Bucyrus Erie 1150b Walking Dragline Excavator
Our Dragline was made in America in 1948, and was named Clinchfield. She worked in America before coming to Britain with two other Draglines, in 1954, as part of the “Lease Lend Scheme” when America was helping Britain to get back on her feet after the Second World War. She worked first in Wales, then moved to Cannock in 1964. Her final move was to St. Aidan's in 1974, where she worked alongside another Dragline, a Rapier W2000 known as Big Bob. By this time, the 1150B had acquired the name Oddball. This was due to her having General Electric workings, which did not seem to suit the British power supply, and caused her to make unusual sounds, described as “Oddball” by some people, and, over time, the name stuck. The other two Draglines had Westinghouse workings, so did not have this problem.On the 19th of March, 1988, there was a disastrous flood at the St. Aidan's site. One of the Draglines was at the top having some maintenance work done, and the other one had time to walk out of the mine before it was filled with water. Coal extraction recommenced in 1998 after a considerable amount of pumping out and remedial work. However, due to our Dragline being the older one, and having been standing for so long, she had deteriorated in condition, and it was not practical for her to work again. Big Bob alone did the remainder of the work, and was then offered for sale as a working machine, but as no buyer was forthcoming, was cut up for the metal. This could well have been the fate of our Dragline, and by then she was the only example of a large Walking Dragline Excavator remaining in the country.
Many people at this time felt that she should be preserved as the last one, and worked hard to organise this. The late Richard John Budge, of RJB Mining, who owned the machine, said that he would donate her instead of having her cut up for the scrap value. Also involved were various Mining people, including the late Dr Ivor John Brown, and also the nearby Leeds City Council. Various firms became involved, including one who got power back in to the Dragline so that she could be walked to where she now stands. A notice on site lists all those who gave assistance. Two groups were set up. The St. Aidan's Trust, which is a branch of Leeds City Council, and who took over ownership of the Dragline, and the Friends of the Dragline, who are volunteers and who carry out general maintenance on site and also hold four free Open Days for the public each year.
In addition to being preserved as an iconic piece of historic mining equipment, the Dragline is the National “Landmark” or Memorial, to the Sunshine Miners, as Opencast Miners became known. Opencast Mining was especially important after the Second World War, as coal was required in large quantities to help rebuild Britain, and also, Britain had lost so many men of working age on active service. Opencast Mining enabled fewer Miners to extract coal in the amounts required.
Our next Open Days are from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday & Sunday, the 15th & 16th of September, 2018. We hope that you will be able to visit us then, in the meantime, please have a look at our Website, www.walkingdragline.org or if you have any questions, please email me on contactus@walkingdragline.org and I will be pleased to help you.
