by Nick Drew | Thu 10 Apr 2025
Cat's Veteran Big Traxcavator at Quarry Demo (Blog Post Re-Visited)
Caterpillar launched the 983 in 1969 following customer requests for a larger and more capable track type loader, the company sourced many of the components on the machine from its hugely successful D8 tracked tractor.
The 983 took its power from a Cat D343 turbocharged, six-cylinder engine producing an impressive 275hp, driving a three-speed powershift transmission. The production run of these giant tracked loaders wasn’t that long in the wider scheme of things and the machines suffered from front idler issues mainly due to the weight of a full bucket bearing down on them.
Manufactured entirely in the USA only around 1,600 models were built including the later B-Series update, so the ones that are remaining today are well sought-after, with many now kept in private collections around the world.
One of those examples, a 1973 model, is featured in Swiss contractor Eberhard’s collection and can be seen in action in the video below. It was taking part in the "Weiach Historik 2022" event which was held in the quarry owned and operated by Weiach Kies AG (Switzerland). The event took place at the end of May this year.
Enjoy the video which comes courtesy of the Hu3raum You Tube channel.