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ContractorHistorical

Devonport’s Calliope Drydock – favored by fate

Contrafed PUblishingNovember 23, 2015September 24, 2024
by Contrafed PUblishingNovember 23, 2015September 24, 2024
When it opened 130 years ago Devonport’s Calliope drydock was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Dug by hand in a little over three years,...
Auckland Harbour BoardBabcock NZbeam engineBig PumpCalliope DrydockCrimean WardrydockHMS CalliopeHMS DiamondJames Watt and CoLady BarklyMOTATRMS NiagaraRoyal New Zealand NavyRussian ScareRussian warshipsThames goldfieldThe Russian ScareWestern SpringsWilliam Errington

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Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile o Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile of GarWood from 2013 - a 'forgotten company'⁣
⁣
Caption: A lot of equipment manufacturers offered towed rippers (or rooters as some manufacturers called them) and GarWood was no exception. Their model C80 was designed for use behind tractors in excess of 80 horsepower. Unusual was their use of a fairly short tower that also held the steel wheels. With one exception, every other manufacturer except Bucyrus-Erie had towers twice this height.
It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣ As part of the It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣
As part of the celebrations we asked Richard Campbell our machinery expert- the man who has been writing for Contractor for 26 years- to name his top 10 machines. Here they are.⁣
⁣
⁣
Number nine – the Liebherr R984 excavator⁣
The Liebherr R984 was a big excavator by this country’s standards when it was first introduced here. At around 100 tons operating weight, it was also very impressive to watch in the coal fields of the Waikato. ⁣
There were three versions of the machine, the 984A (introduced 1986), the R984B (introduced 1996), and the final version, the R984C which appeared in 2002. Only the R984B and R984C were used here and the type was discontinued in 2016. If you enjoyed watching a big excavator fill an off-highway hauler in three passes, the R984 was the machine to see.⁣
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Caption: At home in any mine or quarry operation, the Liebherr model R984 was the backbone of Liebherr’s mid-range heavy duty excavators for some 26 years and three different versions. Examples have been used in New Zealand operations since the 1990s. They are a very impressive machine to see working and a fine example of ‘German engineering’.
Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile o Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile of GarWood from 2013 - a 'forgotten company'⁣
⁣
Caption: A GarWood 625 cable scraper doing some serious earthmoving behind an Allis-Chalmers HD-20. One of the last scrapers offered by GarWood, it was almost “over-engineered” in its construction and featured a cantilever rear axle when all its competitors were still using outside supported types.
It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣ As part of the It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣
As part of the celebrations we asked Richard Campbell our machinery expert- the man who has been writing for Contractor for 26 years- to name his top 10 machines. Here they are.⁣
⁣
Number 10 – the Wabco 111A scraper⁣
Number 10 on my top 10 list of favourite machines is the Wabco 111A elevating scraper, which coincidentally, is also the subject of our vintage machine feature in the next issue. ⁣
I have spent a lot of time on various versions of this machine, in Wellington, Porirua, Wainuiomata, Kapiti and Auckland, and despite quite a few folks passing derogatory comments about them regarding their steering, I never experienced any trouble, preferring the 111A to the also numerous Caterpillar 613. Optimum engine RPM and strict weekly maintenance were the key with 111As, and they never let me down.⁣
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Caption: 10  Of all the small elevating scrapers that I have operated, the Wabco 111A is undoubtedly my “favourite ride”. As well as a good bulk earthmoving tool, it is a great finishing machine as well. Despite a somewhat colourful reputation regarding its electric steering system, I’ve had no troubles with any of the various versions of the machine, and that’s why it makes my top 10.
Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile o Deep dive into our archives- this time a profile of GarWood from 2013 - a 'forgotten company'⁣
⁣
Caption: Very popular in the mid part of last century, the 2-wheel trailer scraper was offered by almost every scraper manufacturer of the period. GarWood’s was a very good one and drew heavily upon the design of the Continental Wagon Scraper Co., that GarWood bought in 1936. This is a model 28 which held 8 cubic yards.
It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣ As part of the It's our 50th birthday in October.⁣
As part of the celebrations we asked Richard Campbell our machinery expert- the man who has been writing for Contractor for 26 years- to name his top 10 machines. Here they are.⁣
⁣
Number eight – the Caterpillar 14G motor grader⁣
I was fortunate to be working for the Caterpillar dealer when this machine was introduced to the New Zealand market and had the privilege of delivering several of them by road. Driving Wellington to Rotorua and Auckland to Wellington, never with a pilot vehicle, was an awesome experience and one I will not forget in a hurry. On the job they were so smooth to operate, and worlds away from the older No.12 and Wabco 555 motor graders that I learnt on. Another great machine.⁣
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Caption: One of the nicest motor graders your author has had the pleasure of operating was the Caterpillar 14G. Such smooth controls and great visibility made it worlds apart from the machines he learnt on. Caterpillar introduced the 14G in 1973, powered by the bulletproof model 3306T engine. It was manufactured up until 1995.
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