The Classic Machinery Network

Today I took a chance to go into a mine to see a LeTourneau L-1400 that I happened to see while driving. Much to my surprise; there were no "No Trespassing" signs!? I made my way down the haulroad to the loader. I think I had taken two photos when the mine foreman stopped by to see what I was doing. He refused to take a photo of me in front of the machine, but did give me five minutes to shoot a few photos. Im happy to have seen this machine up close, and maybe in the future I will see it operating.





I have to say Im amazed and awed to be next to 28yd3, 1800HP, and 205 tons of wheel loader. See my follow-up post with photos of just the loader without my "ugly-box".

All the best,

John

Photos without the ugly box;







All the best,

John

Wow !!! Lucky you John,

What a beast of a loader!!

Very suprised at how you managed to get into the mine without being stopped

Its a shame the guy wouldnt take a snap of you in front of the loader, what were his reasons for not wanting to??

Very nice photos! And thanks for posting them! LeTourneau makes very nice machines.. I would very much see one IRL!

Nick,

It was Saturday and they had the loader out on a haul road to do a wheel motor swap-out away from the active mining area. I simply decided I had seen this machine from such a far distance for too long, and drove into the pit. While I was shooting some photos, the foreman drove up and asked what I was doing. I introduced myself and told him. He would not get out of his truck and told me his job was not taking pictures. He then told me I had five minutes to start driving out of the mine and began counting it out to me every fifteen seconds. When he called 30 seconds I got in the Element and left. My personal opinion is that this guy has had so many lectures about liability over the years that he worries about someone wandering onto the site and getting hurt. While that is a very real concern; Im still surprised at his attitude when I was there in my hard-hat, steel-toes, and MSHA certification proudly pinned to my chest. Its a big world and takes all kinds of people I guess.

All the best,

John

P.S.: If his personality had been better, I could have probably photographed their MT-4400s, D11Rs, etc..

Shovelman wrote:Nick,

It was Saturday and they had the loader out on a haul road to do a wheel motor swap-out away from the active mining area. I simply decided I had seen this machine from such a far distance for too long, and drove into the pit. While I was shooting some photos, the foreman drove up and asked what I was doing. I introduced myself and told him. He would not get out of his truck and told me his job was not taking pictures. He then told me I had five minutes to start driving out of the mine and began counting it out to me every fifteen seconds. When he called 30 seconds I got in the Element and left. My personal opinion is that this guy has had so many lectures about liability over the years that he worries about someone wandering onto the site and getting hurt. While that is a very real concern; Im still surprised at his attitude when I was there in my hard-hat, steel-toes, and MSHA certification proudly pinned to my chest. Its a big world and takes all kinds of people I guess.

All the best,

John

P.S.: If his personality had been better, I could have probably photographed their MT-4400s, D11Rs, etc..

Hi John,

Thats a shame !!

Sounds like that guy could be potential admin material for HEF !! IMO

Nick

Too bad you just couldn't squish it!!