The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for excavating material from a mining or reclamation operation, and is generally considered useful in open cast mining operations. The apparatus has a first conveyor and a second conveyor attached to a chassis. The first conveyor is fitted with a material remover such as a excavator bucket on a first end. Material discharges from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor which is generally longitudinally aligned with the first conveyor and has a material receiving point located elevationally below the discharge point of the first conveyor. The first conveyor is moved in a forward direction by a crowder which consists of motion generally along the coincident longitudinal axes of the two conveyors. The first end of the first conveyor which is fitted with the excavating bucket is elevationally moved by virtue of a boom and cable configuration.