Hi, Folks.
Here izza link to a short video - 4 mins - of Peterson Cat converting the last 9 Cat-built Challenger MT865C tractors for use in Antarctica:



As I understand it, Peterson converted some D7s for use in the Arctic and in Greenland during the construction of the DEW - Distant Early Warning - line of radar stations back in the 1950s, with first one being delivered to Greenland in 1953 - See Eileen Grafton's book, "Peterson - 85 Years And Going Strong". Also as I understand it, and I have seen the drawings for these D7s, many of the innovations which Peterson put into these D7s were also put into the LGP SD8s, the stretched D8s which went Antarctica.

Then Peterson received a contract to convert these 9 Challengers for use in Antarctica.

Enjoy.

Just my 0.02.

-2 F here right now, but toasty compared to the last pics. I could use one of those this winter!

Hi, Greengiant.
I'm sitting in a positively balmy 49 deg. F at the moment - doubt there'll be any use for one of them much below about 3,000 feet around here in the foreseeable future. I wouldn't mind taking one out for a spin around here though - - - - - - AFTER it dries out a bit. Presently, it would be more likely to be a yellow submarine with those little itty bitty narrow tracks.

I got a JD 772 6 wheel drive blade bogged here last week - - - with the left side tires ONE tire width off the graded road - - - on the UPHILL side. Genuine, top quality, grade A SOUP.

Just my 0.02.

Interesting video. I am surprised the "rubber" tracks even function at 75 degrees below zero F.

Go ahead and rub it in Deas!!! In the central US we are in one of the most severe droughts in years.

minus 8 F now at 9 p.m. in Montana. I imagine those antarctic machines have nice toasty cabs.

Been a swamp around here, warm and rain, had to move frack trucks at a well site a few weeks ago,
 

Hi, Folks.
D4Jim, The rain we are getting now is extremely welcome, not only because it means I get a break until it dries out, but 'coz we only got about 1/3 of our normal annual rain fall of about 18 inches last winter. And that all came in two storms about two months apart.

We AIN'T working in any of the reservoirs at the moment 'coz they have several feet of water in them.

I let the left side of the JD 772 blade get ONE tire width off a graded track last week and that side sank a good two feet into top quality, Grade A, OOZY SOUP. Got out with the help of a 966 loader.

Greengiant, as I understand it, there was a heater core in each cab over toward the right front corner. The one that I have seen, in Mary Ann, was about 10" square with its own fan blowing through it. I have also heard that they had kerosene fired heaters in the cab but can not confirm that. It would make some sense though 'coz these tractors all ran on aviation kerosene as normal diesel fuel would have solidified in the extreme cold of Antarctica or Greenland due to the wax in it.

gauntjoh, you are moast welkum, Sir. Eric Orlemann had a pretty extensive section on the Peterson connection in his book, "Caterpillar Chronicle". Look for the chapter entitled, "West Coast Connection". In fact, Cat bought several of Buster Peterson's patents from him and built those machines themselves, notably the DD9s.

Just my 0.02.

Deas you read my mind, i was just wondering what kind of fuel they burned at 65 below.

Hi GG,
our Australian Antarctic (ANARE) machines all run on Aviation Turbine Kerosene--(ATK) or also known as Jet A1 due to the waxing issue with Diesel Fuel that Deas mentions.
The rack settings need to be increased to regain the factory set HP lost with this lower BTU fuel--more needs to be injected to get the same results--It was my job for many years to dyno test each engine and establish the figures needed to get the engines back up to Factory HP.

Our Dealership (William Adams) did the required modifications to the first Challenger 65 to go down South, for the French if I recall, which then prompted several more being done for  other nations.
This Challenger 65 is being restored by members of Chapter 19 and volunteers at this time.
The track bars on the 65's were fitted with tire studs for working on ice and to my knowledge were trouble free.

Scan  below is from a Post Card put out at the time. The big pipe coming out of the side of the muffler is a warm air sleeve/muff to warm up the inlet air to the engine.
Standard cab heaters were used along with a coil of copper pipe encased in wood on the floor for a foot warmer using coolant piped from the engine cooling system. The oil and coolant compartments had electric heaters. or electric blankets as needed--special grade battery acid to help save the batteries from freezing. The batteries had electric blanket wrappers as well did the blade cylinders for a few of the things I recall.

Great and adventurous days back then working on special projects.

Cheers,
Eddie B.