It is almost certainly a “Bucyrus” railroad type steam shovel. Note the front outrigger, there would have been one either side to steady the machine whilst working. It is very similar to the Ruston steam shovel illustrated in the book by M.D.J. Irwin Vintage excavators (Farming Press ISBN 0 85236 333 8). Bucyrus was an American company that joined with the Lincoln company Ruston in 1930 to become Ruston-Bucyrus Ltd. Does the name “Bucyrus” appear on the excavator – perhaps just beneath the steam stack?
This photograph of an excavator at work is during the building of the Furness Shipyard at Haverton Hill and the task in hand is the excavation of the Graving Dock circa 1918.
The make is “BUCYRUS”.
It is almost certainly a “Bucyrus” railroad type steam shovel. Note the front outrigger, there would have been one either side to steady the machine whilst working. It is very similar to the Ruston steam shovel illustrated in the book by M.D.J. Irwin Vintage excavators (Farming Press ISBN 0 85236 333 8). Bucyrus was an American company that joined with the Lincoln company Ruston in 1930 to become Ruston-Bucyrus Ltd. Does the name “Bucyrus” appear on the excavator – perhaps just beneath the steam stack?
This photograph of an excavator at work is during the building of the Furness Shipyard at Haverton Hill and the task in hand is the excavation of the Graving Dock circa 1918.