Marion 8700 Documentary

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Published 2010-10-22

A look at a giant 1965 Marion 8700 walking dragline. Of the two built, this is the only 8700 left working in the world.

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All Comments (21)

@ericstahl5266 5 years ago

I had the pleasure of climbing around on this dragline to inspect the ropes. Impressive machine and still digging!
@PAmining 13 years ago

Only two 8700's were ever built. It is hard to give a good size comparison of just how big these walking draglines are. To actually build a machine of this scale would take a couple years! Thanks for the compliment!
@leglessinoz 11 years ago

I grew up around draglines and worked as an electrician on 7900 and 8900 models at the Moura Coal Mine in Queensland in Australlia.
@GRADE8BOLT 5 years ago

When this retires I hope to god it doesn't get cut up ....save the dam thing for history
@biggordsampson3013 7 years ago

You know your stuff bud
@PAmining 13 years ago

The second 8700 was owned by Peabody Coal, who later parted it out and scrapped the machine after it was devastated by a fire. To answer your second question, when the machine is engaged into the propel mode, the shaft that connects the two shoes together rotates clockwise, pushing both shoes down onto the ground at the same time to pick the back of the dragline up off the ground and slide the entire machine backward. Each rotation is referred to as a "step" for the dragline.
@Sleezax 5 months ago

So much history and cool machines around here. I remember as a kid hearing all the drags and ucs clanging banging and beeping 24/7
@PAmining 13 years ago

Thanks. the inside tour gives you a good idea of how this machine operates. This machine weighs a little over 5,000 tons.
@89faul 11 years ago

I know a guy who operated the other 8700 for Peabody here in Indiana. Pretty incredible machines.
@filthyphillyboy 11 years ago

I actually got up close to this machine in 1999. I remember seeing cotter pins on it like 3" in diameter! Since then they've given it a beautiful paint job.
@organbuilder272 5 years ago

Very unique = Very one of a kind This dragline is very one of a kind.
@davidbrennan5 7 years ago

Thanks for the videos, I live in Northern Ontario and we have a lot of mining equipment, mostly hard rock mining but nothing quite like this. I am a Machinist and we rebuild a lot of rock trucks etc.... I am glad that big Marion is still running! I like your videos and find them very interesting.
@christianblade2052 10 years ago

You could fit an entire office building inside that machine! I really have learned much from you and enjoyed you're videos immensely. I especially like the old excavators that you find. Thank you for doing what you do. The only thing you may want to do that might help is to get a windscreen for the microphone on you're camcorder.
@diggerman32 13 years ago

Good video. The machine looks huge when you get on it. Very impressive.
@certaindeed 8 years ago

amazingly light/little steel in the support work on top. Just a giant sheet metal building with machinery in it. The lower levels, gear and house lock at the bottom are probably the most impressive
@brianwilks6774 5 years ago

Very informative and I like the film
@O7ROADKING 13 years ago

great video thanks for poisting
@schroederweg 13 years ago

OK thank you very much for these answers.
@chrysmarty6715 3 years ago

I worked on a 8750 in terra haute indiana at bearing. Weld build on two swingers, weld repair on the boom and new super lugs. New bull gear on the right side propel.
@karlogjam 6 years ago

You know a lot, nice job