History Marion Steam Shovel (Le Roy, New York)

a marion steam shovel @ work on panama canal

company lore claimed shovel 1 of 2 purchased general crushed stone in 1911 isthmian canal commission, had finished building panama canal; no documentation has yet been found support this. possible since shovel 1 of 131 model 91s marion manufactured during first decade of 20th century. sixteen purchased commission , used dig canal; 1 of them set world record in 1912 when dug 5,554 cubic yards (4,246 m) of earth pit @ site of gatun dam. model plates have been removed le roy shovel, has been conclusively identified model 91 since dimensions match in marion s archived corporate records line. no other 91s known survive.

the model 91 required 8 workers operate. 4 worked in main section. operator sat in front booth , used levers move hoist , lift , lower bucket. when time move shovel took care of well. cranesman, sat on left-hand side of boom, controlled crowd engine, allowed him set depth of cut , release bucket s contents when full tugging on wire rope attached it. in rear engineer tended boiler , fireman shoveled coal.

outside shovel crew of 4 took , laid track along flanged wheels moved. set jackscrews necessary stabilize shovel in front of rock face digging , dismantled them when time move. aspect of excavation process proved time-consuming , labor-intensive, dangerous, such large piece of machinery. in 1916 marion began selling conversion kits allow shovel placed on caterpillar treads; 7 years later general crushed stone shovels modified.

the model 91 continued in use @ le roy quarry through 1930s, gradually being displaced newer diesel-powered equipment. @ point before world war ii original wood siding replaced current metal. continued used during war , managed avoid scrap metal drives. in 1949 taken out of service , moved present location.

in 1960s town of le roy acquired land on steam shovel sits. quarry across road has remained in operation, under ownership of hanson plc after several mergers , acquisitions.

research continues on whether shovel used on panama canal.