Motoring Monday: Big Brutus

 

Named one of The 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce,  Big Brutus is the largest electric coal shovel in the world and is located about 13 miles northwest of Columbus. Big Brutus never took a day off as it ran 24/7 shifts from 1963 to 1974.

A few facts about Big Brutus:

• 16 stories tall (160 feet)
•  Weighs 11 million pounds
•  150-foot boom
•  Dipper capacity of 90 cubic yards (about 150 tons – enough to fill three railroad cars)
•  Maximum speed of .22 MPH (it moved about one square mile per year)
•  Cost $6.5 million to construct (in 1962)

Big Brutus has a visitor’s center, a museum and a gift shop – find out more at www.bigbrutus.org.