They (Antarctic research) ask their uk dealer network for case and Agco each year for people to go work a sabbatical. Quote a few do. I knew a lad from TNS do it. I believe he was out there for 18 months. He helped maintain the 800 challengers that had been sold by TNS to the research company who are based in Cambridge . He said it was the experience of his life. I’m sure a few on here will know him
Case Quadtrac and Challenger tractors in Antarctica .
- Thread starter Pilatus
- Start date
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Used to do that with crawlers here when we had decent wintersA sensible, valid question.
During our 2yr stay at Bonanza Alberta, one of our old neighbours ( now deceased) told me that when using his Caterpillar D7 tractor way up North clearing seismic lines during winter months, he used to park his Cat on railroad sleepers over night to prevent the tracks freezing to the ground, as otherwise if the tracks froze to the ground it was not unknown to wreck the gearbox if one tried moving forward with the tracks frozen to the ground!!
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
Not many locals in Antarctica apart from penguins
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Exfarmer
Member
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds
See I have to get up earlier 
- Location
- North West
A mate of mine did 18 months at the bas Rothera station. Sent some cracking pics but no quadtracs plenty of jcb though. He was in maintenance and spent most of his time completely rebuilding the generators which they do each year, new pistons etc
far to many pics to post.
far to many pics to post.
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
800 challengers?????
- Location
- Foothills of the Quantocks
BAS don't use challengers any more, certainly never had 800 of them! There were a couple used at Halley for the build seasons and maybe a few on traverse but these have all been replaced by pistenbullys now. I know other research programs use challengers though.
Don't seem to have much trouble with tracks icing in, as the climate is cold enough that snow tends to stay as snow - the problem is when it melts and re-freezes as water ice between the track and the ground. We also clean out the tracks every time we refuel
I really should put up another thread of pictures from my 2019/20 Halley season. I haven't been back since, due to the virus etc, but I'm hoping to go again maybe next year.
Don't seem to have much trouble with tracks icing in, as the climate is cold enough that snow tends to stay as snow - the problem is when it melts and re-freezes as water ice between the track and the ground. We also clean out the tracks every time we refuel
I really should put up another thread of pictures from my 2019/20 Halley season. I haven't been back since, due to the virus etc, but I'm hoping to go again maybe next year.
Fraserb
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders
I'm guessing he meant they were the 800 model of challengers
- Location
- South wales
Do start a thread please
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
Yes. TNS supplied 2 . This was back in 2008 ish I think. All they did was fit a flap on exhaust I believe . No other modifications
800 series…..
Sorry, poor editing. Should have said “maintain the 800 series challengers” I’ll go sit in the corner with my fav hat on!
- Location
- Foothills of the Quantocks
Once delivered to BAS cambridge they would have fitted a Webasto coolant pre-heater but yes, the vehicles are surprisingly unmodified.
More recent machines have had to be delivered as South American spec without any of the adblue stuff, which leads to the situation of not legally being allowed to run the engines in the UK.
Many thanks for the above post.
I find it really interesting that South American machines don’t have ad blue stuff on them, and that non ad blue engines are used in what must be the most non polluted air on the planet. I quite understand why ad blue is not used due to the problems it may cause in such isolated areas, but that said it just proves that all regulations etc can be bent to fit the situation.
I am sure many of us would love to see any pics you have of operations in Antarctica
ollie989898
Member
I guess running these machines is easier if they are kept warm either by running them 24/7 or with serious heating systems plugged in.
Of course what you want in those conditions is a lot of free heat and electricity to go with it. The US army did an expedition in the Artic and took a full blown nuclear reactor. Incredible really.
Camp century and how they built it:
Of course what you want in those conditions is a lot of free heat and electricity to go with it. The US army did an expedition in the Artic and took a full blown nuclear reactor. Incredible really.
Camp century and how they built it:
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
Haha, the nearest locals to Antarctica are New Zealand, Argentina & Australia, but they are still a LONG way from any reindeer . . .
as for using dogs or any other animals, that is strictly forbidden in Antarctica & the last Australian dog teams were relocated / dispatched MANY years ago . . .
- Location
- South wales
Why is it forbidden ?
@Charles Quick
I admire you for managing to do a stint in Antarctica A great shame more people don’t try and do something similar when young and without family commitments. Nothing like travel to broaden the mind, to become worldly wise,and to learn how to get on with people. Far too easy to think the world begins and ends in GB, and become a faceless keyboard warrior but in real life do nowt to make one realise GB is just pin pr*ck island when one looks at a globe of the world.
I admire you for managing to do a stint in Antarctica
A great shame more people don’t try and do something similar when young and without family commitments. Nothing like travel to broaden the mind, to become worldly wise,and to learn how to get on with people. Far too easy to think the world begins and ends in GB, and become a faceless keyboard warrior but in real life do nowt to make one realise GB is just pin pr*ck island when one looks at a globe of the world.
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