Old Excavator Rt. 51 near Uniontown (Pittsburgh, Jefferson Hills: living in, to move, land)

[rich.klein]

Greetings,

Does anyone in this forum have any local knowledge or history of the large power shovel along Route 51 near Waltersburg, PA a few miles north of Uniontown? I think it has been there many years. We often pass through between Virginia and Pittsburgh and see it. It did not seem to move for years but recently it appears to have been moved a bit on the same lot. Attached is a photo from 2004.

[Kat709]

OK, Here is what we think is happening. The land used to be an old coal strip mine. To keep it able to be stripped, and not have to reclaim the land, you have to have a piece of working equipment on it. Don't quote us on this!!

[Laurel Highlands]

KAT709 is absolutely correct.

[andyd33]

She is in fact correct

[cruise40]

I am 40 now and living in Missouri for the last 20 years. I literally grew up on her. I stopped and climbed on it frequently growing up. It is periodically moved to prove the mine is operational. That way they don't have to fix the land.

[Shenandoah]

Ohhh - You know I've often wondered about that too! I grew up in Vanderbilt PA, then moved to Clairton, Jefferson Hills, West Elizabeth, Elrama, and now north of Pittsburgh outside of Ellwood City. I think it appeared either back in the 60's or 70's. It sat in the same spot for years and years, then a year or so ago, I noticed it had moved.

Thanks for answering this question, and thank you to the OP who asked it!

blessings, Shen

[MissShona]

Interesting....I've wondered about that thing myself.

[rich.klein]

Thanks for all the informative replies - now it makes sense.

[genevit]

All the above responses are correct. That shovel has been there since I was a kid growing up in Smock(left there in 68). It was part of the Picclomini coal operation in the area. It has been moved a few times. As my memory serves me, it seems to be moved about ever 10 years -- give or take a few..

[cruise40]

LMAO. Don't you just love the loop holes big businesses use to keep from spending money. I havn't been back to Pa for about 5 years now and I will definately go visit it. There is a huge one that is a walking dragline in Shoaf left for the same reason.