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RockOne
10th of January 2005 (Mon), 19:57
G'Day.
This machine is nicknamed the Big Kahuna, and wieghs in at approximately 6000 tonnes. It moves rock 200 tonnes at a time, uncovering coal in the process.
Can you spot the figure in the picture :-)
iowahawkeye6
10th of January 2005 (Mon), 20:08
The size of that thing is incredible, the bulldozer looks like a toy. Wow........
RockOne
10th of January 2005 (Mon), 20:37
It sure is big. That dozer is the largest made by Cat. The top of the mast in the Big Kahuna is around 80 metres above the ground
thomascanty
10th of January 2005 (Mon), 22:03
Can you spot the figure in the picture :-)

I think I can see him. He's standing in front of the thing, near the cables that are going down into the hole. :lol:

That thing sure is big!
Mills
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 02:21
Huge. What Can't it move??
RockOne
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 04:36
Ha Thomas, you've nailed it...no prizes though unfortunately http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif.
mills - basically its function is just to undercover coal. It walks along when it needs to move at around 0.1 km/h or so http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif.

If anyones interested heres a link to a site which shows one of these under construction at Estevan in Canada.

http://www.minepro.com/dragline_erection/estevan.html

And the person is much easier to see in this closeup, the machine looks like it could do with a good wash though http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif !
dewmuw
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 07:32
I'd love to see a shot of the breakdown truck for this thing! :)
stoneylonesome
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 11:38
Yup! now that's what I call a shovel. great photos of it.
Youngster
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 11:45
:shock:

That's a friggin hotel!

Nice shot!
dispatchermike21
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 17:19
I want one!
Dimitry
11th of January 2005 (Tue), 22:46
Cool shots! Do I see an office in those windows to the right? Sure looks like one! Now that's what I call cost saving measures. Having a mobile offices, right where the workers are! Now that'll get the management involved with the working class! LOL :D
RockOne
12th of January 2005 (Wed), 05:25
G'Day. Heres another picture, showing the business end http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

Dewmuw - somebody must have though the same as you when they built it http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif , because the two rails out the back of the machine run through the inside of the machine and carry an overhead crane so if anything needs to be reapired it can be easily (relatively) moved in or out.
Sandy - it s a sort of shovel. True "shovels" in mines though are similar to pic 2 below (what most people often refer to as "Steam shovels"). This one has a broken tooth, which the operator is sitting on awaiting "the dentist" http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif ! It is powered (like the dragline) by electricty supplied from a substation via a cable, which can be seen feeding into the back of the machine. This machine is capable of loading a 240 tonne capacity truck in 4 passes.

Youngster - thats a novel use for it. The Big kahuna Hilton http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif. Not much of a view though http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

dispatchermike21 - I don't want one...no where to keep it. I'll just be the temporary custodiaon of whats its worth though, before kindy passing it on to canon. You could easily have one of every EF lens in the catalogue, plus a separate 1series body on each I would think http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif ! Cost was $55 Million http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

Dimitry - does look like a set of offices (Even looks like a very big photocopier in there http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif ), but its really just full of machinery, electric motors, cable drums etc. There are however crew rest rooms with all facilities including microwave oven !
The structures on top with "windows" contain suction fans which pump filtered air into the machine to keep positive air pressure within the machine to prevent dust from getting in and seizing the motors
Also the booms are filled with an inert gas (neon) which is monitored by pressure guages, so that if any welds are starting to crack the pressure drops, and action can be taken quickly to prevent structural failure, which wouldn't be a pretty sight http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif