by Nick Drew | Mon 02 Sep 2013
Dozing back in time
In response to some requests for more classic bulldozer shots, I have delved back into the Digger Man Blog archives to come up with a few more gems. One or two have been posted before at my various blog hosts, but always worth a second look in my opinion!
One couldn’t start a post on old dozers without a look at one of the all-time classics the Caterpillar D9G. First launched in 1961, this 385 horsepower dozer replaced the outgoing D9E. The D9G remained in production until 1974 when it was upgraded to H status. The machine even had a starring role in the 1974 TV movie “Killdozer”. The machine in this shot was owned by Devon based Whites Plant Hire, which went on to become Broadhempston Plant, who are still trading to this day.
Talking of big dozers, the Allis-Chalmers HD-41 caused something of a stir when it was launched as a prototype back in 1963. It featured an awesome power output of 524hp and weighed in around 70 tonnes. Customers had to wait until 1970 before it went into full production however. In one of many collaborations over the years, Italian giant Fiat S.p.A purchased a major stake in Allis-Chalmers in 1974, and from then on products were branded as Fiat-Allis.
Another classic was the Vickers Vigor VR-180 tractor, which was often billed as the fastest production dozer in the world. Powered by a 190hp Rolls-Royce six-cylinder engine, and featuring a torque-converter, production began in 1952. The unique undercarriage was based on military tank style tracks, which enabled it to run at a top speed of nearly 10 miles per hour, whilst oscillating over humps and bumps on the ground. The one in this old shot is fitted with an overhead cable-operated dozer blade, and is at work in Stewarts & Lloyds Iron Ore Mine in Corby, Northamptonshire. These machines were sold in the UK by Jack Olding & Co Ltd., who were based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Finally in this post, a couple of shots featuring another machine that was owned by Whites Plant Hire. This is an International TD-30, seen here in action on a site in Devon. The TD-30 had a relatively short production span, having first been introduced in 1962 and discontinued just three years later.
At the time of its introduction, the TD-30 was a direct competitor of the Caterpillar D9. The machine was the big brother to the more popular TD-25B, and weighed in around 5 tonnes heavier. The machine was not a popular seller, hence its early demise.
Have you got any classic old photos you would like to share with me, or even new machines stories, that you would like me to cover either on the blog or in the magazine? Why not contact me at nickydrew16 at btinternet.com. Please use usual email format.