Pictured here in 1955 is an International Harvester TD 24 bulldozer engaged in a heavy logging operation on Vancouver Island.
Popular in the rugged mountains of British Columbia, this unit was equipped with an Isaacson blade and logging winch to handle what appears to be a Hyster wheeled logging arch.
The crawler tractor was powered by a 6-cylinder I-H diesel engine, initially rated at 180 hp. Production of the large crawler began in 1947, and continued for a dozen years.Â
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Ahead of its time in some ways, the latter TD 24’s featured hydraulically assisted planetary two-speed steering, available to each track, which greatly eased the operator’s task.
Cletrac, (acronym for the Cleveland Tractor Co.) had been one of the earliest innovators of the planetary steering method with other manufacturers adapting it decades later.
In earthmoving operations, the TD 24 was usually teamed up with a Bucyrus Erie B-250 pull scraper or similar unit in the 23 cubic-metre range. The TD 24 model gave way to the 230 hp TD 25 in 1959. As part of the HCEA Canada equipment fleet we have a TD 25B, complete with a ripper attachment that operates at our demonstration events.
To see more than 60 restored pieces of vintage construction equipment in action be sure to attend the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) Canada’s 2021 events, including Wheels & Tracks in Motion in June, and the Last Blast in October. Both events are held at the Simcoe County Museum near Barrie, Ontario. HCEA Canada is a Proud Community Heritage Partner of the Simcoe County Museum.
