The whistle could be heard in all corners of Nederland. As locals and visitors alike perused the farmers market, checked out the Carousel of Happiness, or enjoyed a beer at Knotted Root, periodically they could hear the tooting of a mighty steam whistle. The sound confused people and enticed them and they were surprised to learn that it was bellowing from one of Nederland’s oldest commodities, the Bucyrus Model 50-B steam shovel!

Perhaps more surprising than the youthful shout emitted from its whistle was that the 100-year-old piece of machinery was still “operational,” in that it could swivel from side to side and the great shovel could rise and fall and open its great jaws. People of all ages watched in wonder as the old girl came to life on Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the lot behind the Nederland Mining Museum.

This incredible feat was made possible by the Nederland Area Historical Society (NAHS), who were raising funds for their cause of preserving Nederland’s amazingly rich history. The NAHS sold framed original photographs of the Gillaspie House and of the mining museum, taken from unique perspectives and using dynamic techniques, and also one-of-a-kind graphic T-shirts featuring the famed steam shovel.

The 1923 steam shovel is the last of its kind and, at 130,000 pounds, is the largest operating steam shovel in the United States. After being one of 24 steam shovels to help build the infrastructure and clear the debris around the Panama Canal, instead of being scrapped in Panama this one shovel made its way to Rollinsville in the early 1950s where Roy and Russell Durand operated it at Lump Gulch Placer until 1978.

Some long-time residents of Nederland remember how infamous the shovel had become, like Nederland Parks Manager Nicki Dunn who, while marveling at the old girl whirling and grinding and bending, recalled how she used to climb and play on it as a kid, when it was stuck in the mud at Lump Gulch.

Local poet, performer, and facilitator of the Beyond Academia Free Skool Marcus If was part of the team who salvaged the historic shovel from Lump Gulch and moved it to where it is now, behind the Nederland Mining Museum, on October 21, 2005. The effort to move the shovel was historic itself, as the event was filmed for The History Channel for what was ranked the third most popular episode of Mega Movers.

If also knows how to operate the Bucyrus 50-B, which he did on Sunday, along with Emmit Hoyl. The two worked to sufficiently lubricate the rusty innards of the shovel, and with an air compressor pumping into its damaged hot water tank at over 140 psi the shovel was able to successfully move about and give a show for the crowd, who were drawn to the scene by the bellowing of its whistle.

Children stared up at the great machine in amazement, some screamed with laughter as the loud whistle went off, while others held their ears throughout the demonstration, anticipating the whistle to go over again at any moment.

Kids and adults alike were thrilled by the chance to crawl into the shovel’s bucket for a photo opportunity, though some younger attendees were hesitant, believing that the shovel would lift off back into the air as soon as they sat down in it.

The plaque on the shovel read that “this national treasure links a historic engineering achievement, the industrial revolution of the United States, local history of Colorado mining, and good old fashioned hard work by two brothers trying to achieve the American dream.”

Now, the steam shovel is a symbol of Nederland pride; a landmark that can still move and shout, and can still amaze.

For more information about our local history, please visit: https:// www.nederlandareahistoricalsociety.org.