A fine show of Caterpillar heavy-hitters

Peter Love reports on the fantastic display of Caterpillar equipment he spotted at the High Weald Steam Working Weekend, at Pippingford Park.

It seems that we’re entering a new age in the UK for Caterpillar enthusiasts, following last year’s Cheffins sale of the late Robert Wilson’s machinery. There’s real momentum behind the marque nowadays and, with The Link Club getting back with the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) to become Chapter 2 again, there appears to be a bright future ahead for all Highway Yellow fans. What’s more, 2025 will be the 100th anniversary of Caterpillar, and that landmark is sure to be celebrated enthusiastically here in the UK (see the issue’s News pages).

So, with all this in mind, it was great to see such a strong showing from the Antique Caterpillar Owners Club Chapter 2 at the High Weald Steam Working Weekend, held at beautiful  Pippingford Park in E Sussex, on June 15th-16th. This was a first-time site for the event organisers, whose 2023 event was the ‘jewel in the crown’ of rallies, but needed a larger venue.

The only fly in the ointment was the weather, which brought heavy showers for much of Saturday, although brighter conditions did arrive on Sunday afternoon, thankfully. Nevertheless, the huge crowd that was attracted to the picturesque site on the edge of Ashdown Forest exceeded all expectations, so the event’s future looks assured.

The excellent Caterpillar display came about thanks primarily to the enthusiasm of 21-year-old Finning’s technician, Sam Crawford, from Isfield, and his father (the infrastructure manager at the nearby Bluebell Railway). But their efforts were well supported by a good number of Caterpillar fans, particularly from Kent and Sussex. 

The oldest machine on show was the West family’s 1922 Holt T-35, which, technically, should be painted light green, not Highway Yellow. However the Caterpillar-tracked machine came from a Scottish sale in the condition it’s in now, and has been rallied since then, together with a few suitable additions.

It was also great to see the 1929 Thirty (No. PS 7966) belonging to Dave Mansi; a machine that he bought in late April on eBay. The tractor runs and William Mansi has the knack of making it go very well. It looks the part, too, although it would originally have been painted grey.

Then I spotted Sam Crawford’s 1948 Caterpillar D8 (No. 2U4735), which is making great progress with its totally rebuilt donkey engine and more. The D8 was the ‘King’ of the Caterpillars back in the day.

Sitting next door was Sam’s ex-military 1944 D7 4T; a model made between 1944 and ’45 in this format. This one’s also made great progress. Last year, Sam also bought a Caterpillar Diesel Forty (from the Cheffins Wilson sale), and this one’s a project for the future. In addition he has the ex-Cheffins John Simpson D4, so the team has a lot to be getting on with!

Then I came across plant contractor and hire fleet owner Clive Gray’s display of machines. This included his lovely ex-Swedish army 1954 212 motor grader; a machine he brought back in 2018 and which features a 10ft blade. Unfortunately, it had a cracked D311 block when bought, but that’s been sorted and the whole machine looks superb now. 

Making its debut was Clive’s 1955, electric-start Caterpillar D2 (No. 4U6878) orchard tractor, which is virtually unique in the UK. This was another bought at the Wilson sale, but it arrived with seized clutch and problematic starter motor. But, after much work, it’s all back together now and has been kept in original condition. It ran superbly – despite the rain – and, for me, was perhaps the highlight in the display.

Unfortunately, there isn’t space here to detail every machine on show, but I must mention the couple of gems displayed by Ashford-based Mark Hellier Tractors. Both the 950 loader and the 955L Traxcavator were bought new and put away in a barn at Broad Oak, near Heathfield, sometime during the 1970s. Then, thankfully, Mark found and then managed to rescue them. They were a real treat to see.

Congratulations to Sam Crawford and his team for all their efforts at this event. They created a brilliant attraction. If you would like to join the ACMOC Chapter 2, then get in touch with Bodie Hunter at Pear Tree Farm, Brereton, Cheshire CW11 1RR, tel: 07723 381492, or send an email to: bodiehunter@hotmail.com.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Tractor & Machinery, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE