This photo features a giant Atlantic steam shovel, the type that was used in many of the Kelley Island Lime & Transport Company's quarries.
This framed photo can be found on the wall at the Kelleys Island State Park office.
Use
Steam shovels were used to load the heavy limestone into the dump cars. Tank cars were used to bring water to the steam shovel. The first railroad tank car was made of two wooden tanks placed on a flat rail car. Tank cars are now able to hold between 6,500 and 31,000 gallons of liquid.
The Marion Power Shovel Company was the main supplier of steam shovels in the late 19th century. Not only did they supply steam shovels for the Kelley Island Lime & Transport Company (KIL&T), but also for the construction of the Panama Canal, Hoover Dam, and the Holland Tunnel.
