It’s the end of an era at Paintearth Mine.
The two shovels which operated at the former coal mine located in the northwest corner of Paintearth County have, according to reports, been sold for scrap and the demolition process has begun.
Demolition began on June 16, when the booms of the shovels known as “Bigfoot” and “Brutus” were removed with explosives.
Brutus and Bigfoot have been operational at the mine since around the early 1980s.
Both of the shovels were put out of work in 2021 due to the transition of the Battle River Power Plant from coal to natural gas.
Paintearth Mine’s ‘Brutus’ sits as a technician checks the explosives (bottom left corner). (Kevin Sabo/Castor Advance)
‘Brutus’ sits unused at Paintearth Mine, shortly before the boom is removed. (Kevin Sabo/Castor Advance)
