Motor Toboggans Prove Useful In Antarctica

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29752, 20 February 1962, Page 17

Motor Toboggans Prove Useful In Antarctica

The trend towards compact motor vehicles in the United States extended to American scientific activities in the Antarctic with the introduction of two motor toboggans in the summer of 1800-81. This summer there were ten motor toboggans in use. Dr. C. W. M. Swithinbank. an English glaciologist from the University of Michigan, said in an interview in, Christchurch

Dr. Swithinbank, now a veteran of six Antarctic summers, introduced the toboggan after discussions with a friend who had used them in the Arctic. One had broken down and could not be used because the spate par', required was not available. The other had given such good service that his party had brought two others and a supply of the required spares this summer Other parties had brought six more.

The toboggan was more suited to a small party than the heavier sno-cat, said Dr. Swithinbank. The sno-cat had a wgrm cabin, but the toboggan used less fuel and was safer in crevasse country because it was lighter and because of its control system. It was also more reliable. A mechanic had to accompany the sno-cats to deal with break-downs, but with the toboggans, all maintenance was done by the scientists. The toboggan takes the place of dogs at the head of

a sledge train and is controlled by long reins held by a man on skis.

‘T'his is to ensure that only the toboggan falls into a crevasse.” said Dr. Swithinbank. He has not heard of any having fallen into crevasses in the Antarctic yet. The toboggan weighs 500 pounds and is powered by a small single-cylinder motor. The cost is about £3OO. Although the speed is only four miles an hour, on one trip last summer Dr. Swithinbank’s team covered 95 miles in two days. Dr. Swithinbank suggested that the toboggans will one day replace the dog teams used by the New Zealand parties. "They are rugged and reliable, and do not require feeding over the winter,” he said.