South Milwaukee, WI: Caterpillar/Bucyrus Plant

(3D Satellite)

(Update: South Milwaukee now has a Bucyrus Museum.)

emke.uwm.edu

Bucyrus was founded in Bucyrus, OH; but it started operations here in April 1893. Of all the locations Bucyrus had, including Marion, OH because of a 1997 acquisition, this location is the only one that is still operational. "Bucyrus machines earned a solid reputation through their work on major projects across the United States and worldwide. These included the California gold fields, the enlargement of the New York State Barge Canal in 1902-1912, and the Panama Canal, to which 77 steam shovels were supplied between 1904 and 1908." [emke.uwm.edu] 

(Update: The components for the world's largest dragline, Big Muskie, were made in this plant.)

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) has had different names, but it is the organization that dug the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from 1893-1899 that reversed the flow of the Chicago River. Many of the CS&SC contractors used smaller models of the steam shovels that were used in the Panama Canal.

MWRD Photo

MWRD Photo
Note the front of the steam locomotive in the lower-left corner that would push the hopper cars out of the channel and up on top of the spoils pile being built along the canal.

I could not find decent photographs of Cat's current shovel products. It looks like they still build models that use cables instead of hydraulics. Normally, manufactures have pages providing a photo and specifications for each of their products.

Cat Global Mining

Mining Solutions

South Milwaukee Industrial Museum posted three photos with the comment:

April marks the 130th anniversary for the move of The Bucyrus Company operations from Bucyrus, Ohio to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Operations began with about 50 workers employed here. The transition from Ohio wasn’t completed until August. Machinery and inventory were loaded onto trains, brought to Wisconsin, and set up as the new modern factory took shape.

The new plant was hailed as one of the most modern in its day. It was an all-electric facility, no steam driven shafts which was unusual for the times. The firm of Whitney and Starrett of Chicago designed the facility that was constructed starting in Spring of 1892.

See more of the Ohio plant and the early days in South Milwaukee at the Bucyrus Museum located in the Bucyrus Club, 1919 12th Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI. We’re open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10am-3pm.

1, cropped
[Note the transfer table on the Monroe Ave end of the erecting shop.]

2

3

They expands south across Monroe Avenue as well as to the north.

3D Satellite

South Milwaukee Industrial Museum posted four images about the B-E 1450-W commenorating 1450 members.