In what Ensham believes is a world first, engineers attached high voltage cables from another dragline enabling it to “walk” under its own steam. Steering was provided with the help of bulldozers.

Although it represented a small step for one machine, it signified a giant leap for Ensham coal mine which is still recovering from the January floods, Ensham mining manager Hugh Cassidy said.

Moving just metres with each step, the dragline took three days to walk out of the mine to a nearby construction pad where it will be completely overhauled.

Cassidy said recovery crews were jubilant to finally see the dragline moving again, which was the first major sign of progress in the dragline’s recovery since floodwaters began to recede a month ago.

“The recovery crews include some of the dragline’s operators and they are very attached to this machine,” he said.

“They like working on this dragline – it is very reliable and it has been a very productive machine for Ensham since it was walked here in 1993.”

Already the refurbishment of the dragline is underway, with the walk drive motors having already been replaced to enable the machine to walk to the construction pad.

Despite requiring major repair work and a complete refit of electrical and electronic components, Cassidy said he was confident the dragline will be back working in the mine by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the recovery of two of Ensham’s most important coal pits is expected to take a little longer, with the mine currently operating at around 50% capacity.

However, Ensham estimates the two flooded pits will be emptied within a matter of months and the mine will be back to full production by April next year.