This photo shows the recent move of major Colowyo Mine mining equipment across Moffat County Road 51, according to information received from Tri-State Generation’s Mark Stutz.
BOBBY GUTIERREZ PHOTO
Colowyo Mine is transiting its operations from the South Taylor Pit, where it has been producing coal for the last 15 years, to the Collom Pit, where the mine’s future reserves will provide coal for Tri-State’s Craig Station. With this transition, Colowyo’s largest “stripping” machine or “walking drag line,” is being transported a distance of 14 miles to its new location. The dragline weighs 4.2 million pounds and generally is a self-propelled, electric-powered machine.
Additional support was needed through a contract with Mammoet USA, however, to move the machine for 10 miles from April 10-19, where the self-propel option was not available. The drag-line was moved onto a Mammoet transport machine for this portion of the move. As a side note, the transport route intersected seven different power line locations, which required de-energizing and a temporary drop of the power lines, including one of Tri-State’s 345-kilovolt transmission lines.
The successful move was a result of significant and successful planning, coordination, collaboration and execution among all parties involved, including many contractors, Tri-State and the White River Electric Association. Colowyo’s plans are for the dragline to be back in service in June 2023, following some necessary maintenance work to the machine.
Special to the Herald Times
