A concise, illustrated guide to the steam shovel; its uses; how it developed; and how it became such a common feature of pits and quarries in nineteenth-century Britain.

Of all the steam-powered machines that came into being in the nineteenth century, the steam shovel (or 'navvy') is perhaps the least well-known in modern times.

In Steam Shovels, learn how the 'American Devil':
· was gradually adopted by British contractors after their invention in the US
·successfully replaced the hand shoveller in loading wagons on construction sites
· revolutionised methods of earth and mineral excavation, making possible the great transportation systems, irrigation projects, dams or waterways that powered Victorian industry
· remained a vital component of British excavation and construction until the 1930s

Illustrated throughout, this book takes you through the workings of the machine and how it performed its tasks.