Mammoth movers
How big are the machines used? This is a common question asked by visitors to the Upper Waitaki scheme. Well, take the Caterpillar 992 loader. Not an ordinary sort of front end loader that the local Borough Council might have. A lot bigger. Its 10 cubic yard bucket carries 15 tons at one bite.
Propelled by a 550 horsepower Vl2 motor, it has three forward speeds and three reverse. Matched with the performance of the 992 is that of the Caterpillar 773 dumptruck. When purchased soon after the project began, these vehicles were worth over $BO,OOO. Replacement cost today would be subtantially more. The 773 is powered by a 600 Hp V 8 motor, with an
automatic gearbox with nine forward speeds. Fully laden with nearly 50 tons on board, it is capable of speeds up to 40 miles per hour (70 kpH). Of the scrapers, the three common makes on the project, Terex 524, International 2958 and Caterpillar 631 C have load capacities of 20 to 32 cubic yards. At the peak of construction, there were 55 scrapers on the job.
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Press, 25 January 1979, Page 10
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184Mammoth movers Press, 25 January 1979, Page 10
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