The Biggest Land Vehicles Ever Made: The Baggers

The Bagger machines have gone down in history with the Bagger 293 standing as the largest terrestrial vehicle in the world. These German-engineered giants, developed in the mid-20th century revolutionized mining operations.

The Bagger 293, towering at 96 meters high and 225 meters wide, weighs an astonishing 14,200 tonnes. Its massive bucket wheel, over 21 meters in diameter with 18 buckets, can move 240,000 tonnes of earth daily. Powered by a combination of diesel and electricity, the Bagger 293 consumes 19 megawatts of power, with speeds ranging from 2 to 10 meters per minute. The bucket wheel's rotation and the boom's adjustable height and angle allow for efficient material excavation, transferred to conveyor belts for processing.

Supporting these mega-excavators are massive haul trucks like the Caterpillar 797F, essential for transporting loose materials. Despite high maintenance costs, the Bagger machines have a lifespan of about 50 years. While the future of such machines is uncertain with the shift away from fossil fuels, their current impact on the mining industry remains monumental, embodying decades of innovation and engineering excellence.

[maingailatembo]

Correction, the CAT 797F is NOT 124 metres long, nowhere near that, it is 15.09 metres in overall length

[insomniac]

these machines are monstrous and this really reminds me of ghost rider