Bucyrus RR cranes used to construct the Panama Canal

[parfleche]

Hello,
I would be most appreciative of any photos or plans that may exist as to the Bucyrus rail mounted cranes used in the construction of the Panama canal in the early part of the last century. I have already tried the archivist at Bucyrus with out mush success. I have heard that the plans exist in an archives in Panama and possibly somewhere in the US. Again thank you kindly.

Best Regards,
Steve Gill

[WK2]

Steve,
When I talked to you last you had asked for drawings of RR Steam Shovels. Below is the address of a lady (Harriette) from whom I bought a fantastic set of Atlantic RR Steam Shovel drawings some years back. Her husband, John, made the drawings in 1967. (Bucyrus bought out the Atlantic RR Shovel line in 1911.)
I suggest you contact her to see if you can get a set. The last I heard, her son now had the originals, but I don't know his name or address.

H R Peebles
1502 S Owyhee St
Boise, ID 83705-6015
Phone: (208) 345-3523

Let me know how you fare.

Regards,
David Lang
Bucyrus International, Inc.
(I had emailed this info to you on July 27th.)

Now if it's RR Crane information you want, that's an entirely different product.
?????

[parfleche]

Hello David,
THank youfor your reply.

Yes, I made a mistake in translation back then due to translating from aother laguage. It is the crane that I needed! If you have info plese let me know. I have called and written over half the world for this information.

Bets Regards,
Steve Gill

[brent49er]

Steve ,there is Bucyrus steam shovel that I was told came from the Panama Canal after it was dug on display at the Museum of Mining in Chisium Minnesota. I have seen this rig in person and it is in good condition. Good luck, Brent 49er

[bobcatman]

hi, I knew an old guy who worked on the canals around wwII. i guess they widened the canals. i am sure he said he ran an electric BE 88B. i thought it was a walking crane. he died a few years ago. I am sure i only heard a tenth of the stories he could of told.......... steve

[parfleche]

Hello,
Thanks to everyone of you for all your responses so far. A set of plans or the known whereabouts of an actual Bucyrus rr crane from the early nineteenth century and used in the construction of the Panama Canal is what I am looking for. If anyone gets to Chisium I would love a few closeups of the shovel there. Maybe there is a crane too? I am originally from Wisconsin and get back there from Washington state every 3 to 5 years. So next time I will stop in Chisium.

Thanks a whole lot!

Kind Regards,
Steve Gill

[WK2]

The RR Shovel on display at the Chisholm Museum is an Atlantic #45 from ~1906. No Atlantic shovels were used on the Panama Canal. Bucyrus bought out the Atlantic Shovel business and an unsold inventory of ~95 machines in 1910. The crawlers under this machines were retrofitted by Bucyrus at a later date, replacing the original RR trucks.

Bucyrus has no record of either 50B or 88B shovels ever being used on the Panama Canal.

There is an original Bucyrus RR Crane on display in Panama City that was used on the construction of the canal. If you post your email address I will email you a photo of it.

Regards, Dave

[Terry]

I do have a couple of photos of a steam shovel like David is talking about, that I am in the process of working on getting funding to restore it. Much newer, but basic same design. I tryed to post a picture of it but it would not take.