Tony Beets’ $400,000 Gamble: The Lost Trauml Wash Plant Revival
But this season, Tony Beets isn’t just soaring above the Yukon wilderness—he’s diving deep into a mining gamble decades in the making…
Midseason Pressure: One-Third to Gold Goal
Halfway through the mining season, Tony’s only a third of the way to his ambitious 30,000-ounce gold target. With gold prices at record highs, Tony knows he needs a game-changer—fast.
“You gotta do something different once in a while…”
Enter the Trauml: A Ghost Machine from the Past
Deep in the Yukon bush, Tony’s tracked down a 35-ton mobile wash plant—a towering contraption built 30 years ago by a legendary, maverick miner. Dubbed the Trauml, this beast features:
- A 40-foot rotating drum
- Fully mobile design with hydraulic motor wheels
- Tailings ejection at the rear and pay dirt feeding in front
But here’s the twist—this gold-sluicing behemoth was only used for one season, then abandoned and left to rust.
Now? Tony’s locked in a $400,000 deal to revive it.
The Recovery Mission Begins
With his son Kevin and a dedicated team, Tony launches a full-scale recovery operation at Moose Creek, nearly 100 miles from Paradise Hill. Their mission:
- Dismantle the Trauml piece by piece
- Transport it through rough terrain and steep creek crossings
- Rebuild it on-site and hope it works
“If it works—bingo. If not—so be it. But there’s no reason why it wouldn’t.”
Setback Strikes: $1,000 Tire Damage
The terrain takes its toll—one bad turn and a rim shreds. First casualty? $1,000 in tires.
But Tony doesn’t blink. He’s here to move mountains—and 35 tons of steel.
Piece by Piece: Dismantling the Trauml
The team starts with the conveyor, slowly lifting and detaching it with precision.
“She’s coming! Perfect! Bingo—conveyor gone.”
Their goal? Three days to break it down and haul it out.
So far, things are going to plan—and Tony’s thrilled.
🏕️ Roughing It: Bunkhouse Life
Back at the roadhead, the crew settles into their bunkhouse. It’s not five-star luxury—but for these miners, it’s cozy enough.
“I’ll be so cozy you guys have no clue. I’ll be sleeping like a baby.”
🎲 Final Words: Tony’s Gamble
“You gotta try this—otherwise one day you’ll be old, wondering why the hell you didn’t do it.”
Tony’s all-in. If the Trauml works, it could turbocharge his gold haul and make this season one for the books.
📺 Next time on Gold Rush: Will Tony get the Trauml rebuilt in time? And will this rusted-out relic strike gold—or leave him buried under its weight?
