After 25 years of dedicated service, Glencore has bid farewell to Dragline 3, affectionately known as ‘The Mighty Samson’.

The Mighty Samson’s journey began in the early 2000s when it joined Dragline 1, aka ‘Big Pedro’, at Glencore’s Newlands coal mine.

Over the years, Samson and Big Pedro worked tirelessly to remove overburden, uncover coal, and keep the operation running smoothly.

As the mine evolved, so did Samson’s role. When the site moved into closure in 2023, Samson stepped up, rolling up its metaphorical sleeves to become an integral part of Glencore’s rehabilitation process and helping transform former mined land into future ecosystems.

Samson has been instrumental in rehabilitating more than 3490 hectares of previously mined land as of December 2023.

The dragline has transitioned from uncovering coal to rehabilitating the pits, demonstrating its versatility and endurance. Samson’s contributions have not only supported mining operations but have also paved the way for the sustainable future of the Newlands site.

To give you a bit more background, Samson is a Marion 8750 dragline, a robust piece of machinery designed to handle a variety of digging conditions with its impressive dragline bucket, engineered for both strength and efficiency.

@ The Coalface is honoured to share this final story and photos of The Mighty Samson in action, highlighting its significant role in shaping the landscape of the Newlands mine.

We also want to acknowledge the dedicated team that operated and maintained The Mighty Samson, ensuring its optimal performance throughout its service life. Their hard work and commitment have been crucial to the dragline’s success.

Farewell, old friend. Your legacy will live on through the transformed landscapes and the memories of all those who worked alongside you.