From The Archives: Assembly of the Bucyrus Erie Steam Shovel

[@jeffreyplum5259]

My grandfather on my dad's side was a shovel operator. Since my dad was born in 1928, this would have been a current generation machine in grandpa's time. I am very glad to see such an old machine kept operational. Too much old stuff is either static display or left to rust. Many thanks for keeping my childhood memories alive. God bless you all.

[@tomrogers9467]

My GD used to use a horse and a scoop to excavate foundations in London (Ontario, Canada) when he built houses there. That would be back in the thirties. That man taught me most of what I needed to know in life!

[@jimtomassetti8928]

This was a beautiful vidio of Restoring a steam shovel. I wish I could have been a part of this! Hat's off to all the men for bringing her back to full Restoration!

[@coldonnamariefuentesdumont8598]

Hi guys I am COL Donnamarie Fuentes Dumont Lavallee and I am a retired army air corp special ops pilot and a blasting expert and very heavy equipment operator and lowbed transporter and I also owned some vintage machines a koring 304-1A a bucyrus erie 88B and a north Weston diesel electric shovel I so much 💕 love vintage machines and their is nothing anywhere else that has such outstanding and gorgeous history so sweet I would love to own a steam shovel as beautiful as yours I want to say thank you for all the hard work it took to make this outstanding video I hope you and your family are doing well and healthy and stay safe My ❤️ to all COL Donnamarie Fuentes Dumont Lavallee

[@dappy848]

The old boys that designed and made machines like this were a special breed. Well done for restoring it in their memory. How many of todays machines made today will work in 100 years .

[@grif900]

my guess would be zero.

[@peteacher52]

Interesting and informative on several accounts. We have to be grateful to Erie and Bucyrus for their machines, without which the Panama Canal would have been long delayed.

[@jimcarter4929]

Good thing no old timers where kilt off in this assembly. Good job boys. Getting boom pins in is always tricky, but ya got her. One time a company I worked for bought two Northwest 80's with Murphy diesels. One set up for dragline the other was a shovel. One of the scariest moments of my life was driving that shovel onto the trailer. Another was tracking to dragline up a slight grade to the quarry where we where going to use it as drop cross. While tracking up up hill the drive dogged out and back a rolling I go, all I could think about is the power lines at the bottom of hill, jump or stay. Well I stayed and she finally just stopped rolling. After that we tied off to D9 for insurance. We finally junked them old girls, but I got the big ole Northwest sign off dragline and it graces the over the door to my shed to this day. Thanks for saving this old machinery for people to under stand history of dirt moving.

[@MichaelDavis-cy4ok]

Very interesting machines! I'm glad there are people keeping history alive!

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

Impressive piece of equipment and I admire the engineering that went into its design and manufacturing. Furthermore, i have nothing but respect for these peoples who preserve and protect this heritage. 2021/01/25. Ontario, Canada.

[@tomrogers9467]

I bet you’ve also been to the HCEA shows at Simcoe, near Barrie. Where I FINALLY got to see Mary Anne working, and not in the basement!

[@marlobreding7402]

In the late 1950's I saw a Bucyrus Erie steam shovel digging the La Ballona Creek out before the Army Corps of Engineers cemented the whole thing in to prevent erosion. there was also a steam pile driver to drive pilings in for the 405 freeway bridge footing.

[@pnwRC.]

FANTASTIC video. I 💘LOVE🥰 watching historical films, documentarieses like this!

[@samboslc]

Awesome piece of history. Not many men could hold up to a full day of operating this type of machine today. Hard working men and their machines.

[@jadney]

The men who did this work back in the day, probably thought they had it incredibly easy, with all this new-fangled power equipment.

[@grogoncom]

Ive missed the show at Rollag maybe a total of 3-4 years since 1986. I have to say Ive enjoyed the Sandbox evolve over the years and it seems the Belleview crew has quite alot to do with it. As I have a job to do during the show I dont get to watch nearly as much as I want. Thanks for a great piece to see.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Ah 86’, let’s go back

[@michaelguinn5736]

With the two cranes being used to unload & assemble these pieces, can you imagine the equipment used to do the assembly when these diggers were new..

[@deborahchesser7375]

Lots of steam in the air then I’m sure.

[@fowletm1992]

Assembled in much smaller parts on site with the idea being they basically worked till they fell apart then do the cut up for scrap or like so many simply abandoned Only a tiny percentage of them made it to the common day

[@jamesmichael3998]

Very nice I enjoyed watching thanks for sharing. Cheers from Jacksonville Florida

[@zezeandjr4110]

The girlfriend: C'mon, the Sushi bar just opened Me: wait a sec I'm watching something important.

[@adventureswithrick8032]

Loved this!! So amazing ! Here we are in 2021

[@ileenmcminn2062]

I worked for BUcyrus Erie for many years. It's not Bicyrus Erie. That is a swing gear on the truck frame between the tracks.

[@Barnagh1]

Well done, fantastic to see it in running order.

[@MojoDevirus]

Thank you very much for the "tour" sir. A very beautiful machine indeed.

[@jimtomassetti8928]

I'm a Big fan of steam. This is a fantastic vidio. Keep'em coming pls.Thank You!!!

[@tootired76]

"Mike Mulligan, what happens to me when I die?" "Don't worry Mary Anne/Sue/Peggy, etc.! You are going to Steam Shovel Heaven in Rollag, Minnesota!!"

[@notthatdonald1385]

Excellent job by all.

[@BRANDY60rocks]

😊very interesting and informative thank you really enjoyed watching

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

There is a Clam shell bucket list a similar unit in Salt Lake City on Sawner road . It's being used for a ornament just north of California ave. Cool old stuff. I think it off a Dag line Dredge.

[@timerickson7056]

When I was young well what younger I was a mechanic for the largest high altitude logger in the state. Big old growth timber . 3 log loads were common. They had 2 30 b s . I worked the trucks but when hawkey's 30 b was down it was the number one priority. I remember the steel balls for the roundhouse bearing . It got a major overhaul except for the engine it had been rebuild over the winter a couple of years earlier. And the stick.

[@Oliver-kv2mm]

I's Buu-cyrus.

[@koningbolo4700]

A machine that steers with a railroad tie that does not matter how it is called exactly...

[@tonydeleo3642]

Thank you for saving this beautiful girl! Any chances of doing a video on the interior of the cab with it operating?

[@wmstrmedia]

Hi Tony - I'll make a note to see if I can get in the cab this year when I'm filming! We've got some footage in one of our DVD playlists, however I can't recall the year right off-hand. - Tim

[@tonydeleo3642]

@@wmstrmedia Thank you Tim

[@shockingguy]

That was a lot of fun to watch and hopefully I’ll see Mary Sue some Labor Day 👏👍💕

[@craigywaigy4703]

That's a wonderful looking machine, and a great video with sweet narration :) - it would have been best to do a full metallurgical inspection and assiciated repairs prior to assembly, as there's plenty of bodge welds next to critical components, but I appreciate the excitement and cost/labour involved. Keep safe and well, all the best from the Highlands of Scotland. :)

[@tomrogers9467]

Agreed, but I expect this girl only gets run once in a while at the shows. PS. Thanks for the “Nectar of the Gods” you send over the pond! Anything with a “Glen” in it’s name is fine with this Canadian!

[@craigywaigy4703]

@@tomrogers9467 Your probably correct, as I thought it was a live public exhibition machine - really great to see our shared industrial past being kept alive. Aqua Vitae, is a fine stuff - My local malt distilery is Glen Morangie, with blending distilleries nearby being Glen Ord, Teanninich, Invergordon. BTW my grandfather was Canadian(war effort lumberjack from lake Banff area). I love Canada, as it's just like Scotland, but bigger - I lived in Toronto for 5wks as a youngster, and planned to emigrate there......Keep safe and well.

[@jadney]

IIRC, Bucyrus-Erie built, or was planning to build, a plant in my home town of Richmond, Indiana, sometime in the '50s or '60s. If they ever built there, it didn't last. Nevertheless, the only pronunciation we heard at that time was Bucyrus, not Bycyrus. If the town of Bucyrus pronounces it Bycyrus, I'd like to know. It's possible, but I never heard it that way.

[@j.d.m.3287]

lol....Bycyrus, never..... Bu..like Bueller ...grew up 20 miles north of the old town

[@43isak]

Verkligt intressant film. Kul med en Svensk melodi på dragspel "Nidälven"

[@grif900]

Great video, I'm a former crane operator and am amazed that you need to use a boom dolly for that 70 Ton Link-Belt crane in your state. I have driven a 130 Ton five axle Krupp all over southeastern Massachusetts with full time four axle steering. And 80 ton versions of the same make with optional rear steer capability. I am amazed that the 50-B had absolutely no steering at all. I would think that a fairly simple but expensive to build one of "lock- out" front hub system would do the trick. You have all the time in the world to plan the turn, just stop the machine and unlock the track you don't want drive ; and I would bet that thing could actually steer. Just my 2c.

[@paratrooper7340]

I wonder why the folks who make these video's insist on playing music - overwhelming music - over people talking?

[@outofthinair1]

AWESOME video !!!!!!!! Well done Gentlemen!!!!

[@globin010252]

Excellent effort by all to save ancient iron .... good to see pride of the past instead of cancel culture

[@GpunktHartman]

I respect the dare when they stand beneed the full tensioning chain ...

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I would love to see how they did this when it was new.

[@jeremymellor9175]

Love. To. See. This. Steam. Shovel. Restored. And. Working. From... Jeremy

[@victoryfirst2878]

Hello Sir, could you please tell me how you find out about this old equipment ??? Thanks and peace too.

[@erikbarrett8523]

Lubricating everything must have been a tremendous daily job.

[@faengelm]

Great video work and narration

[@wmstrmedia]

Thank you kindly!

[@markrowbottom3731]

Oversaw operation of two "72B" BE 100 ton Dropball Cranes. Real nice moneymakers!

[@johnnyholland8765]

Ain't no joy stick controls on that thing! Amazing what a little hot water can do...

[@tomrogers9467]

And no service van with a GD laptop to analyze and give you a bill for a few thou to replace a stupid fifty dollar sensor!

[@diycrawlspacedigoutunderpi4201]

Surprised they didn't block up the back end until the counter weight of the dipper was installed. All that weight was hanging off one side of the ring gear toward the back of the house.

[@steveransley7227]

Really enjoyed that thanks.

[@ifndontcare69]

I watched as they were lowering down the house. All I could think to ask was " was it good for you too? ".

[@leahcim38]

Man, i want one, and it's close. Theres a Maria here in the NH woods, but 40 ton of weight... Dang, i dont think i could work on it without a boom crane at the haus. 😂🎉❤ a running 26-foot arm, water powered, would be a wonderful sight here near the UNH campus.

[@Cletrac305]

The old Kitty Cat had her toungue hanging out, trying to drag Mary Sue up the hill! A lot of booms are fractured due to boom base pin looseness. As soon as a little clearance develops, a banging starts in swinging and stopping. That's transferred to the bucket and massively intensified returning as TORQUE on a square section. this causes lateral ripping of the metal. Small ammounts of sideways push on the bucket equal HUGE lateral boom shear force! It usually appears diagonally. That's why "smooth operators" were preferred! the wider the base pin clearance, the exponentially faster it wears! Keep side stays tight. A lot of that welding probably could have been skipped if new base pins and bushings were installed. All that jerk from poor operation is transmitted directly to the turning gear, and that gets expensive! I have seen "smooth operators " who could run a shovel that loose and swing it without rocking the pin clearances! Companies only cared about tons/hr, so they encouraged operators to "bang her around if you have too but get the job done QUICK!" Private owner- operators had a huge investment in machinery, probably used at that, and it had to LAST! So their kids could inherit it and the small "buisness" that came with it! If someone jerked his old shovel around and didn't maintain it, he'd get fired and possibly socked in the mouth! Then the owner gets a job running a new shovel at a quarry close by and walks off the job after a week, and tells the boss "I can't treat any piece of equipment the way you want even if you pay me and its YOURS!" Men and women like that have been owners and stewards of this amazing machine for many years of her retirement now! She may have arthritis, but Mary still dresses up nice and likes to waltz!

[@bobgleaser7106]

Anything from Bucyrus Erie from South Milwaukee Wi. from the old days? or Ladish drop forge of South Mil.

[@tomrogers9467]

And just what was it about that west coast of Lake Michigan that produced so many of our big iron names? Manitowoc, P &H, Kohler, Briggs and Stratton, etc! I’ve been there several times and it’s beautiful country.

[@stevehartz4615]

Fascinating machine,this is where excavators come from it's the grand father of the excavator world.

[@timerickson7056]

I knew your welder when I lived in Fargo SOB stole my cheeseburger

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

😁👍Great show

[@jimtomassetti8928]

P.S...can not get over how Huge this Steam Shovel is!!

[@davidmunro6939]

I am thinking about the panama canal . Steam mosquitos and yellow fever.

[@petercamitz]

Couldn´t you make it turn by, at longest range, put the shovel down on the ground at the side? Then, if not enough, go back and repeat the maneuver?

[@kenluther9948]

great video ....thanks

[@Hellcat607]

at the 38:00 mark it kinda looks like the shovel is smiling. Happy to be moving again.

[@martineastburn3679]

Seems to me, the chain should be in the teeth of the bucket and loop back to two points. Move the bucket around and you can do circles. Don't need a Cat that is to small.

[@sleim754]

The video was fun to watch the goofy

[@sleim754]

The goofy music was not fun to listen to.

[@keithnichols7926]

Much of my pleasure in this video comes from its earnest, homespun quality. As much as I detest the addition of music to documentaries, the barn-dance band enhanced that quality. Even the lady's consistent mispronunciation of Bucyrus added a chuckle. I'll try to find the other videos Rollag may have added to its nostalgia collection.

[@whotknots]

I reckon crater grease is up there among the stickiest lubricant ever made.

[@Buck1954]

OK, how does BU get pronounced BI? I never understood that. Beautiful machine. Glad to see one. Wonder how they assembled these behemoths in the old days?

[@SteamCrane]

Big jacks and cribbing. Still used today to place big machines. Slower, but more controllable than cranes.

[@deejay5457]

Byou-sigh-rus.

[@harrywagner3877]

The nameplate on the boom was broken. Part of the E from "Erie" is also missing.

[@stevehartz4615]

Y didn't they power wash and fresh grease???

[@rosewhite---]

What is that gorgeous music at 5:46 onwards? It's In the Mood but who's playing?

[@martinjohansson7365]

I think it´s Swedish folkmusic. I rekognise some of the tunes from my childhood in sweden. Could be Gnesta Kalle or Ludgo Pelle . If i remember correct Minnesota is Swedish immigrant country.

[@rosewhite---]

@@martinjohansson7365 Hi, thanksI looked at some Kalle and Pelle videos but they don't have that sound. Shame as it's really nice.

[@SteamCrane]

Byoo-sie-rus

[@jonka1]

First they put very irritating "music" over the natural soundtrack, then they wind us up even more by miss-pronouncing the name. In Welsh a U is pronounced "I" as in "TIP" but the woman doesn't sound very Welsh.

[@stevehartz4615]

Couldn't u steer it with the boom??

[@waynerainey2606]

What was that old guy doing on top of the boom, talk about breaking a hip…. He was already unsteady without trying to lift the telephone wire. When it came off the stick it looked like he was fighting a swarm of bees hahaha 😝.

[@garybarrett6581]

great job!!!!!!!

[@brianbranson2306]

wish they would do something with the shovel in colorado, that was from the panama canal. besides let it sit there and rot.

[@63DIRTY]

Say it like this: (B-you Cy-Rus)the woman mispronounced the name.

[@dirttdude]

them hootenannys could chooch a frigsake by todays standers, the startup time and support it took to run it is what kajiggered the works...

[@tomrogers9467]

I feel like I’m in someone’s basement watching his home movies. But that’s not a bad thing! Even better if it was in the basement of the Schoolhouse with ‘Ol Mike.

[@wmstrmedia]

Hi Tom - A number of the 'from the archives' videos are exactly this! Folk who have taken video at our show and provided us to transfer to digital format to share on KZbin.

[@harveyglenn230]

I gather these were made between 1923 to 1939.

[@oat138]

This is a very informative video...Thank you...Please re-edit it a little.

[@KubotaManDan]

Cajun And Zydeco Classics

[@jeanmeslier9491]

The water truck is about a 1948 International, (what it looks like to me). Who is the owner'? The dirtiest, raggedyest guy there. I just learned that Buycyrus (town) was named after the company, it''s usually the other way around. One of the first things I followed on the Internet, early 1990s, was a guy looking for the oldest Bucyrus truck. Some guy answered him and said that sometime in the early1900s he had worked on a job in Northern Canada. The government gave the construction company permission to bury the 3 Bucyrus trucks they had. So they parked them by a cliff and dynamited the cliff to cover the truck These guys exchange contact information. I have often wondered if the trucks were recovered. But that hooked me on the internet.. There are videos of the Panama canal being built, showing these steam shovels at work.

[@nagoogle8542]

@47:10 he's getting a little too excited there XD

[@quintoflyer]

magic

[@jamesbanjomanjohnson]

my god why dont they clean it up and oil it a bit it looks like it came out of a scrap yard somewhere???

[@jonka1]

Has it occurred to you that we are here to watch and listen to you as you work on this machine? Why then did you decide that we need to be entertained by your idea of music? I suppose it was better than the usual angry rock music, but there are plenty of music vieos available if that's what we want.

[@eltsennestle998]

So turn off the sound.

[@wmden1]

With much respect, several of these men should have retired from crane and rigging work, a couple, or more, years back. I am 70, and I can feel for the way some of them were having trouble climbing around on the thing. It ain't no fun anymore, and is dangerous, for all. Bless their hearts, though, and my hat is off to them.

[@wmstrmedia]

Many of our members are close, or have retired from the career, but still continue to contribute their time and knowledge, also passing skills onto our younger members. Many of our member put aside aches, pains and age for the betterment of our show, and we appreciate each and everyone, young and once-young.

[@wmden1]

@@wmstrmedia I understand, and know what you mean. An experienced, and dedicated person is of great value. I also know how heart breaking it is to not be able to do what I love to do, and how tough it is to face that reality. Trying to do it can be dangerous, to one's self and to those around, depending on individual circumstances. Old age is not for the faint of heart, but it is what it is.

[@gilzor9376]

What the heck is Bi-Cyrus? BTW . . . . . . thanks for the vid, always good to see people care about our history.

[@wmden1]

It is, Bucyrus, not, "Bicyrus".

[@brianpesci]

too bad the narrator can't properly pronounce Bucyrus(Byoo- sire-us) as those who are from these parts are familiar

[@amyjojinkerson5668]

it needs a cleaning

[@codered5431]

I guess not after a 💯

[@angemcnichol3082]

I’m nbni noi

[@densondirosa4497]

What’s a ‘Bi’ Cyrus ?? I only see ‘Bu’ Cyrus…. LOL !! Wonder how they pronounce ERIE ?? LOL !!

[@loosehandle1]

Seems rushed, no cleaning greasing or safety

[@dmartin4414]

"BY-syrus".....? Is it actually pronounced "BY-syrus"......not "byoo-cyrus"?? Comments?

[@michaeljohnson4636]

Note welding gloves are for wimps😀😄

[@formerparatrooper]

Stupid music, otherwise a great addition to the Steam Threshers reunion.

[@stevecowart395]

TonS. tonS. Not “ton”. But very impressive!

[@skunkhome]

Please learn to pronounce “Bucyrus”!

[@shockingguy]

Hahahahaha. I’m in Cleveland and have been to Bucyrus, my friends grandparents lived there and they always called it Buckyrus. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. That’s what I Call it

[@tomrogers9467]

I always read it as “By - Cruss” until I started watching all this old iron on the tube and learned better!

[@davidmunro6939]

There are only two kinds of music. 1 country 2 western. HA HA HA.

[@bowlweevil4161]

the name is bUcyrus not bicyrus someond who knows what they are doing needs to edit this video which has too much history to have this kind of mistake, having rebuilt several crains and drag lines in the 70's I can appreciate this vid THANX!

[@wmstrmedia]

These videos are from our archives, and the original editor is no longer with us, nor is the original footage to remaster.