Ursa Major (excavator)

Ursa Major (excavator)
Ursa Major in 2009
Class overview
Name2570-WS Ursa Major
BuildersBucyrus-Erie
Operators United States
CostUS$50 million (1999)
In service2001-Present
Planned1
Completed1
Active1
History
United States
NameUrsa Major
BuilderBucyrus-Erie
Laid down1999
Launched2001
Christened2001
Commissioned2001
NotesLargest walking dragline currently in-service
General characteristics
Class and typeModel 2570-WS-series Dragline excavator
Tonnage6,700 tonnes (7,385 short tons)
Length110 m (360 ft) (boom)
Propulsion2x hydraulically driven walker feet
Speed0.16 km/h (0.1 mph)
CapacityBlade capacity: 160 cubic yards (120 m3)
Complement5


The Ursa Major (lit. Great Bear) at Black Thunder Coal Mine, Wyoming, is the largest dragline excavator currently in use in North America and the third largest ever built.[1][2] It is a Bucyrus-Erie 2570WS model and cost US$50 million. The Ursa Major was one of five large walking draglines operated at Black Thunder, with the next two largest in the dragline fleet being Thor, a B-E 1570W - which has a 97.5-metre (320 ft) boom and a 69-cubic-metre (2,400 cu ft) bucket - and Walking Stick, a B-E 1300W with a 92-metre (302 ft) boom and a 34-cubic-metre (1,200 cu ft) bucket.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Black Thunder Thermal Coal Mine, Wyoming". Mining Technology. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  2. ^ Orleman, Eric. "Bucyrus Erie 2570WS "Ursa Major"". Stripmine.org. Retrieved 11 January 2019.