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Some fun in the cold

Dr. Ernie

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 26, 2008
Messages
123
Location
Michigian, USA
Dr. Ernie, I'm not sure if you saw most post? I was wodering what company is down there and how to apply for such a job?

Rathyon is the current co. you will need to do some surfing to find the internet site, The cat agory does not always come up, just keep checking on it. Their might even be a spot open now. I belive that in march or so they will start looking for next years people. I belive that Ray jobs .com is the site. You want the polar services portion of the Co.
 

D6 Merv

Senior Member
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
654
Location
Coromandel Peninsula. New Zealand
Occupation
Self employed bulldozing contractor with a D6D D4E
Ice

Hi Dr Ernie
Pity to hear Big John and Maryann disapeered.
I never did much at willys field, was mainly in workshop in mactown. We worked for Transportation a division of the US navy seabees. Two names I remember were Skip McGeorge; our commander; and a eskimo guy who had been there alot called Butch Badger. In those days the Navy ran the base, but there was alot of United States Antartic Research Program personnel there too. Jules may know those two names. 30 years is a hell of a long time to keep going back.
What do they do for power now.? In my time "Penguin Power and Light" had eight D399 engines for gen sets, before that there was actually a nuke reactor for power, but they took that away before the greenies found out.
Not suprised us poor broken arsed kiwis owe the US some money. In my time Scott Base had a late 46A D8H there, so you may be inheriting that. You should be thankful your not getting Ferguson half tracks or R model Bedford trucks as well as they were still in use down there too.:beatsme
Cheers Merv :drinkup
 

D6 Merv

Senior Member
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
654
Location
Coromandel Peninsula. New Zealand
Occupation
Self employed bulldozing contractor with a D6D D4E
Ice

Gidday Dr Ernie
Found a few photos down there from 25yrs ago so will try and post them.
Colleen was the name of another of the stretch D8s there. In 1984 there was 6 of them at McMurdo and possibly some at the pole.
 

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D6 Merv

Senior Member
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
654
Location
Coromandel Peninsula. New Zealand
Occupation
Self employed bulldozing contractor with a D6D D4E
D8

Well that worked.
1st pic is some of the fleet. Kimberly the D8K behind a No12F grader then a LGP D6D and then a standard D6D
2nd one is Big John a D353 powered D8. There was 2 of these girls down there. I think they were factory fitted with the bigger engine for the original tractor trek of 500 miles to the south pole station in the late 50s.
3 is Fang a 36A D8H fresh home from a overhaul in NZ
And the last 3 pics are Pam hauling fuel sledges to Willys field.
Cheers Merv :drinkup
 

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MKTEF

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
1,013
Location
Norway
Occupation
Production manager
You know we did plant the flag on that pole first!:)

There are some heavy equipment on the Norwegian station too.
Norway started with all year round personell on their Troll station just some years ago.
With that some extra equipment was transported down there.;)

The first start of Troll was around 1990-91.
The BV206 that where used that time had a trip back to Norway after the first round. Had my rumpsteak in one of them some years ago.
Now they are back down there with some other equipment.(Army was involved because of the winter experience)

They got Takeuchi excavators, JCB fasttrack, atlas Copco drillrigg, some pisten bullys, cars, snowmobiles and a couple of BV206.
Have added some pics of the equipment Norway got there.
That container handler on a sledge is not seen so many other places.
Leonard Nilsen & Sønner (LNS) has the contract on construction down there.
They got the job because of their expertice from Svalbard.(near the other pole)
Pics show some of their equipment. pic 4 is from the airstrip.
They are using ilusjin 76 to fly in equipment...;)
 

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d6peg

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
274
Location
texas
Occupation
owner, operator
Looks like that water in the hot tub has a yellow tint to it.:D
 

637slayer

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
486
Location
wyo
Occupation
scraper hand
cool pics and stories, i work with a guy who talks about working there back in the eighties, clearing an airstrip, he said they would just push snow so planes could land, by his stories some of the best times in his life. i will get some info from him this week, see exactly where and when he worked.
 

Greg

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
1,175
Location
Wi
Occupation
Excavating Contractor
why the big space between the cab and hood on the 8?
 

Dozer575

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
274
Location
Seattle, wa
Occupation
Machinist and occasional pt Dozer oper
So no new stuff down thar. Completely rebuilt OLD ones????? D8's that is. ????
Why?????
 

Construct'O

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
928
Location
SW Iowa
Occupation
Dozerwork,tiling plus many more!!!!!!!
I'll take a guess? I would think it was for the special long and wide undercarriage? Not the standard system that you usually see.

So because of that they had to extend the frame for the long tracks,and extend the final drives for the wide tracks also.Trying to get the least LGP for the weight of the machine,since it was going to be used on the ice.

Just a guess:beatsme:usa
 

tylermckee

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
768
Location
washington
i've always been curious what the pay is like for an operator down there. i've heard that it isnt z whole lot different than than working up here, as there is a lot of people willing to work there.us any truth in that?
 

Raytheon

Member
Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
5
Location
Antarctica
Heavy Equipment Mechanic (2011-2012)


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Responsible for ensuring that safety is the highest priority in the workplace. Performs equipment repairs in response to maintenance requests. Repairs heavy equipment, removing/replacing components. Uses diagnostic procedures and test equipment to identify and correct equipment faults. Performs mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and electronic analyses and diagnoses. Operates shop equipment including cranes, welders, compressors, presses, grinders, heavy hand tools, and tire servicing equipment. Lifts, moves and/or installs heavy parts and assemblies safely, using basic tooling and PPE. May perform work outside under severe weather conditions. Maintains a clean, orderly and safe working area. Works rotating shifts as required 24 hours/day. Assists other mechanics and members of the VMF team as required.

Documents all work performed including diagnosis, root cause, labor and parts. Conducts research, orders parts, and maintains records. Prepares reports as required.



Required Qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent is required. A valid driver’s license is required. Requires a minimum of five years experience in heavy equipment maintenance and repair.



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All contract positions include competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. For the time you are in Antarctica compensation also includes travel to and from the ice, room & board, and you are eligible for a performance-based bonus upon successful completion of your contract. FYI – Only authorized personnel are allowed on station and you need to remain on station for the duration of your contract except in case of emergency. Check out our website at http://rpsc.raytheon.com. All applicants must be able to provide proof of U.S. or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency once employment is offered and pass strict physical, dental, and psychological (for winter-over positions) examinations in order to qualify for deployment. Offers of employment are also contingent upon ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check. Failure to meet these requirements may result in withdrawal of employment offer or other employment action. All employees must also comply with applicable safety, environment, health, and waste management policies and procedures.



If you like to live on the edge and are interested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – go to RayJobs.com and apply today.



Raytheon is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.
 

Harry

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
45
Location
NB Canada
My old man went on the cat train last winter in Nunavut. He ran a d85 komatsu, most of the hauling was don by chalenger tracked tractors. He made the trail with the D85. 250km one way. He hauled a sea can behind him with food, a bed, tools and fuel. every week he made it to one of the base camps the get more supplies and good rest. He was out their for a few months. He liked it but now that he has done it he wont go back.
 
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