Marion Revolving Steam Shovel

Early during the construction phase of the Trans-Australian line a 4 ft. 8½ in. gauge rail mounted Marion Revolving Steam Shovel, Model 36, was purchased. It was imported from the U.S.A. at a cost of £1755, and entered service in 1913, immediately being given the task of digging cutting No.1, just north of the current Port Augusta station. The shovel was considered a great improvement over a Ruston Proctor, road mounted model, that they had purchased earlier in the year, and was capable of more than twice its predecessor's work load. The biggest problem experienced was the difficulty of keeping an adequate supply of wagons on hand to remove the shovel's output. It was capable of moving up to 522 cubic yards in an 8 hour period and averaged around 440 cubic yards a day.

Following completion of most of the major earthworks around Port Augusta, the Marion was moved to the Ballast pits until the earthworks started at Ooldea. Once the line was completed the unit saw very little work. In November 1920 railway contractors Messrs Timms & Kidman hired the unit, for 6 months, to perform work on the Eyre Peninsula. Following its return, the shovel was not reassembled and it was tendered for disposal. The New South Wales Public Works Department purchased the unit in late 1923 and sent it to the Hume Reservoir.

Marion Revolving Steam Shovel