Hello Gerry?

Juiceman alerted me that you were posting. As stated before, Welcome. The mechanic Phil that is currently building the Siamese Twin D-8 in the Peterson Santa Rosa Shop, had an operation last week and is on medical leave. He is doing well and should be back in the saddle soon. We were hoping to finish in 3 months. It's Peterson's 80th year and there are a few things the management wants to do this year. Completing this famous tractor is one of them. I will keep in touch. Email me, <a href="This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I will keep you posted when completion gets close.
Glen

&quot;andyindy&quot; wrote:

Hi all, I'm a 35 year employee of a coal fired power plant in Lawrenceburg In., Tanners Creek. They had a twin D8 here until the late 50's/ early 60's. After reading about this build, I've talked to two retirees who have actually operated it. One is in his early 90's, the other mid 80,s. They said all the operators liked running it and and fought to get to run it! They liked the way it steered by letting off one throttle and powering thru turns. I asked if they could start one engine and use it to start the other and he said you had to start both ponys. It also had a cab. Bernie said it worked really well until they started using it to pull carryalls (pans I'm guessing) and he said they tore it up, something about welds breaking and not being able to repair it to hold again,they had their own master welders who I assume did the repairs. The other guy said later on they were instructed to keep it on top of the the storage pile and not work the slopes due to breaking welds. He also said they traded it for a new dozer that really screamed, couldn't remember what make it was and no one wanted to run it, and soon got rid of it. ( detroit engine?). I also asked them both if they had any pictures of the twin and they didn't. I've never seen any pics in the plant archives either.
Tanners Creek plant is located on the Ohio river in Dearborn County, Indiana. City of Lawrenceburg. It is less than 4 miles from the Ohio state line. I don't know about Lawrenceburg, Ohio, I didn't find it in the atlas. Also the adjacent county down river is Ohio county, Indiana. This may have added some what to the confusion about there being one in Lawrenceburg Ohio, perhaps there was, but there positively was a twin d8 at Tanners Creek plant!!!
The first unit was offically dedicated in in May 1951, with unit one going on line some time before being dedicated. The last unit #4 went on line in 1964. The last day of generation will be no later than May 31, 2015, due to EPA regulations. The plant will be razed by 2017.
I'll keep inquiring about the Twin and see if I can find some pictures or other info about it.
I hope this adds some to the history of the Twins
Andy.....)

Saw this today and thought it might be the very same tractor when it was new. There's a picture of it on a coal stockpile, but none of the CCU.

miningmayhem.com.au/index.php/item/97-caterpillar-twin-d8

Hi, Rowdy16.
Thanks for the link.

The one on the coal stockpile is the second set built, for a power station in Ohio. The first set went to Hungry Horse Dam in Montana for the storage area clearing and the high clearance set went to King Ranch in Texas for one-pass mesquite clearing with a funnel dozer in front and root plow behind. There are other photos of all 3 in earlier posts in this thread.

Just my 0.02.

just had a quick look thru the post and didnt see this picture , it was on the Mack truck forum today so thought I better share clearly shows the big and the small of it all

Paul

Hey MrsMackPaul,

Great Picture... Phil the Peterson Mechanic came to Cat Night last night. Things are progressing. Phil was out of commission, but only a couple of weeks. He has inner shafts done, transmissions, and steering clutches in. One motor is on frame. Second motor is complete, but waiting for pony. OilSlick should have that done today or tomorrow. Heck I even got yelled at for the location of the dashes, which are in my shop. So if they are asking for tin, things are progressing. Phil told me his next step is to start putting the lids on the boxes. Thanks all for being patient, as good things are happening!!! I've been slammed, but I'll see if I can sneak out in the next couple of weeks and get some pictures...
Glen

Hey Team,

Stopped by for a look at the Siamese Project. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so have fun viewing.

Hi, Glen.
Lookin' good. Thanks for sharing.

I got to have a chat with Phil last night. Interesting guy and he has apparently had a few hurdles to jump over, both with the job and personally.

Just my 0.02.

WOW. That is gong to be one gorgeous tractor when it is completed. My hat is of to you, Ed, Duane and the entire team that is putting this remarkable tractor together.

This project is really coming together. I wonder how many gallons of Old Cat Yellow have gone into it already and will when it is finished. That is a lot of shiny real estate to cover, not to mention the engineering, creativity and thought which has gone into creating what is under that paint!

This is very exciting. I can't wait to see it making some smoke and noise and getting all dirty!

Pete.

The sign in picture 3 says it all. 5 star. WOW.