Estevan Sask Truax traer Coal Mining page

ESTEVAN
SASKATCHEWAN Truax Traer
Coal Company

Origins of the Truax-Traer business
are harder to trace than my own family tree.
Who the owners were, or where they were based,
I just don't know.
They were in West Virginian, Georgia,
North Dakota, Minnesota, etc etc.
I did find they are now a division of
Consolidation Coal Company,
who are a huge Coal company based in the USA.
I do know Truax-Traer was US based as well.
They were Strip Mining mines in North Dakota,
before they moved up into Canada,
and opened business in the Estevan area.
Based on all accounts, it was this company
moving into the area, that really lit the fuse
for the Black Tuesday Riot.
Can't stop progress, but in this case,
it couldn't have come at a worst time,
and again was possibly a plan behind it,
to break the formation of a Union in the area.
Can just imagine how many jobs were lost to
this shovel below, compared to loading by hand.

TRUAX TRAER CA-1925
FIRST OPEN PIT MINE IN THE AREA
SUPPLIED COAL TO ESTEVAN GENERATING STATION
IN PICTURE BELOW
1 1/2 CU YD BUCKET

Truax-Traer's Bucyrus Erie 320B Stripper Shovel
Picture taken by Rose Gesell
Sign on side below

Picture taken ca1930
This Shovel was brought into the area
in 1930, and was equipped with a 8 yard bucket
It was the start of Strip Mining in the area,
and the end of underground coal mining up to that date.
It was also the catalyst that activated the strike
and eventual riot in 1931
The Estevan Museum has obtained what I believe
is this shovel for display beside the museum.

Founded in Bucyrus, Ohio,
the Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company,
Started Production June 3, 1882
In 1893 they moved their operation to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In 1927 Bucyrus merged with the Erie Steam Shovel company
becoming Bucyrus-Erie Co. the name on this Shovel
In 1997 Bucyrus International bought Marion Power Shovel company
to become the worlds largest producer, of draglines etc.

A great 3min+ silent film on underground and strip mining
in Estevan area from Sask Archives site

No Reproduction in Whole or in Part may be made
without the express Written Permission
of Doug Gent

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