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Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums _ Historical Equipment and Tales _ Bucyrus Steam Shovel

Posted by: ColoradoProspector Oct 15 2003, 08:26 AM

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.


Posted by: 79CHIEF Oct 15 2003, 05:52 PM

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. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Mrs.CP Nov 30 2003, 11:00 AM

This piece of equipment is still in great shape.
We heard it last ran in 1972 on Kerosene.
Dan M. with the http://www.coloradoprospector.com/Prospecting%20Events/Ned_museum.html knows more about this beauty then I do. I just thought you all would like to see a picture of it. smile.gif
I hope everyone enjoys it.

Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 3 2003, 11:05 PM

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.... wink.gif

Posted by: Trilobite Dec 17 2003, 02:31 PM

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

Posted by: Mrs.CP Feb 17 2006, 06:56 AM

I got this in the mail From Danny Martin from the http://www.coloradoprospector.com/Prospecting_Events/Ned_museum.html.

QUOTE
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!!
cool.gif

 

Posted by: sgaolson Feb 17 2006, 11:06 PM

All I can say is WOW

Posted by: wyodust Feb 23 2006, 09:24 PM

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 laugh.gif

Posted by: cornwall84 Mar 2 2006, 03:44 AM

WOW id love to see that working .

biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

Posted by: Mrs.CP Mar 31 2006, 07:08 AM

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

Posted by: Mrs.CP Apr 11 2006, 08:39 AM

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.

 

Posted by: Trilobite Apr 11 2006, 05:21 PM

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

Posted by: sgaolson Apr 11 2006, 05:44 PM

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

Posted by: Mrs.CP May 9 2006, 08:06 AM

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

QUOTE
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.



Posted by: Mrs.CP Jun 13 2006, 01:43 PM

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. biggrin.gif

http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=76087

Posted by: sarahduszynski1234 Dec 20 2008, 01:32 PM

hi my name is sarah in 2005 me and the rest of my family went to see this move happen
i am part of the durand family and i was really amazed by this piece of machinery
i went to the premeire and silent auction and had a great experience
roy durand is my great grandfather he was a great man
i would like to try to talk with dan martin if u have any way of contacting him please let
me no we want to ask him for our pictures back! and wont answer his phone
my email is dancemonkey31@yahoo.com
thanks! if u want any more pictures let me no i have hundreds

Posted by: Mrs.CP Dec 20 2008, 05:34 PM

Thats fantastic to hear Sarah, and welcome to the CP forums.
We would love to see more pictures here if you would like to share some with us.
I bet that was a very exciting time for your family!

I will e-mailing you Dan Martins contact info.
Make yourself at home here in the forums and on the website.

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