Hello Folks

I have just become the owner of Caterpillar D2-5U #10200, just a plain crawler tractor, tomorrow we'll go up country and fetch it home with a low loader, and I can post some pictures.

Our family had a hill farm in Marlborough, New Zealand, so I "grew up" with 50's/60's era D4's, we didn't own one, but my Dad's best friend (Peter Bryant) was widely recognised as a superb "bushman" (probably folk in the US would call him a "Logger") and what he couldn't do with a D4 wasn't worth knowing about. When I was about 13 I got to "walk" Peter's D4 3 or 4 miles across several farms to its next job, and boy did I think I was pretty cool. A wonderful memory.

Anyhow now we just have a 10 acre block in light sandy country, but it is an area that has a lot of bush, so I hope that neighbours will call wanting trees pulled, firewood logs moved and if I can get a blade for it, maybe even the odd track cleared etc.

I have already talked with a couple of "Caterpillar" folk (here in NZ), and read a bunch on the 'Net from folk in the US and Aust - what a wonderful group of people I am discovering. I really look forward to getting to know more of you and tap into the knowledge and stories.

A big welcome to the club from all of us.Yes there is heaps of good info. to be had on here so don,t be afraid to jump in anytime & you,ll get an answer back sooner than later.

Welcome Mr. Price,

Memories are a strong influence in a lot of us. Sometimes these memories tug at us until we acquire a material object to make the tie to our past. Sounds like you have just completed that step! My wife claims that I have too many ties to my past!

Thanks for sharing your story with us and we can't wait to see pictures of your new pride and joy.

Memories, what memories. I don't remember anything. Welcome aboard. catskinner

Welcome aboard. I'll echo what the previous posts stated.

Foster,
I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of your new D2 on the BB.
I've got a copy of Ken Anderson's book "Servicing Caterpilar" about his experiences working on logging tractors in NZ for GGH.
As you say these operators where highly skilled, especially when you see the conditions that had to operate in out in the bush.