Thew (later Lorain) Type O Horizontal Crowd Steam Shovel at Brownsville

Thew (later Lorain) Type O
Horizontal Crowd Steam Shovel
This shovel with the odd horizontal crowd was designed to dig out and prepare a level roadbed, rather than for mass excavation like the Erie B steam shovel does. Not fast by modern standards, but it was a big improvement over laborers with hand shovels and horse drawn equipment. This function is now done by scrapers, excavators, and front end loaders.
It is interesting that the controls match the modern standard for cable machines, (L-R) Swing, Crowd, Unknown, Hoist/Lower. The unknown lever probably controls travel. Steering for travel is done by a ground man turning a crank. I don't know whether the machine has the capability to declutch the hoist drum for freewheeling while lowering the bucket, but if it has a clutch, it was not being used here (broken?). This has a large effect on cycle time.
Most steam shovels were sold on steerable traction wheels, with crawler tracks as an extra cost option. A machine on wheels would always be on heavy planks, to distribute ground pressure.
Also see "The Erie B Steam Shovel At Brownsville" for comparison:
• Fast Steam Shovel - Er...
The Erie B is currently shut down for a new boiler.
National Pike Show
Brownsville, PA
August 2023
Steam Shovel, Excavator, Road Building, National Pike Show, Brownsville
Panasonic FZ-1000
LG G7
[801]
230813h Thew Good

[@rickszabo4312]

Wood, water, grease and a bit of sweat , very nice.

[@WillSmithHitandMiss]

Very nice !!

[@larrycurran8036]

🐱