Another major piece has been added to the growing Twizel Heritage Machinery Display jigsaw puzzle.
A Terex S24 scraper, donated by philanthropist and Rooney Group director Gary Rooney, has now been added to the display which features various earthmoving machinery utilised on the Upper Waitaki Power Development.
The S24 scrapers, along with Caterpillar 631 and International 295 units, were the mainstay of excavation and material placement which formed the canals linking Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki and Ohau, the Pukaki High Dam, Lake Ruataniwha Dam and Tekapo B, Ohau A , B and C powerhouse sites.
Last month Rooney Group transported the S24 to Temuka, where it would be sandblasted and painted before joining the display.
In a statement Heritage Group convener Rick Ramsay said the S24 was a major addition to the display fleet.
‘‘There are a lot of operators who will fondly recall the distinctive roar of these machines, and to again see one in the Mackenize Basin on display is a big addition.’’
It was extremely generous of Mr Rooney to not only donate the machine but transport it also, he said.
The Heritage Group would be fundraising to pay for the $13,000 required to bring the machine up to display standard.
Powered by a V12 General Motors two stroke diesel, the scrapers were matched to an Allison CLBT-5865 six speed powershift transmission and had a top speed of 50kph.
The transmission included a hydraulic retarder which assisted the shoe brakes.
The bowl capacity was 18cu m struck or 24cu m heaped.
Despite having over 400 horsepower and a diff lock to prevent wheelspin, the scrapers were push loaded by bulldozers on the Upper Waitaki due to the packed nature of the glacial moraine deposits which comprised the bulk of the earthworks on the project.
Clyde Engineering sold 32 S24 scrapers into New Zealand with the bulk utilised on the hydro schemes.
Fleet operators included Higgins Earthmoving, Earthmovers Waikato, McBreen-Jenkins, Burnetts Motors and Doug Hood Ltd.
Gary Rooney purchased the construction arm of Doug Hood Ltd in around 1998 which included the S24 scrapers.
Due to their rugged construction and ease of maintenance, many were rebuilt and continued to operate on other works, even to this day.
Some were used as ‘‘dump trucks’’ and with the rear stone guard removed — the bowls allowed easy loading by diggers and smooth distribution of material and wheels providing a degree of compaction.
The unit donated to the Twizel display was one of three purchased by the Rooney Group from the North Island to work on the company’s Rangitata South irrigation Scheme — a private endeavour costing more than $130 million.
The units were not used anywhere else other than this project and were stored in the company’s Ashburton depot. — Allied Media
