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Ian.. Meet Big John..

20 years ago

This is Big John a walking drag line. He has a full kitchen/dining room, bath. And a 24/7 staff of 22 that tends to his every need.

Just for size comparison. You can park two Grayhound buses side by side in the bucket and still have room for four pick up trucks. The boom is 275' long and has a reach when the bucket is lowered of 300'.

Unless you work directly with the drag line you must stay at least 1/4 (.25) mile away which is about how far away I were when taking the photos.

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It operates sitting on the large turntable. And when it needs to move the large plate forms come down and it uses them to walk to the next setup site. Which is a big under taking due to the need of keeping it on solid ground so as not to tip over. The black looking figure in the window is the operator. Outlined below in red.

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Two of the 15 CAT 777's that haul rock when needed from the job site and for reclaiming work.

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Comments (8)

eric_wa
20 years ago
Hippy,

Here's a baby walking drag line I say in North Dakota. It was part of an exibit outside the working coal mine.

I was really there to see my Great Grandfather's church. He built this church some 80 + years ago.

Eric
Konrad___far_north
20 years ago
All nice pics! One big mean machine!
Konrad
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ian_bc_north
20 years ago
Ah! Coal mining. ThatÂs where you find the big equipment.

A mine I worked at previously had an in-pit semi-mobile crusher.
That is the largest piece of walking equipment I have been around.

The coal mines at Tumbler Ridge shut down for a number of years due to low prices.
Now prices are good again and there is a lot of activity again.

Copper sees price swings as well, but I have never been laid off due to low prices.
I think that IÂll stick with what I know.

YouÂre getting a lot of zoom with your camera.
I am using an Olympus Stylus 410.
It doesnÂt have a lot of bells and whistles, but I can pop it into a pocket and have it handy when I see something interesting.

BTW do you have any good blast sequences?

Ian
bigack
20 years ago
Wow, great pictures, guys. I love to watch the "Monster Machine" shows on Discovery channel.
doris_mi5
20 years ago
Those are AWESOME pictures!! Have never seen anything like it in my lifetime.
kentuck_8b
20 years ago
Wow, that IS big! The largest dragline that I ever operated had a 120' boom and a bucket that you could park a full size pickup in, obviously nothing like Big John!

Where is the church located?

That should be a near-future assignment...Churches. I know of several around here, but it will take me a while to capture them all on film.

My favorite would have to be the one where my Grandfather was an alterboy, and was attended by my Great-grandparents, and many relatives. It also happens to be the world's smallest active catholic church.

12 ft. x 16 ft., it holds 12 wooden pews and seats about 20 people. A yearly service is held on November 11th - All Soul's Day.

Kt
eric_wa
20 years ago
Kt,

The little church is just out side Noonan North Dakota.

Eric
kentuck_8b
20 years ago
Thanks Eric.

It's been a few years, but I remember traveling through Crosby, and possibly drove by that church. I will be up that way within the next couple of years...I'll have to make a driveby.

Thanks Again,

Kt

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