Wabco scrapers at work

[stepp3360]

With all the talk about big scraper operator's in California, thought I would give everybody a change of pace. Richardson Contracting out of Columbia South Carolina is still moving dirt with a fleet of Wabco 229F, 339F scrapers. These pictures were taken several years ago in Anderson, South Carolina. I think it was about a million yards at the local airport. They also have 5 TD-40 Dresser dozer for push loading duties. I believe Richardson still operates a fleet of over 30 Wabco's. It's great to hear those 12V-71 Detroit's,
Thanks,
John

 

[637slayer]

good pics. i was just wondering if wabco had any relation to watco?

 

[Northart]

Dresser TD-40 ?

Hi Stepp3360,

Wow! A Dresser TD-40 , 1st time I've seen a real one.

Just seen brochure pix.

Those certainly are rare.

Any closeups ?

Alaska General used to have a fleet of Wabco's, in the mid 70's. 333's if I remember. Don't know what became of them.

 

[stepp3360]

TD-40's

Northart,
It was my first time seeing a TD-40 in action, too. The three TD-40's on this job were all different. One even had what I call a trash blade. I still can't figure out how the operator could see the scraper's when push loading. Another had the ripper main frame chained to the tractor. Interesting outfit. lot's of different equipment.
John

 

[RollOver Pete]

Speaking of Detroits....

Heres an old Wabco I came across at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, Ca.
Looks like she has a 10,000 gal. Kline tank mounted to her.

 

[Gavin84w]

No relation to WATCO. Westinghouse Air Brake Co is what WABCO stands for i believe and tied in with the whole Letornuea thing many years back. Still amnufacture treadle and relay valves for brake air systems today i think, someone will sing out i would say

 

[alan627b]

Wabco's Haulpak trucks live on as part of Komatsu America. Marathon-Letourneau makes some of the huge loaders used in coal mining. As far as their graders and scrapers, I think they died along with Wabco's dissolution of the earthmoving equipment division.
I wonder where outfits that still run Wabco scrapers get new parts when they need them? Other than Detroit Diesel parts and Allison transmission, I mean.
Not sure whose machanical components they used.
alan627b

 

[stepp3360]

Spare parts

Alan,
If memory serves me. The owner keeps a sharp eye and buy whatever Wabco scrapers he can locate. So his yard is full of donor machines. They even had several donor units at the Anderson job, and were taking parts off them to keep the others running. Think about it for the price of one new 631 Cat scraper, you can have a fleet of Wabco's.
John

 

[rino1494]

A company in Western PA had a auction over the summer and they sold (2) Fiat FD 50's and (2) Wabco 75 ton trucks.

 

[DPete]

Don't see them here in Ca. . Not a bad looking scraper though

 

[637slayer]

look pretty nose heavy, turning one around on a slope would take practice.

 

[alan627b]

I've been told that with the center seat cab, they actually rode pretty well, considering they have no cushion hitch or suspended axle.
John makes a good point about the fleet cost too..my employer runs Cat's, but they are far from the current model. They've got a number of donors in their back yard too.
alan627b
Wabco made one scraper that looks absolutely terrifying to run, a little paddlewheel model 101F. You actually sat not only directly above the engine, but right at the nose too! Sorta like riding a barstool.....http://www.forestryhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=2856109&TabID=202731&Alias=forestryhubau

 

[Rusted]

The 101F certainly looks like it would roll over in a strong breeze..but in fact it is a pretty stable machine with a low centre of gravity..more stable than a 613A which it could noticeably outperform when they were working side by side (admittedly a slightly smaller bowl and about 10 more h.p. if I remember rightly).
Would never say it was a pleasure to operate though.

 

[637slayer]

the tractor looks alot like these half truck half tractor machines that do exploratory drilling here in wyo. looks exactly like the chasis on that paddle wheel, with a different cab,if they are still around ill go by their yard and a pic, they look like the ultimate 4x4,look like the same color too

 

[manish]

contact details

ayeone having contact details of richadson contracting. we have huge inventory of wabco scraper parts.

With all the talk about big scraper operator's in California, thought I would give everybody a change of pace. Richardson Contracting out of Columbia South Carolina is still moving dirt with a fleet of Wabco 229F, 339F scrapers. These pictures were taken several years ago in Anderson, South Carolina. I think it was about a million yards at the local airport. They also have 5 TD-40 Dresser dozer for push loading duties. I believe Richardson still operates a fleet of over 30 Wabco's. It's great to hear those 12V-71 Detroit's,
Thanks,
John

 

[ConstSite]

It's always goreat to see the old Wabco's running around.

- Chris

 

[greeniron]

the worst part i found with wabco scrapers was they drove around on three wheels all day because of there nose being so far infront of the wheels

 

[tsdevoss]

353 scrapers

I was working on a railroad spur at a new power plant down in Texas the company I was working for had 631B's. The outfit that had the main dirt had all most all Wabco equipment. The scrapers they had were 353's . They were 40yd twin engine paddlewheels I believe. Just was wondering if anyone had any pics of a 353? Thanks Tim

 

[WabcoMan]

Wabco Scrapers

Now we're talking:ban

The Wabcos were very nice to run and did give a smooth ride.

A careful operator very rarely nosed one in although they would catch out a novice (623B's are quite capable of doing the same thing)

The 101's were exciting to operate but you were exposed to the elements.
I preferred a 111A.
The 111A would outperform ANY other small elevator in topsoil work.

I miss them

 

[bruce oz]

wabco

hello here ia pic of a 353 from the web,bruce oz

http://hw001.gate01.com/geomover/ethmvr/ms/1977w353ft.gif