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The Perry Creek Steam Shovel |
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Back in the pre-1930's, a mining claim (Could be gold) was found in the Valley where Perry Creek runs. A steam shovel was sent up to assist in digging.
The steam shovel ran on railroad tracks. To move it's way up the valley where no rail tracks went, it dug it's way up the valley using five-foot sections of rails, laid out by the prospecters. |
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Like many prospector stories go, The miners ran out of money. Instead of working to move the shovel out of the valley to sell it, they simply abandoned it there. Parts got stripped off it, and was maybe even submerged. |
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Picture: Some of the rails the steam shovel ran on |
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Nowadays, It is pretty much a flatcar sitting in a puddle. The only thing that is intact is the shovel boom, sitting mournfully on a mound of dirt, possibly it's last load.
It is almost 20 feet from the logging road that passes the Trapper's cabin now used to mark the spot of the shovel.
To see this shovel, go stright up the Perry creek road, following the Creek. It is almost right on the 16 kilometer mark. |
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The steam shovel used various Cable systems to operate the boom, with a Chain Drive going to one of the wheels on the trucks. Using 2 steam engines to power the entire shovel.
A small engine on the boom powered the dipper, and there was a seating system on the side of the boom so a man can operate the engine. (!)
A steam engine on the main part of the shovel operated the boom turret and the bucket, and could be engaged to the chain drive to move the shovel. A water tank in between the trucks supplied water to the boiler.
There is a regular train coupler on the back of the shovel.
The wheels on the trucks have (2.26.01),191893 cast on them
The inset numbers (In brackets) could be a date? if so, the wheels were made on Feb.26, 1901, And the aproximate year of the shovel could be in the pre-1910's. |
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Above: Drive train/ Cable drum on main part of shovel
Below: Engine on boom |
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We first saw this shovel in 2000 when we explored the road. Dad, wanting to get it preserved, tried to get Fort Steele interested in it. Fort Steele refused to take it.
a few decades ago, a group suggested cutting the shovel up and using the boom as a monument for cranbrook. The city refused the proposal.
For now, It seems that shovel is going to have to sit there... |
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Picture: Rear shot of shovel |
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The shovel, I heard, might have been made by Vuclan Iron works or somthing like that. All of the info dad gathered about the shovel was on a 486 that died in 2002, So I would welcome additional info. |
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Picture: Another shot of the Steam engine and cable drum/chain drive |
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If anybody is interested in helping me preserve this steam shovel, Let me know.
If we get this shovel out of the bush and into a museum, (Like Fort Steele) where they can at least prevent the decaying, we can save a chunk of history.
Besides, people would want to see a steam shovel anyway! |
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Picture:The Shovel boom |
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What you see all the info I have on this shovel. If you have ANY info on this steam shovel, Let me know at [email protected] |
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Steam Shovel Register-A site with locations of various steam shovels |
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