This is fascinating to watch

[Jbub]

I've never seen anything like this before. I'll let the video speak for itself. Now, who wants to model it?

[Chris333]

Part of them is (or was) still sitting there growing trees:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4943906,-81.7235267,122m/data=!3m1!1e3

My buddy has one of the narrow push locomotives that were used there.

[Doug G.]

It IS fascinating. Incredible, gigantic machines designed by geniuses and the operators could not have been dummies either.

I had forgotten that the operator actually rode down into the ship's hold with the clam shells.

I bet it was real noisy.

Doug

[eric220]

Now, who wants to model it?

How about Pete Nolan? Check out the thread and you'll see a familiar video.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41226

I finally finished the directions for building the N scale Hulett Unloader, so shipping starts on February 15, 2017. I first showed the Hulett two years ago.





This is a challenging kit, with many parts and subassemblies, but at least no compound curves as in my ships. Prospective builders may want to view the kit directions at https://nscaleships.com/kit-instructions/hulett-unloader-directions/

 I am not accepting orders for completed models, as the price would be very high.

From Wikipedia (condensed):

The Hulett unloader was patented by George Hulett in 1898. The first was built the next year.

The Hulett machine revolutionized iron ore shipment on the Great Lakes. Previous methods of unloading lake freighters, involving hoists and buckets and much hand labor, cost approximately 18¢/ton. Unloading with Huletts cost only 5¢/ton. Unloading only took 5–10 hours, as opposed to days for previous methods. Lake boats became much larger, doubling in length and quadrupling in capacity.

By 1913, 54 Hulett machines were in service,  the vast majority along the shores of Lake Erie. A total of approximately 75 Huletts were built. They were used until about 1992, when self-unloading boats were standard on the American side of the lake. All have since been scrapped.

More details are at https://nscaleships.com/n-z-scale-ship-index/hulett-automatic-unloader/

[dougnelson]

Hulett ore unloaders seen at the NSE convention in Pittsburgh in June:

[DKS]

Rick Spano has a pair of them on his S&U:



The both of us have been fascinated by them, and have collected information, photos and vidoes of them for years. We've both been tempted to try making a fully-functional model in N.

[Blazeman]

When I was in the alloys and metal biz, the best time of the day was when the front end loaders were dropped into the holds. It was the 7th inning stretch for unloading a vessel or barge.

[Missaberoad]

Canadian Pacific Had two Hullets in Fort William, they were unique in purpose used for unloading company coal.

If I could find a photo of them it might be enough to temp me back to modeling the Lakehead...

[PJPickard]

A great uncle of mine operated them in Ashtabula. They have been on my dream list to model for decades!