ERIE STEAM SHOVEL RESCUE!

[@dougscott9524]

It should be entered in a old engine museum, great job of getting it going

[@Pyrotrainthing]

Everyone wants to save Steam locomotives but not everyone wants to save Steam shovels, nice work!

[@stephenroberts4895]

Steam shovels are unique machines.

[@harrybobb6764]

Everyone should recuscue everything steam operated

[@samanli-tw3id]

That’s because of Thomas and Friends.

[@rrswitch48]

The Ball Engine Company was founded, by F. H. Ball and W. H. Nicholson, in Erie in 1883 to manufacture stationary industrial steam engines. Recognizing that the market for such engines was maturing it began manufacturing steam shovels in 1914. This diversification took place following a conversation between Ball’s vice president Fred McBrier and A.C. Vicary, a salesman for Thew Shovel. Vicary had some forward-thinking ideas about improving the design, manufacture and marketing of steam shovels, and Ball hired him and applied his ideas. Ball used the name of its hometown as the trade name for its shovel line, as did Thew with its Lorain machines. Ball initially produced only two models, the 1/2-yard model A and the 3/4-yard B. The thinking behind this was to minimize costs by simplifying and streamlining manufacturing and service through the use of standardized, mass-produced parts that were interchangeable between the two models. Oddly, the Erie B’s introduction predated that of the A by about a year. The A and B could both be mounted on crawlers or steel traction wheels, and the B was also available with railroad wheels. The B could be set up as a shovel with various combinations of booms and dipper sticks for general, overburden, railroad ditching, or open-trench excavation. It could also be outfitted as a crane or dragline, although it had limitations as a dragline due to the low line pull typical of steam excavators. The Erie A and B were aggressively promoted, and their design concepts proved so successful that Ball dominated the small-excavator market. Ball Engine spun off its stationary steam engine lines in 1920 and became Erie Steam Shovel in 1922. The Erie B was replaced in 1925 by the B-2 Dreadnaught, a 7/8-yard excavator that was intended to be a transitional machine into the internal combustion excavators that were rendering steam obsolete. Bucyrus of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had also achieved considerable success with steam excavators, but had only a small share of the market for small machines such as the Erie A and B. To rectify this, Bucyrus merged with Erie to form Bucyrus-Erie in 1927, following Erie’s reorganization the year before under a new board that included two members of the Bucyrus board of directors. All production of Bucyrus-Erie small excavators was consolidated into the Erie plant, which remained open until 1984, when it was closed and sold as part of Bucyrus-Erie’s restructuring into a manufacturer solely of surface mining machinery consequent to the recession of the early 1980s. Bucyrus-Erie was renamed Bucyrus International in 1996; in 2011, Bucyrus was acquired by Caterpillar and became Caterpillar Global Mining. Source: eriehistory.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-ball-engine-company.html

[@twentypdrparrott694]

In Nederland, Colorado there is a steam shovel that is up for sale. The history on that machine is that it was a maintenance shovel used in the construction of the Panama Canal. The very last survivor. This shovel was shipped up the west coast and then shipped to Nederland to work in a silver strip mine. Abandoned for years it was rescued by locals and driven out under compressed air.

[@RustyRescues]

I've seen videos of that shovel. They're selling it? Link to more info?

[@shaunolinger964]

I'm not 6 minutes into this one and already getting yelled at for waking my wife up laughing. The humor is awesome, and I love the camaraderie.

[@johnmartin720]

Great to see younger people saving a piece of history.I read mike mulligans steam shovel as a kid. Then had to buy the book for my grandson who's name is Mike mulligan.

[@movingforward6099]

That antique coal was the good stuff. that was before they started adding ethanol to it.

[@RustyRescues]

LOL

[@dlbeavers5121]

lmao

[@chrisstaylor8377]

Great job for a bunch of young fellas , we need young guys like you here in New Zealand to help save some old gear ,getting hard for us old guys

[@Frank-Thoresen]

Now this is a real restoration project for you guys. Please make sure this restoration is well covered on this channel. This will build up this channel 👍

[@baycitynick697]

Lots of work for us, but I'm sure Rusty Rescues will have his camera on.

[@MrOilcountry]

Blow out the tracks with the compressor and dump some diesel on them.

[@kipside8954]

Up coming videos will have that done. They were soaked later that day. Part 2 and 3 are still to come. I did hit the tracks with oil the week before this was filmed.

[@joshuadavis6094]

I live in Erie pa and drive past the old bucyrus erie plant every day and it's cool to see the equipment that was made there 100 years ago... Good work guys

[@25kmgb]

I loved the intro. Many years of reading the story of Mike and Maryanne to our children!

[@jimmygliss1171]

You did a great job waking up that piece of history, I really enjoy watching old machines come back to life.

[@SchnelleKat]

Very cool! Glad it was Saved! There was a 1907 or 1902 Steam Crane-Shovel here in MI rescued a few months back & Had been found in a lake! sitting since the 1940s or so. It was taken out and now awaiting a FULL Restoration! I hope the same for Erie.

[@scienceaddict77]

That steam shovel cartoon brought back some deep seated memories - wow.

[@erikrounds5847]

Exactly what I came here to say lol ... my heart started beating faster when it came on!

[@remcovanvliet3018]

Slap a fresh coat o' paint on 'er, she'll be alright for another hundred years! Crackin' job, fellas! Seriously though... It's damn near miraculous what you guys managed to achieve with a bit of heat, grease, persuasion and persiverence! Just looking at her, I didn't think she'd ever move again.

[@quagmiredavis4117]

Using old equipment to make even older equipment move ... love it . Great video

[@ttuts9082]

Fred Dibnah would have loved this

[@tynyyn5344]

I do wish KZbin would highlight these types of vids more often. History, like you guys are exposing, is a long lost treat in America. What our forefathers must have been like to produce and run these types of machines. Real men, for sure. Hopefully you will take the time to do a complete restoration like Squatch253 does with his equipment. Would be great to see how every single nut and bolt is restored. Please keep filming this restoration, it sure is fun to watch. Much love from the Mid-west.

[@FixitFrank]

Search for them. The more we search for good content, the faster the algorithm will catch up.

[@iankemp2627]

#2440 = year 1924, week 40 OR year 1924, 40th unit produced that year, I would guess.

[@RustyRescues]

This makes sense, thanks for commenting

[@tomthumb5445]

My grand father ran steam shovels in the 30's and 40's, he lived till 2005.I love these vids.

[@cwarner218]

Was great seeing you get the old machine running.

[@quagmiredavis4117]

Its always amazing how much help shows up when old iron is being Rescued Steam shovel-- old truck . Tractors etc ... old timers always Offer great advice and want to see it saved and see when restored .. my grandfather wants to see this running restored before he is buzzard food ( his own words ) he is watching this ... great video thanks

[@butcharmstrong9645]

it dont hurt that a camera is rolling either and gonna be on youtube lol

[@RustyRescues]

Well I hope we can achieve that for him, it's going to take us a few years for sure. I've collected antique tractors since I was a kid, and always loved talking to the great generation that would tell me how they cut their teeth on them when they were boys. Most of my tractors are from the 20s, so that generation is now gone, sadly.

[@evilbeetlekustomscreations4965]

Having grown up around a lot of old derelict long forgotten antiques this is one of the coolest videos I've ever seen on KZbin

[@mikeohandley6765]

Very cool. There is about a dozen old steam locomotives sitting on a siding rusting in Snoqualmie, WA. I'm an old mechanic. Every time I drive that way, I stop and walk among them and imagine what it would be like to take one into a big shed someplace, tear it down and begin restoring it. I can imagine that just restoring one would be a prohibitively expensive undertaking. Maybe that's why they all sit there rusting.

[@bigbird9794]

Gentlemen, this was a great watch! This machine is a testament to American ingenuity from a time when the country was growing at great speed. The men that designed, built and ran those machines are smiling down for sure. I hope she is reassembled and put on display for all to see.

[@WHIKID1]

Awesome video. Love seeing these old machines that shaped the country being dragged from the grave instead of rusting away to nothing.

[@whotknots]

My maternal grandpa drove a steam shovel early in the 20th century. I have seen some old black and white photo's of him working a machine at excavating something to do with a railway.

[@faerieSAALE]

PLEASE tell us that this old sweetheart is going to be restored and made fully operational again - not as a workhorse - but as a living history for people to see and marvel over.

[@RustyRescues]

It sure is, and it will be run publicly when finished :)

[@Mike_129]

Love, Love, how you are saving history, hats off to you bud for what you do, and for showing us the process...amazing Taylor..just amazing.

[@charlesward8196]

The burning coal fragrance just gives an air of the original experience.!

[@MikeD-ey3sx]

So awesome, thanks for sharing!!!👍👍

[@frankierutherford1888]

I absolutely loved watching this rescue. Well done men. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@73DiamondReo]

awesome! Theres a couple Eries at Kinzers. one shovel and one with a clam if you ever need to check another one out in person.

[@RustyRescues]

That's awesome and good to know, we'd love to find a shovel front for it, and would also be good do verify cable routing on a clam as that's our current intention.

[@CXensation]

Freeing up rusty frozen track links ... Impressive job! Thanks for sharing!

[@krisdrinkwine6045]

I was going to comment on what a kick ass rescue this was, and give Jonathan W a shout out, but he beat me in the comments... Both of you folks do some great videos. I love to see our history saved in such ways. Thanks to all those who care enough to work that hard for history.

[@georgecarter838]

Good job guys! Always good to see a steam shovel (or locomotive) rescued and restored for preservation.

[@owenrichardson1419]

Great to see, keep it going from the UK 🇬🇧

[@TubeRadiosRule]

I think that is one of the coolest things ever, taking a long-abandoned pile of rusty scrap (as a lot of people would see it as), and getting it moving again under its own power! :)

[@neil6212]

Wow! Y'all sure enough aren't afraid of work! I'm looking forward to more videos!

[@francoisfritz198]

happy to see so much effort to save our common heritage. thanks and take care, regards from France.

[@michaeljlins]

Great video and thanks for rescuing a great piece of history! Please share the back story on how you found a steam crane in the woods. I'm amazed it sat there all these years and was not rescued or scrapped.

[@baycitynick697]

I'm sure we can figure out a way while protecting the former owners privacy. I can tell you that the credit for it surviving this long goes to Pat (in video) and his late brother for keeping it from the torch. Some of its newer cousins weren't so lucky here.

[@michaeljlins]

@@baycitynick697 I look forward to hearing the story. Some of us only dream of finding these things in the woods or barn. Glad you guys are putting forth the time, energy, and expense to restore. Is there a local steam show where you plan on exhibiting when restored to operation? I recommend the book Erie Shovel Photo Archive by Donald Frantz www.amazon.com/Erie-Shovel-Photo-Archive/dp/1882256697 . The book has several pictures of type B in the crane configuration. No SN breakout in the book but lists the Type B manufactured from 1915 to 1924.

[@sandmanbub]

I may still have the Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel book that I was given in the 60's. I hope so. Have to look for it.

[@whotknots]

I like the smell of burning coal, it brings back fond memories of when steam locomotives still worked on the local rail network while I was a boy.

[@jerryleejohnsonjr1377]

I could watch this stuff all day, I love the old machines

[@myname295]

Great work and thanks for sharing this adventure with us. Good luck and excited to see more. Cheers from Schuylklll County

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

Probably because they're not as visible or common as locomotives. Still always a joy to see an actual working old steam shovel!

[@KrisDouglas]

There's a fully restored one of these in the UK. Lovely machines.

[@baycitynick697]

I've seen that machine on YT. I hope to make this one look & work that nice!

[@johnalexander4356]

What a find! Great job guys for trying to save this old mechanical muscle!

[@imdeplorable2241]

Very impressive. Congratulations to you all. Can't wait to see Part 2. And, 3, etc.

[@mobiusflight5430]

Love seeing the old girl move again. Unfortunately, riveted boilers just can't get certification anymore. As a project, possibly but it is generally cost prohibitive. Looking forward to see the progress on the type B

[@trevorhaddox6884]

They can get a new welded boiler made to the same specs. That's what train restorers do these days.

[@cratecruncher6687]

Subscribed! I like the way you folks tried to preserve the beast as much as possible. The confidence of making something this heavy move under it's own power after 60 years outside in the Northeast is the definition of audacity! I'm anxious to see where you go with this project.

[@petermorton31]

I'm glad to see some guys having a good time and bringing these old machines to life again, I always wondered about them.very cool thanks

[@RustyRescues]

We're tryin'!

[@martinwhite7876]

This is brilliant nice to see her rescued.

[@lineshaftrestorations7903]

One nice thing about vertical steam engines is that they tend to drain and aren't usually stuck bad when they are. Kudos on the recovery.

[@dandannels8821]

THANKYOU for saving old Iron👍👍👍⚙️⚙️⚙️🛠🛠🛠⛓⛓⛓

[@quintlance2807]

I love to see those old machines ressuractted, gotta love that old iron 🤟🤐😎

[@mateofleet3390]

What a incredible machine. It shows how well these large machine hold up. Very little is required to keep to keep them rolling. Water and fire

[@CharlieTalmadge]

Very cool.. I swear you said Forestport, NY.... I drive through Forestport weekly...or rather past it on 28.

[@baycitynick697]

You heard correct, it was last used to drive piles for the bridge is Forestport, NY around 1959.

[@CharlieTalmadge]

@@baycitynick697 Interesting.. There were two bridges that were built around that timeframe in Forestport.. There is one on Woodhull road that was built in 1948 and there's one on Rt28 that was built in the 30s and reworked in 1967. Good stuff! I drove by where you guys yanked that Erie out today.. Did you see the old Thew up in BC, Canada? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKOwkIyrdpaFmck

[@bradleymorris8875]

The shower scene had me a little nervous. Excellent save gentleman. Fun to watch.

[@cambo1200]

Awesome rescue, thanks for sharing.

[@jimtomassetti8928]

You guy's made fantastic vidio on Restoring This steam shovel... I am so fascinated with any thing to do with steam. Thank You for Sharing this. You definitely have a follower!!!

[@jondavidmcnabb]

If you can restore this awesome piece of history that would be incredible

[@baycitynick697]

Thats the plan!

[@carlbecker3828]

That's so cool to c a century old price of equipment not rusted thru to start with but auctally move on its own power wow great job

[@lilian2242]

I can’t wait to see this thing restored to at least working condition

[@lorenzo42p]

it's already in working condition. they only parked it there over night, for 60 years. just put some air in it and drive it away. amazing to see

[@dali366]

Great how oil is being used here as a metal lubricant/restorer. It seems many people forget to apply oil when recovering old abandoned machinery. Metal 'drowns' in water but 'swims' in oil. Combination of heating rusty metal first, where necessary then using oil later on is the best way to make metal 'swim' again.

[@kipside8954]

Thank you. I use about a gal per video we do. Helps it move again after sitting since the 40s. I love. Pb blaster and wd40. To use in the videos

[@mitchmay3867]

As someone from Erie it’s awesome to see this

[@Cletrac305]

Really cool! To think my Grandfather could have operated it when it was new! Those track rollers probably use semifluid grease. We used something like 300w gear oil in our old T-9 dozer to fill the reservoirs

[@galerae947]

This is one of the coolest videos I have ever seen. Thank you guys for your efforts.

[@memyname1771]

When I was growing up there were steam shovels and steam rollers. Never learned what to call them when they quit using steam.

[@greghelms4458]

So I’m guessing we’re all here because we read Mike Mulligan and Maryanne when we were little?

[@tonybucca5667]

I'm here because I'm a model railroader, modeling steam logging era. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bILOlnyei7uWiMk We re-did a caboose. You guys went over the top! Looking forward to progress videos!

[@mattjmcguire00]

That was one of my favorite books as a little kid, right next to the giving tree. love the old steam stuff

[@kapaul1584]

@@mattjmcguire00 This certainly does bring back childhood memories. Mike Mulligan was my favorite book as a child. I got it for my grand kids but it had no impact on them. I think you either like this stuff or you don't from a very young age.

[@justadbeer]

And here I thought I was the only old fart on here watching this! That was one of my favorites back in the early 60's. I still have it to this day

[@kapaul1584]

@@justadbeer I don't know why I watch this stuff, but I do and I love it.

[@joshw9037]

Awesome video guys! I have to say it would have driven me crazy having all the leaves and debris up there in the way.

[@LuminousBlueVariable]

Thank you for saving this priceless piece of history & for sharing it with all of us through this video!! Amazing! I wish I could find something like this!

[@Ser_Redshirt]

As a furniture maker, I can't express how much I want to do the woodwork on this machine. It would be an absolute honor, if I lived near you lol

[@kipside8954]

Are you in New York ? That would be great if you are

[@hitoortega1616]

Guys are never give up excellent peoples!!!!!!!!!

[@ProLogic-dr9vv]

It is so satisfying to see the steam shovel come to life and move under it's own power. HAPPY DAY.

[@edwardbrown7571]

There's a steam shovel in Battletown, Kentucky that was used on the Panama Canal. They had three from down there, but two have been lost to neglect...

[@literallyshaking8019]

You weren’t kidding about Pat the excavator operator. He’s so soft and precise on those controls I’ll bet he could change a diaper with one of those bucket teeth and not even wake the baby.

[@edwardsofin3593]

All the best... it don't get mo better than this cheers !

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I was borne in 1968 . I remember that cartoon You sound like me and the old guy from the Winchels Doughnuts Comercials. It time to in our case make the Coffee and eat a Doughnut with our crazy old guy crew.

[@MrGeroth]

Putting a little oil with the air would help freeze some parts up

[@baycitynick697]

We did use an online air lubricator. I think the piston rings are stuck on one cylinder of swing engine. Bad blowby which is a real problem in a double acting cylinder!

[@normmcrae1140]

What's the plan? Are you planning on a full Resto? I'll DEFINITELY watch if you are!

[@RustyRescues]

Yes, this machine will be under steam again. It will take several years as we all work full time and this is just a hobby; this one will be labor intensive, and expensive.

[@chadbailey189]

@@RustyRescues more videos please!!

[@markeverson5849]

I wanted to know the inside workings of a steam shovel and this is the first time I got to see

[@KeeperofTheMountain]

I simply must watch you restore this machine. Please make it a series.

[@MrMarkusmonkey]

Wow! Awesome project dudes!!

[@harveyglenn230]

They made them good in those days. Good job guys.

[@fortnoxz71]

dang! im so jealous! what a find!! so happy your restoring it!!

[@joshuaolsen8844]

I would love to see more of this digger!

[@paulcooper2897]

Now that is a piece of history! Impressive! Thanks for sharing!

[@markwilson9760]

Absolutely amazing. Love seeing it come back to life. Love to hang out with you guys doing this stuff

[@rodneythurmanjr7100]

Great job guys! On saving the old grand fathers iron.

[@timothylangley6945]

Great work. Saving engineering history and steam related.

[@paulhayton3423]

Great idea, great execution, you did great guys... well done.

[@oldamericaniron5767]

Dig out and drive out in one day, very ambitious goal, wish you luck.

[@charlesoppland7778]

Man that’s a lot of mechanical and historical knowledge in your group. How was so much known on the history of this thing?

[@RustyRescues]

Nick and I are very historically minded and always do our best to get as much of the story as possible related to anything rescued. To me, this is equally as important as the machine itself. In this case, if I recall correctly, the previous owners were the second owners, so most of its history is traceable with a little homework. I will try to talk about this in upcoming videos.

[@charlesoppland7778]

@@RustyRescues awesome. I wonder if the last guy who parked it ever thought it would sit so long, and that it would ever move again if it did. I love talking to old timers out in the sticks, they just contain tid bits of info that’s interesting. Like old buildings, equipment, old roads no longer used, etc..

[@UncleBarn1]

Really enjoyed your video! Just love old rusty relics! Mine are hit and miss..

[@jrtanker2271]

What kind of pressure were you using there? By my math which was meant as worst possible conditions at only 60psi you were putting more than 40 thousand pound feet of torque to the drive sprocket. Crazy to think that that wasn’t enough to break those tracks free! Awesome video! Edit: at 15 psi that would be more than 11,000 foot pounds.

[@fia974]

Wery wery nice warmest greetings from Sweden

[@duncanfrere2656]

Was going to say this reminded me of when Jonathan W found, repaired and drove his Unit Crane out of the Carolina woods under its own power, but there's Jonathan himself. ;-)

[@RustyRescues]

We both suffer from oldironitus, it's an incurable disease. The only treatment is more old iron.

[@happyhome41]

At the very beginning, mentions "lubricating the cylinder" -- what lubricant is used for that ? What a talented crew: a joy to watch. THANK YOU

[@baycitynick697]

When running on steam, cylinder oil is used. It's basically a heavy weight (~600W) mineral oil compounded with animal fat. We used a light penetrating oil at first to get things moving, then SAE 20 fed through an air line lubricator.

[@happyhome41]

@@baycitynick697 Marvelous ! Thank you for your response. Just love that y'all are able to do this and so capable. In another life, I would like to have been on the team.