In July of 2000, I was given the rare treat of a personal
guided tour of the P&H 9020 Dragline, located in the pits
north of the Shand Power Plant, located between
Estevan and Bienfait Saskatchewan.
The machine was shut down for maintenance,
and also there was a lightning storm in the area,
so this turned out to be an ideal time for a complete tour
of this machine. I took numerous pictures, as well as my
brother Don, daughter Amber and niece Dena did.
P&H 9020-57, Side View
OK, I said it was big, and I meant it!
check out the half or 3/4 ton truck on the right
that gives you an idea just how many stories this thing is inside
the operators cab, is located directly above that pickup,
you can see the round rear view mirror, next to the glass window.
Luscar Ltd. is the company that owns this machine,
they are a publicly traded company.
There is a contest to name this machine
and my choice is "Saskatchewan Gopher"
because it chews the hell out of everything in it's path!
and now the Gopher is Saskatchewan's official animal, I believe.
This name was picked by me as of July 26, 2000
(for those that try and steal my name, forget it!, think up your own)
never did hear what they called it, can anyone tell me?
Early construction picture, June 1999
It started out like this back in June 1999
1 year later it is up and running as shown above
By the way, the picture above, of the 9020 under construction
I took in June 1999, and a month later this picture
was chosen by P&H head office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,USA
to be placed on the
Front Cover of the
"UNDER CONSTRUCTION"
P&H 9020 Parts Manual!
According to to Tim Leverentz from P&H
This Manual is used for any 9020 that is
"Under Construction" anywhere
in the world.
After the machine is built a new Parts Manual for that specific machine,
with the customers own Picture of that specific machine
is used in
place of mine.
Quite an honour for me, and I received a beautiful
pewter belt buckle, showing the 9020 in relief,
and complete specs on the back.
It is a treasure I will keep forever.
Thanks to the P&H crew!
 ---
My P&H 9020 Pewter Belt Buckle
This was extra special getting a tour of the machine,
after this present, I didn't think it could get any better.
My Dad Phil Gent, who was an Honorary Lignite Louie,
and an underground coal miner in this area,
would have loved to see these pictures
and been on that tour I am sure.
He maybe is looking at them right now, who knows!
These pages are dedicated to him!
P&H 9020-57 SPECS.
$65 Million Dollar Machine
75 Cubic Meter Bucket
(Or 98 Sq Yards for those Non-Metric types)
I showed the specs below for last few years
but picture above has the real figures
Boom Length= 106.7 Mtrs. (350 Ft)
Operating Radius= 101 Mtrs. (331 Ft)
Max Dumping Height= 46 Mtrs. (152 Ft)
Hoist Rope Diameter (Twin)= 101 mm (4 Inches)
Swing Motor= 6 X 780 Kw'S
Hoist Motors= 6 X 970 Kw'S
Drag Motors= 6 X 970 Kw'S
Walk Motors= 2 X 970 Kw'S
Total Weight of Machine= 6,250 Tons
First of it's model in North America.
It will supply 1.5 million tons of lignite coal
to the Shand Power Plant in 1 year
It Took 1,200 Gals. (or 4,600 litres)
of Paint, just to paint this machine once!
"Big Lou" A Bucyrus-Erie 2570W
(100 CU Yard Bucket)
The "Estevan Eagle" which is a Marion 8750,
The Prairie Queen, a Bucyrus Erie 1570W
and the Shand, which is a Ransomes-Rapier
EACH Use as much power as
the City of Estevan Does.
I Remember when Mr Klimax a Marion M7800 was built,
and it had a 35 CU Yard Bucket, and we thought it was huge!
This is a true Monster Machine!
Yes I know "Big Muskie" is bigger,
I don't need emails to tell me that, thanks anyway!
The P&H
name
comes from its founders,
Alonzo Pawling and Henry Harnischfeger
partnership in Dec 1,1884, in Milwaukee
Pawling sold out in 1911,
but the trademark name stayed.
P&H is part of Harnischfeger Industries
Inc.
Will add next set of pages to this Coal Mine Section
when time.
for now you will be in My Estevan Section. |
