The Silver Spade an earthmoving legend

by Nick Drew | Mon 08 Aug 2016

The Silver Spade an earthmoving legend

Mining techniques have changed a lot in recent years, but back in the glory days of strip mining one machine dominated the sector, the giant Silver Spade.

Officially known as the Bucyrus-Erie 1950-B model, the Silver Spade as it was affectionately known went into full production towards the end of 1965 and then spent most of its working life strip mining in South Eastern, Ohio in the USA where its primary role was to remove overburden from the rich coal seems that were found in the area. eewc800

Tipping the scales at 14,000.000lbs the machine was a giant in every respect, the like of which we will probably never see again, with a rated bucket capacity of 105 cubic yards (around 158 tons) with a dumping radius of 195 feet, enabling the machine to pick up its load, slew around 180 degrees and deposit the said load some 390 feet away from its original location, just mind blowing distances! It took 14 separate motors to work the machine thanks to a 7,200 volt electricity supply: 8 x 500hp motors powered the boom hoisting operation, 2 x 375hp motors worked the dipper arm operation and 4 x 500hp motors provided the power for the slew operation. Sadly despite attempts to save and preserve this earthmoving giant the money could not be raised and she was scrapped in 2007. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7i8R6ZbJio[/youtube] The above video/mini documentary features some UK plant and machinery journalism legends including our very own Keith Haddock and Peter Grimshaw as well as American Eric C Orlemann who share their expert knowledge of the topic.

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The Silver Spade an earthmoving legend

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