104 Year Old Steam Shovel Working

[@wadazi]

I've heard that with more people watching a good steam shovel digs a little bit faster and a little bit better. It could dig as much in a day as 100 men could dig in a week.

[@youngmike8645]

I operate heavy machinery today because of Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann.

[@kingofthepod5169]

@@youngmike8645 Mary Ann is actually a play on the name Marion, which was a powershovel company in Marion Ohio that produced steam shovels as well as other shovels. I think they also built the NASA Crawler, it was either them or one of the other Ohio powershovel companies.

[@youngmike8645]

@@kingofthepod5169 you know I never made the connection to Marion. I used to know what shovel or drag line NASA used for the crawler to get to the launch pad but it’s slipping my mind. I wonder if the author lived in the coal regions. I live in Pennsylvania and a little north of me is coal country and Centrillia which still burns underground to this day and I think it caught fire in the early 80s all that good P.A. anthracite going to waste. Thanks for making the connection with Marion and Maryann, for whatever reason that made my day. Thanks man!

[@kingofthepod5169]

@@youngmike8645 Thanks. Virginia lee Burton lived mainly in Massachusetts, but may have been to Pennsylvania. And Wikipedia says it was the Marion Powershovel company that made the space crawler.

[@youngmike8645]

@@kingofthepod5169 Nice! Coming through quick for the definitive answer. I was about to look it up to satisfy my curiosity, but beat me to it. Now it’s posted here forever, as I’m sure someone else someday will have these thoughts pop in after revisiting a classic children’s book then scroll down to the comments and have their thought confirmed. Have a good week brother! Nice talking to you.

[@riderstrano783]

Watching that geezer at the controls is like watching a maestro conduct an orchestra

[@linusdn2777]

Absolutely fascinating

[@travisk5589]

Lol. You said Geezer.

[@mattmarzula]

It's like watching your mum play the skin flute.

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

respect your elders!

[@jakeeiseman-renyard3505]

Amazing skill

[@nightlightabcd]

It's the fireman that has the hardest job of this! He has to tend the boiler and keep his balance as the rig swings around from side to side! It's good to see it working again as it was designed to do!

[@scruffy6151]

The old gentlemen is doing a good job at running the steamshovel.

[@raymondmanderville505]

Half the world couldn’t produce a machine like it to this day

[@gmaclaren]

As a little boy, I watched neighborhood basements being dug with a steam shovel. Never saw an operator wearing shorts. :-)

[@samanli-tw3id]

Could steam shovels dig below ground like modern hydraulic excavators?

[@tootired76]

Beautiful machine! Awesome restoration! I'm glad there are folks that take steps to preserve living history. My hat is off to them!!

[@s.porter8646]

I saw one of these sitting in an old quarry im MA back in 81, in 92 a trade school moved it with compressed air to restore it...steam kick ass

[@bigdaddy3662]

Are you going to put your hat back on?

[@samanli-tw3id]

Can this thing dig below the ground?

[@tackleberry825]

my great grandfather ran steam shovels back in the 20s for the same union that i work for now..we've been with the same local running equipment for past 100 years and 4 generations

[@oldsguy354]

My grandfather worked at Marx toys directly across the street from Erie Steam Shovel where this shovel was built. (West 12th street, Erie, Pa.)

[@scott-ww8mw]

My grandad did steam shovel work on Michigan Public Works project's at the turn of the last century!

[@flashesofblack4128]

This is a two man operation. I am a retired journeyman electrician and licensed stationary operating engineer. I used to run boilers for a hospital with four Scotch Marine boilers 150 HP each. A person has to keep a sharp eye on the boiler water level and the burner throttle. I see the guy in back of the operator doing that very thing. I have never seen one of these relics in action and I am totally impressed!!!

[@skyraider87]

The guy operating this looks like an absolute dad

[@mattseymour8637]

Lovely steam shovel and seems quite efficient with only a ton of coal used in a day to move all that earth! Strong aswell

[@SCIFIguy64]

Imagine having to sit in the hot summer sun as you dig a tunnel in the Tennessee summer for a railroad connection. A fan would go enough lengths alone.

[@alphaframers2372]

@@SCIFIguy64 dig a tunnel in the hot summer sun? Lol

[@thecpmr6276]

I mean...it'd still get pretty hot.

[@MACTEP-il1eu]

Gentlemen, at this rate of work we shall have this grand canal of panama complete in no time!

[@TheBaritoneCrooner]

Anybody else read Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel as a kid? At almost fifty years old, it’s still one of my favorite books from my childhood in my library.

[@Ultrafitzy]

well i didnt read the book about it but ive watched the movie 🙂

[@christopheracosta2043]

Mike Mulligan had a steam shovel, a beautiful red steam shovel. Her name was Mary Anne. Mike Mulligan was proud of Mary Anne. He always said that she could dig much in a day as a hundred men could dig in a week, but he never been quite sure that this was true.

[@monitorlizardkid8253]

To quote another children's book: "ohh! You are not my mother!! You are a snort!!!"

[@monitorlizardkid8253]

@jbiehlable I can't help wondering what would happen if they made a children's education series that consisted of the man who drove the steam shovel teaching the baby bird(and the audience) about various construction equipment and building techniques, sort of like the "there goes a-" series from the late vhs era. It would make a nice spin off if you want my opinion.

[@samanli-tw3id]

And then came the new gas-powered shovels, and the new electric-powered shovels, and the new diesel motor shovels.

[@ttlkeat3284]

Love these old machines. America in its prime.

[@mr.samurai901]

The cycle time is actually way faster than I ever would have thought possible.

[@jmoya2001]

Am I a nerd for googling “19th century steam shovel” and marveling at this

[@marko11kram]

Not at all

[@undercoverscumbag9632]

Yes. And that's a great thing.

[@oldsguy354]

I’m willing to bet that is a 20th century steam shovel. :)

[@scott-ww8mw]

No!

[@BigVin6588]

Haha I was thinking the same thing. This confirms it!

[@murdoch3396]

It’s jerky and violent yet graceful when it picks up a bucket of dirt at the same time, such a neat machine to see. I’d love to meet that operator and have him explain it too!

[@vazk-thret]

ages have past, since these machines had been coveted, no longer seen as the wonderous piece of human ingenuity that they are. stained and replaced, rusted and worn, these machines wither in silence and suffering. yet even in the cold, uncaring world, unable to see the perfection in even the oldest of machines. there are the faithful, those that know the centuries of curiosity, and hard work, in each of these relics. these faithful few that rip away the cruel chains of rust, and remind these hardworking machines. that no matter how old they are, they will always be the glorious creations of mankind, deserving of respect and admiration. praise the wheel, praise progress

[@happilyham6769]

Geez, that thing's gotta be at least 30 years old.

[@RN-hx1rs]

I always think to myself "it'd be amazing if we could go back 100 years and show them the tech we have now, but really, some of the tech they already had, and was maybe just a few increments behind what we have now. Because that machine is basically doing an excavator's work 100 years ago, with just some "catches" like requiring 2 operators, etc.

[@tristanband4003]

In the hands of skilled operators, these steam shovels could probably keep up with what we have now

[@kiloton1920]

I would say that these steam shovels were fare superior, all you need is wood and water and a good mechanic and shop and this will run forever. Modern equipment is made to break and be expensive and difficult to fix so only the manufacturer can do it. These were built in the opposite way.

[@scott-ww8mw]

One operator and one fireman! Just like a locomotive, one engineer and one fireman or stoker. The engineer ran the engine controls and the fireman made sure the pressure was up.

[@Squidwardman1]

Looks like Mike Mulligan is still going strong to this day!

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

That is pretty darn cool, Imagine running that all day long!

[@dozerfarms]

Woulda loved to see the old timers running this back in the day

[@richardmcginnis5344]

my favorite book when i was a kid was mike mulligan and his steam shovel

[@tickmothy]

steam powered machinery is the coolest thing. truly an engineering marvel.

[@DixieRebel1-8-6-1]

The real Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann!

[@ElmwoodVillageEntertainment]

Wow!!! Insane to see it running!!! Thank you!

[@Traumaqueenamy]

That's pretty cool that a massive 100+ year old machine can still work.

[@rajeshsunny4912]

Old is gold my friend

[@abergethirty]

They found one of these on the bottom of a lake they drained in Sanford MI USA. The damn collapsed and the lake was drained. It was down there until 1920 and it's now being restored.

[@wmden1]

These old cable shovels were amazingly fast, or it appears that way to me. This was loose dirt, but still. They also could work an operator to death, figuratively speaking. The man operating this one was fast, also. Nice video of a nice, cool, little-old machine. Thank you.

[@robertanderson4028]

A lot faster than I thought it would be.

[@christurner7711]

I can watch this all day

[@scarroll625]

That operator is amazing

[@akman45304]

That man is having the time of his life

[@lefthandedscrewdriver3954]

Brilliant . England is full of history.

[@PatrioticCoservativeAmerican]

She's a beautiful old girl!,She's a beauty!

[@MrTLsnow]

She's one in a million giiirls!

[@PatrioticCoservativeAmerican]

@@MrTLsnow Sure is!

[@PatrioticCoservativeAmerican]

@@MrTLsnow Wonder how many of the old girls are still around

[@jackvetra2844]

Wow what a awesome steam shovel, I love old equipment,hand tools, saw mills, handsaw's, hatchets, block planes,cast iron fruit press. I've never restored a steam shovel before but if someone will buy one I'll help make it work. Just call me Mr Steam Punk😂

[@KentuckyFriedChildren]

“Are you my mother?”

[@admiralskellington5789]

“SNOOOOORT!!!!”

[@peterswalmen]

i like the handbreake on the track

[@peterswalmen]

at 3:50

[@JF-xq6fr]

Close your eyes, and it sounds like an old-school rollercoaster in many parts.

[@duneydan7993]

I remember reading a Scrooge McDuck comic from Don Rosa where Scrooge and Teddy Roosevelt use one of those in the Panama canal. I already knew about steamboats and steamtrains but never realized there were steam-powered versions of everything back then! Amazing comic btw

[@nagoogle8542]

Ingenuity today, a lot of the time just focuses on how to make stuff smaller, as in circuit boards for computers to make them more efficient which involves coding the machines that make them. This just seems like a time of more touch and go which just seems more fascinating imo

[@allanegleston4931]

he is doing more physical work than i ever could. id be with that couple in the background just mesmorized.

[@YaseenKhan-xn8tw]

That room is so adorable

[@snozcocram]

This was before the right to repair was denied. Amazing machine.

[@pestisdeathbird5058]

Right to repair?

[@jeremymellor9175]

It. Is. Good. To. See. Another. Steam. Shovel. Restored. And.. Working. On. U. Tube. From. Jeremy. England

[@ixaitas4651]

looks fairly efficient

[@ferdinandocappelletti6740]

Beautiful machine, beautiful video

[@rustybycyclebragg9258]

lovely machine and a proud owner operator well done

[@unguidedone]

if i had one of these i have no idea what i would actually do with it besides be awesome

[@markeverson5849]

I keep wanting to see some inside the working compartment video of the steam engine operation of the gears Etc? Thanks for the video awesome I'm 66 years old my grandfather ran a steam locomotive in Wisconsin and I've never seen a steam engine operate till now what a shame

[@hewlejr]

A REAL machine and a thousand times more impressive than any modern machine.

[@kylebieth3678]

Its cool and all, but any lager excavator, especially ones for mining operations, are way more impressive

[@toomanyaccounts]

@@kylebieth3678 this is the grandfather of those machines

[@kylebieth3678]

@@toomanyaccounts I mean, I knew that, I was just saying the modern ones are way more impressive

[@JulianTrainKidProductions]

"Working together, we'll be friends forever! And wherever there is work to do, things will work out fine, for me and you!"

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

built in America where I live, with pride!!

[@travisk5589]

I remember seeing this at the '08 worlds fair. Thats the 1908 worlds fair

[@someuser4166]

The Victorian era had the best astethic

[@markeverson5849]

I used to explore an old steam shovel grown up in the trees next to a deep Gravel Pit full of water in knolton Wisconsin ,I think it's gone now probably scrapped out... what a bummer!! plus the old man that owned the gravel pit and had a working steam shovel I never got to see it except from the road when I was younger but he sold it very cheap!! he told me it was in operating condition and I wanted to see it so bad about 20 years ago

[@reuventhehotboy]

Damn I would go deaf on my first day as operator , that shovel is Noisy!

[@Hugo_Furst]

Whe I was a kid we watched them dig out basements for new homes. Every kid came and watched all day. Now, no one watches, too busy with COD..

[@williamworth2746]

Ware is this at I run a modern excavator for plumbing makes you thankful for modern equipment and respect what are forefathers worked with

[@RobbyGarber]

Walks in for heavy equipment operator job position interview. I see you have experience as an operator. What make and model have you operated in the past? Well, currently I am trained on a steam shovel, hardest part is stoking the fire to keep the steam engine running. It's over a 100 years old, but I am well trained on it. Excuse me, did you say steam shovel? Yes!

[@brodster7042]

Everybody gangsta till a devious feline stands on top of the shovel with some dynamite shouting “The Sudden Circus comes to town!”

[@normanbrunt2053]

An amazing machine and good operator skills.

[@Kai-ud1sp]

Hats off!

[@rosewhite---]

the operator yanks the rope to open the bucket or is there some steam assistance as I'm wondering how a pull can overcome the weight opf all the dirt on the bucket door? Big power shovels seem to just need a pull on a rop to open a bucket that might have 5-10 tons of dirt on it. Does the door close by gravity?

[@janvandenbos7085]

Very nie working steam shovel 👍👌

[@thecpmr6276]

God I love my country.

[@СанЧеСолнечныйРеж]

Вот это понимаю техника!

[@codenamexelda]

It's mike mulligan and his steam shovel

[@GRADE8BOLT]

In loose topsoil .....culd you imagine in rocky no blasting

[@travisk5589]

What type of psi do these things produce?

[@scott-ww8mw]

The Fireman did a good job, but the operator just couldn't keep his hands off the drop door cable. These machines were Not used to move loose soil, but were used for digging packed soil.

[@rickburris6164]

Most Excellant

[@larrycurran8036]

Beautiful.😺

[@Thatguy.420]

There is one at roots of motive power in willits California that makes this steam shovel look like a toy

[@codered5431]

Id use that today to dig my basement

[@SJFPenguin1854]

Cool.

[@LSD123.]

I want one

[@jacuzzibusguy]

May I use a portion of the audio from This particular video? A dam broke in Michigan, revealing this same model of steam shovel that has been under water for almost 100 years and i would like to put a little audio with the footage I shot of this steam shovel that is now visable.

[@AwesomeEarthmovers]

jacuzzibusguy I’ve no problem with you using audio from the video, go ahead.

[@jacuzzibusguy]

@@AwesomeEarthmovers excellent. I appreciate the quick reply!

[@The_IcemaN_723]

Who else is here showing their kid how a steam shovel works after reading Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne?

[@kishworthapa483]

OH WOWO 1914 STEM

[@macci68]

When I was your age we shoveled with a shovel, a pick ax and a wheel barrel. None of this nonsense about wood or coal or diesel, etc.

[@pestisdeathbird5058]

Are there any videos of it being started up? Videos showing inside the back where the second guy was standing?

[@MrsGlynn07]

Are you my mother?

[@scania1982]

It has a shithouse in the back. You don't get that today.

[@jettrink7510]

We don't need no contact or permit.

[@brandonlucas2101]

Looks like Dr Suess drew it lol

[@nigelreinikka4751]

What a flopping classic ❤😂😂😊😊😊

[@Ratkill9000]

It's almost like the guy knows this machine like it's the back of his hand.

[@dancingtrout6719]

Pour On The Coal 😁

[@curtislowe4577]

Redo as splitscreen showing the controls being manipulated.

[@schuhsuppe7228]

What was the job of the man in the rear?

[@gracecollins8415]

Schuh Suppe He's the fireman. His job is to shovel, in this case coal, into the firebox, regulate the fire, monitor the pressure gauges and valves on the boiler and keep the steam up.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

Wow, it was quite a fiesty thing, making quick work from it.. And they already had invented the tracks too! I just wonder if it can move those too

[@calidude1114]

Caterpillar invented the tracks

[@shineonu70]

Bet you put a body part an inch off in the wrong spot on these machines and its gone.

[@lembriggs1075]

Man!

[@nick-leffler]

Is there anything steam can't do? In all seriousness.

[@toastmantoasty]

Anything quickly. That's the main problem.

[@roberto3151991]

I want one lol

[@rmaricelahb2925]

Neguu

[@KeithCindyPanama]

Wonder if this was used for Panamà canal. What was the 2 nd guys job ???

[@beltrams]

The 2nd guy runs the boiler, adding fuel (coal most likely, possibly wood nowadays) and especially keeping an eye on the boiler water level and adding more when required. Overall, he kept an eye on the steam pressure gauge and did what was required to keep the boiler in steam, but safe as well.

[@KeithCindyPanama]

@@beltrams Thank you for your reply. This is fascinating machine

[@toomanyaccounts]

@@KeithCindyPanama they were heavily used in the states in the early part of the 20th century to dig the foundations for skyscrapers.