mining museum will premiere the movie and
have a silent auction fund raiser probably at the Boulder Theater.
Anyways hope you guys can come.

Very Cool!!

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[sgaolson]

All I can say is WOW

[wyodust]

wow cool stuff, i like old iron.....and the history it could tell if it was able...omg im glad some of my cars as a teen cant talk

[cornwall84]

WOW id love to see that working .

[Denise]

Wooohooo...Its almost April, and the premier of the new series Mega-Movers will be on soon.
Maybe someone will tape it for us.

[Denise]

For those who might be interested.....
Here is the Mega Movers schedule on the History channel.
The Steam shovel is #5 on the list titled "Lost And Found".
Looks like its going to be a fun new series to watch.

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[Trilobite]

I've seen this steam shovel up close and it is awesome!
It really would be cool to see it working again.

[sgaolson]

Denise thanks for the schedule, I really want to see this now I won't miss it.

[Denise]

Here is an update i received in an e-mail...

NAHS Board & Friends -

The press release shown below has been sent to approximately 100 print media publishers in Colorado and about a dozen TV and radio stations.

I would like to increase the number of TV and radio stations, so please let me know what you recommend, especially if you have contacts there.

Please copy and paste either the press release or the simplified email invitation below (includes DVD order info, if desired, too) into your own email to distribute to friends and other contacts so you may invite them to the Gala Celebration/Movie Premiere/Silent Auction only 10 days away!

Also, please encourage everyone to invite their friends and neighbors, not only to attend the silent auction (checkbooks in hand) but to seek donations for it...

Serene Karplus
A to Zing Writing Resources
serene@karplus.com
303-545-2126
for:
Nederland Area Historical Society



Movie Premiere
The History Channel
Mega Movers

The Great Bucyrus
Steam Shovel
Gala Preview and Silent Auction
to benefit the
Nederland Area Historical Society

Saturday, May 13, 2006
Doors Open 5:30pm
$10 Includes light refreshments
Gilpin County School
10595 Highway 119
Black Hawk, Colorado
(1.2 miles south of Highway 46 and 3.5 miles north of Black Hawk)

To donate items to the Silent Auction
please contact
Nancy Stubbs 303-258-3939 or nancyst@nednet.net
before May 10

We appreciate your support!

---------------------

Steam Shovel
DVD
Advance Orders

The Nederland Area Historical Society is accepting advance orders
for copies of the DVD by The History Channel Mega Movers
due for release this summer.

DVD's are $24.95 each, plus 8.5% tax and $5 shipping.

Please provide shipping address and order instructions with your check or money order payable to:

Nederland Area Historical Society
P O Box 1252
Nederland CO 80466



-----------------------------



For Immediate Release                                Contact: Daniel Martin
May 3, 2006                                                Phone: 303-258-4779
                                                                  Email: dmartin7000@starband.net

Gala Celebrates History Channel Premiere

Local Steam Shovel - Only One of Its Kind - Attracts National Television Coverage


NEDERLAND, CO (MAY 1, 2006) - The Nederland Area Historical Society honors a new moment for the history books on Saturday, May 13th. A gala celebration and silent auction will launch the premiere of the History Channel's Mega Movers segment documenting the recent move of the Bucyrus Model 50-B Steam Shovel to the Nederland Mining Museum. The event takes place from 5:30pm until 9:00pm at the Gilpin County School, 10595 Highway 119 in Black Hawk, with a requested donation of $10.

The new Mega Movers series on the History Channel scours the country seeking feats of engineering regarding the movement of unusually cumbersome objects. The Bucyrus Steam Shovel weighs 130,000 pounds and is the largest operating track steam shovel in the United States. It was removed from the mire in a mountain gulch and transported over winding mountain roads to its new location at the Nederland Mining Museum last October.

The steam shovel was built in 1923, the largest tracked steam shovel built in the world at that time, using new technology that allowed its crawler tracks to transport it without requiring railroad tracks. This particular shovel served at the building of the Panama Canal and is the only survivor of 25 similar shovels used there. All others were destroyed on site.

The shovel arrived in Denver after some time in California and was brought to Rollinsville's Lump Gulch Placer by Roy and Russell Durand in the early 1950's, where it served the mine until 1978. The shovel was donated to the Nederland Area Historical Society by the current property owners Stephen and Laurel Higgins from a site now designated as the Eye of the Heart Wildlife Refuge.

"This steam shovel will attract history buffs and machinery enthusiasts from all over the country," claims Daniel Martin of the Nederland Area Historical Society and the primary orchestrator of the move. "Nederland will be famous for this single item longer than any event or festival can ever last."

The excitement about the national coverage of the Rollinsville and Nederland area on the popular History Channel will fuel the crowd gathered at the silent auction to benefit the maintenance of the shovel. They will bid on a private airplane ride, a private mine tour, a car, a weekend getaway, original artwork, Lladro figurines, and dozens more items.

The Mega Mover segment will also air on The History Channel on Tuesday, May 16th. Check local listings for times.

For more information, call 303-258-7449. For auction donations, call 303-258-3939.

[Denise]

Here is a link to buy a DVD if you didnt get to see the Mega Movers series, or if you just liked it enought to see it over and over again.

Mega Movers series -Lost and Found DVD