Way back around 1969 or so, "Railroad" Magazine had a feature about this very railroad and one of its pieces of equipment, "Big Muskie". I think it was one of the world's largest draglines but don't recall after 50 years. Is the MERR still running? And whatever happened to "Big Muskie"?
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The periodical you refer to is 'Modern Railroading', and it was September of 1969, and not much of an article for being on the front page. 'Trains' did an excellent piece in March of 1979. The MERR is my favorite railroading operation, for its electric power and automation. Due to the decrease of coal demand, rising operating costs and increase of public opposition, 'Big Muskie' was decommissioned in 1991 and dismantled in 1999, still the largest dragline excavator ever built. 'Big Muskie's bucket was preserved and is on display at the AEP Recreation Park. The MERR continued operating until 2002, when the coal mine it serviced was exhausted. The E50Cs and Ortner 100-ton hoppers with their silicon diode control circuitry were all scrapped by 2004, as was the catenary system. Today the land has been reclaimed by nature, and one has to look closely to find any evidence the line ever existed.
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