The dredge machinery was mounted on a rectangular frame with the boom and dipper attached at the center of the front edge, and it normally rested on four skid-like corner shoes made of 5ft x 6ft timbers, with a 5ft x 12ft center shoe on each side between the front and rear shoes. Cable “A” ran from the rear corner of the frame over pulleys and sheaves on the trolley and A-frame, while cable “B” ran from the front corner directly to the center shoe, and each cable was wound on a drum connected to the engine through friction clutches. On each side, walking began with cable “A” released and cable “B” pulling the center shoe and its trolley forward toward the front corner. Then cable “B” was released and cable “A” was engaged, first pushing the center shoe down to take the weight off the corner shoes and then pulling farther to roll the frame forward on the trolley and force the shoes to slide ahead. The dipper was often used to provide additional forward pull. As the center shoes and A-frames remained stationary, the dredge frame moved forward about ten feet. Both drums were then released so the dredge could rest again on the corner shoes, and after dredging the cycle was repeated to move to the next section. The dredge could also be backed up by reversing this cycle of operations.