Steam Shovels and Steam Shovel Work

by Edward Adolph Hermann

If the grade of the ground is too steep to operate a track laid on it, one of the three methods may be adopted to obtain a grade for this track:

1. The steam shovel is made to cut a trench between the points A and B, [Fig. 53], where the slope of the ground is too steep to permit operating a track laid on its surface, and varying in depth from 5 to 10 ft. as may be necessary to attain the desired grade. The excavated material is dumped at D, [Fig. 54], to be removed with the next cut. The length of the crane will not permit dumping at E a sufficient distance (20 ft. or more) to obtain a berme and prevent the material washing back into the new cut in the course of time; it must, therefore, be dumped at D and removed as described, unless the slope of the ground is away from the cut, as indicated by the line D F, [Fig. 54]; in such a case the excavated material can be dumped at F.

2. By excavating the trench with teams and scrapers.

3. By through-cutting a trench with the steam shovel, loading the material on small dump cars or wagons, and wasting it at the nearest available place.

Fig. 55.

Fig. 56.
Fig. 57.