Steam shovels were early powered excavators used to move heavy materials. They had a boiler, water tank, coal bunker, bucket, steam engines, and operator controls. They fell out of favor in the 1930s due to diesel-powered loaders. Some models have been preserved in museums and private collections.
A steam shovel was an excavating machine powered by steam and regularly used to help move and lift heavy materials such as earth and rock. These machines were among the first powered excavators ever created. Although they were once widely used, with the advent of cheaper and easier to use diesel loaders, they have fallen out of favor and many have since been scrapped.
There may be several variations, depending on the make and model; however, many steam shovels were designed the same way. All carried a boiler, water tank, and coal bunker, as well as a bucket, steam engines, operator controls, and a house that sat atop the platform to protect the inner workings of the machine. Some steam shovels had regular wheels, while others were fitted with railway wheels or tracks. The way the shovel was mounted was another design variation. Early blades were mounted on platforms that did not allow the blade to swing in a motion more than a semicircle, while later models were built on turntables.
William Otis invented and patented the steam shovel in 1839. Some early part-swing designs consisted of motion engines and boilers mounted on a railway frame and fitted with flanged wheels. Early use of the steam shovel required temporary rails to be laid to move the machine to where it was needed to work. As the demand for this equipment increased, tracks were installed, which made it easier to move this machine from place to place.
Although the steam shovel became a common and necessary piece of machinery during the construction of railway networks, it began to fall out of favor in the 1930s. This was mainly because the diesel powered loader became available and offered a cheaper and simpler alternative. In the 1950s, some of the best-known steam shovel developers discontinued these machines, and many of the existing models have since been scrapped.
Despite the fact that the steam shovel is no longer used, some believe these machines are an important part of the story. Some models have been preserved and placed in industrial museums and private collections. The Ruston Proctor Steam Navvy No 306 is a good example of conservation efforts. This car was rescued from a waterlogged pit in England, restored and placed in front of a well-known museum.
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