I posted a picture of "Mary Ann" on this website a couple of times. One of the extended track D8's that served in Antartica.  
Out of curiosity, I looked on the internet - Wow - Challengers on the ice!
( Wonder how much battery they have to start them - the old D8's had a D4 fuel tank for supply of the Starting Engines!)
www.wunderground.com/cat6/Taste-Traverse...rctica-without-Plane
Out of respect of the copyright's, I did not cut and paste the photos.
Enjoy the ride in Antartica.
Happy New Year
CTS
 

Here is Mary Ann again in Brooks with the D4 gas tank clearly visible on the firewall.

an interesting read. the uncle drove challengers broad acre farming in western qld.

Hi, cts.
They have been using rubber tracked crawlers down there for probably 20 years, well before the last of the "Ice Queens' left there. There are some Case-IH quad-tracks down there too

Peterson Cat converted the last nine 865 Challengers off the line to work down on the ice:



And some video of them at work:





At some points in the 3rd video, you may notice that one tractor has a LONNNGGG boom out in front with an attachment at the end of said boom. That 'attachment' is a crevasse detector - which would likely have saved Linda - if it had been available back then. The original version was apparently developed in Greenland and later brought to Antarctica.

If my understanding is correct, this last link is NOT O.T. 'coz I think Cat bought Elphinstone some years back.



Just my 0.02.

The very first rubber tracked Challenger to go on to the Southern Ice was a 65, the French took it down there to trial and also lent it to the Australians and also the US bases to trial. When they finished with a few years ago Chapter 19 negotiated with the French Government and they gave the tractor to Chapter 19, I personally signed the contract stating that it had been given to us. Currently Chapter members are rebuilding it, we plan on having it ready for 2025.

To the best of my knowledge it was prepared for the ice by William Adams, I also believe EDB (Eddie bedwell) had something to do with its preparation. The comment about starting these tractors down there is not as big a problem as you might think, they have block heaters, as well they run on kerosene, I think it might actually be Jet A1, it fires up easier.

Regards, Wombat

I omitted to mention that Doug Hagen was instrumental in this machine being given to Chapter 19. My apologies to Doug for this omission.

Wombat

Hi, Wombat.
AS I understand it, pretty much all diesels down on the ice are run on aviation kerosene 'coz the wax in normal diesel fuel would solidify at the low temps down there doesn't seem to hurt 'em. When Glen Gilhotti brought Mary Ann the Santa Margarita for its first airing back from the ice, I think it still had some aviation kerosene in the tank.

Some photos of that Challenger restoration posted on here probably won't get you shot - at least not by anybody here. They're a pretty thick-skinned bunch here.

I think William Adams Tasmania has done pretty much all modifications and maintenance on Australia's tractor going to the ice since about day 1. Maybe even including this one:

.

Just my 0.02.

Deas,

William Adams and Goughs in NZ have done a lot of work on most machines for most nations at one time or another for preparation for being down South of the Southern Ocean.

Wombat

Hi, Wombat.
Yep. Goughs used to do all the work for the Americans 'coz they were a little closer to the ice than the 'Apple Isle'. For a while, they would completely rebuild one or two 'stretched' D8s each year on a rotational basis for the Americans after the National Science Foundation took over down South.

Just my 0.02.

Nice to see the interest here -
I watched a portion on "Linda". pure amazing that the two in the cab survived that fall.
Probably way to expensive to try to cut a ramp to get "her" out but not impossible, "they" rescued P-38 "Glacier Girl" from the ice in Greenland and she flies today.

I seem to have seen this "bloke" somewhere around the same type venues -- I do not think he owns shoes or pants!
justacarguy.blogspot.com/2018/04/mary-an...-d8-dozers-that.html
CTS