For years, the relocation of the Page 618 Walking Dragline has been in discussion and speculation in Franklin, Kansas, at the Miners Hall Museum. Now, the historic piece of mining equipment will finally be moved to its forever home in the new Dragline Park at the intersection of US-69 and K-47 in Franklin.
The museum hosted a presentation on Sunday for attendees to learn more about the moving project. Program moderator J.T. Knoll started it with a quick history of the dragline. Invented in 1904 by University of Illinois graduate John William Page, the dragline was purchased by the Wilkinson Coal Company and used from 1953 to 1979. It is currently located in Cherokee County.
The program was then handed over to Derrick Tilton of Tilton & Sons Housemoving, who is the general contractor for the project. Tilton, who originally heard about the dragline over 12 years ago, has worked on several projects of historical significance in the area and said this project is the company's largest yet.
“I’ve realized that the previous jobs we’ve done have led us up to this moment here,” he said.
Tilton & Sons previously relocated the Markley Shovel from McCune, Kansas, to the Big Brutus Museum in West Mineral. Tilton said it's jobs like these that he enjoys the most.
“I hate seeing history cut up, demolished and destroyed,” he said. “So when it comes to moving something that has historical significance, I just really enjoy doing it.”
The process to move the dragline began over three years ago. Tilton & Sons have already moved the boom to Dragline Park, and are now working on moving the main body of the dragline.
“The main part of the body, which I would refer to as the house, I want to say that body is going to weigh around 300,000 pounds,” Tilton said.
The relocation of the body will prove to be a difficult task and require accuracy on all aspects.
“A lot of people I talk to on moving things, they think when we show up to move a house, or a building, they think it’s just as simple as picking up a couch and throwing it in a truck,” Tilton said. “I wish it were that easy.”
Tilton advises drivers to be patient on the day of the move.
“It may take an hour or so just to make one turn,” he said.
While there is no confirmed date for the relocation, the Miners Hall Museum and Tilton & Sons Housemoving are hopeful that the dragline will be in its new location within the next two months.
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