The Great North Steam Fair at Beamish offers all kinds of steam and vintage transport experiences. This visiting Erie Steam Shovel Company was one of the highlights of our visit.
Same as with any railroad steam locomotive, at around 1:35, taking on water is VERY IMPORTANT here, with ANY steam boiler. Any steam boiler's water level MUST be maintained (above its "crown sheet," just above the firebox) so to prevent any boiler explosions. Because, when the water level gets too low the heat, below this "crown sheet" will become softened, resulting in a possible steam leak, then, resulting in an eventual boiler explosion. Good thing that your "fireman" is paying attention here! Boiler explosions will usually result in death!
Steam is so quiet. I think we all have a viewpoint that old work sites were violent, loud places. I think the opposite is true compared to modern diesel stuff.
Steam is quiet. Sure. But the machines it powered rarely were, especially factories were deafening, and rather deadly, to work at. This was before Health & Safety became a thing :)
Some people want to restore a classic car... I find old construction equipment much more interesting. That was cool to watch.
Beautiful machine
Good to see another Erie B. Operator knows what he is doing.
Same as with any railroad steam locomotive, at around 1:35, taking on water is VERY IMPORTANT here, with ANY steam boiler. Any steam boiler's water level MUST be maintained (above its "crown sheet," just above the firebox) so to prevent any boiler explosions.
Because, when the water level gets too low the heat, below this "crown sheet" will become softened, resulting in a possible steam leak, then, resulting in an eventual boiler explosion. Good thing that your "fireman" is paying attention here! Boiler explosions will usually result in death!
So exciting to see a working steam shovel. Thanks!
Steam is so quiet. I think we all have a viewpoint that old work sites were violent, loud places. I think the opposite is true compared to modern diesel stuff.
Steam is quiet. Sure. But the machines it powered rarely were, especially factories were deafening, and rather deadly, to work at. This was before Health & Safety became a thing :)
love those machines. had a toy one when i was a child.
So Quiet! Thank You.
The little shovel is so cute
Surprisingly fast.
live breathing machine!
Gud shovel)
That look like ned from thomas/jack and the pack
Velhos tempos hein muito interessante 👍
Where did you Brits come up with the name navvy? Everywhere else it's called a steam shovel.
Short for 'Navigator', for some reason this was what they called the labourers who dug canals (and early railways).
I did consider navigator but didn't know the origin of the term. Thanks for the answer.
Mike Mulligan rules!
Mike Milligan and his Steamshovel. My all time favorite children's book. So much so, I grew up to be a heavy equipment operator.
Slow production. .....to think major jobs like Panama canal was done with these slow machines with small bucket
Alot faster then shovel and hand