blitz138
The Ace of Spades is a P&H (Page) 757. As best I can recall the dragline was already sold by Page back in 1988/89 when P&H purchased Page, hence the model 757 still being used. She was the first of the P&H machines to use the Marion style walking system. The mine here is a new pit and as far as I know it is to be called Liberty Mine, run by Liberty Fuels Inc, a company set up by North American Coal to operate the mine and supply Lignite to the new Mississippi power plant being built as part of the whole development. The plant is to operate as a gassifier and will supply a total of 582MW. When the Dragline is finishe she will be one of the most up-to-date machines going. New AC VF Drives, new -about everything. I'm here on a daily basis and as part of my job I monitor the work on the Dragline as well as the complete Lignite handling system so I'm here until August 2013. In my capacity I can only answer questions in general terms because of proprietary agreements and all and I cannot supply pictures - sorry. However I'm a lifelong Dragliner (Marion for 21 years prior to the BE takeover). So I understand the iterest of Dragline fans. I did visit the Ace in England at Stobswood when she was running there. I also helped open up Butterwell back in 1976. ANother Dragline move that is just about to start is moving the Maid Marion, a Marion 8200 located at New Brunswic Coal in Minto New Brunswic, Canada. She is going to go into the Phosphate mining business in North Carolina. That one is also dear to my heart, I was the original Marion erector on that machine in 1978/79 and went back in 1992 and put a new tub under her. Ya'll have a good day