Biggest Electric Shovel on Earth

Big Brutus is a retired Bucyrus-Erie model 1850B electric power shovel, one of the largest of its kind in the world. It stands at 160 feet tall and weighs nearly 11 million pounds, with a bucket capacity of 90 cubic yards. I found it fascinating to learn about the history of this massive machine and the role it played in coal mining in Kansas. The geology of the area is unique, with many seams of coal below the surface, which were extracted using machines like Big Brutus. I was also surprised to learn that the shovel was originally slated for demolition in the 1980s, but was saved by a group of volunteers who formed the nonprofit organization that now operates and maintains it as a museum. Overall, Big Brutus is an impressive example of human engineering and ingenuity.