In 1956, the D9 had its engine power raised to 320hp, then the new 335hp D9E replaced that model in 1959. Additional features included a standard torque converter transmission, oil-type clutch, in-seat starting, excellent operator visibility and many servicing conveniences that were previously not available in Caterpillar’s product line. At that time, it was the world’s largest and most powerful tractor, weighing more than 56,000 pounds and powered by a 286hp, turbo-charged engine. The first production D9 – and the first new, track-type tractor produced by Caterpillar since 1938 – came off the assembly line in April 1955. The final design of the D9 production model incorporated suggestions from customers involved in the pilot test program. The new undercarriage design reduced strain and shock loads on the final drives, and gave the ‘belly pan’ more ground clearance. The D9L unit featured the same, new type of elevated drive sprocket undercarriage as had been introduced on the larger D10, in 1977. The D9 came equipped with a 1,473cu in D353, which powered it until the D9L was introduced in 1980. Then, in 1955, the 286hp D9 was introduced to compete against the more powerful Euclid TC-12. Ten D9X prototype models were built in 1954. The series began in 1954, with a prototype tractor called the D9X. The D9 was a series of heavy, tracked-type tractors, carried on continuous tracks and usually used as bulldozers. The photographs here show David, a master craftsman in this area of speciality, working on the dozer with Janki. Having sorted out the mechanical side of things, it was transferred to Janki Palmer’s spray-painting and panel-beating division at Sandstone Estates, within the Sandstone main workshops. Once it fell under the care and attention of Deon Muller, our wonderful Caterpillar-trained mechanic, things started to look up. However, as a result of subsequent negotiations, we managed to purchase the very old Cat D9 cable dozer, which was still in running condition as it is now. In his later years, he was more than happy to make the old machines available to Sandstone, and many of the items in our collection came from him.įollowing his death, an auction was held at his premises, but the reserves placed on individual items are too high for us to contemplate buying them. Zach, although retired from active engineering contracting work, was an avid collector, and he used his collection of old earth-moving machinery to build the railway. Janki working on the Caterpillar D9 cable dozer. Without the railway, there wouldn’t have been dams there. He built the section from the main complex all the way to Vailima, and also constructed the two dams – the Railway Dam and the Pandora Dam – over which the railway passes. Zach was a great supporter of Sandstone, and was the man responsible for building the initial, 2ft narrow-gauge railway. There are D2, D4, D6, D7, D8 and D9 dozers currently in the collection, and the latest of these is the most interesting our 1950s Caterpillar D9 cable dozer that was obtained from the estate of the late Zach van Staden, in Bloemfontein. However, it’s the Caterpillar dozer collection that we’re concentrating on this time. Sandstone Heritage Trust has a very useful collection of earth-moving equipment, with one of the highlights being a Caterpillar D9 cable dozer, but also includes Foden dump trucks, an old Case TLB from the 1970s, two Ruston Bucyrus excavators and other items. Caterpillar D9 cable dozer: Showing the scale of this impressive machine, David and Janki pose with their handiwork.
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