The Rochester & Genese Valley Railroad Museum was lucky enough to obtain the loan of a Caterpillar 627B scraper to help with its excavation work around its restoration building. With museum volunteer John McDonald at the controls, the 627B passes along side of the building to dump another load of dirt.
Cats in the dirt... To dig more effectively, the Cat 627B scraper is pushed by the museum's Cat D7E dozer.
Up close... The front portion of the 627B scraper is seen on the fill area south of the restoration building. With over six foot tall tires, the 627B was a force to behold.
From scraper to dozer... With the fill area quickly being covered in new earth at around 25 cubic yards per pass of the 627B, John McDonald changes machines to the museum's D7E dozer to level off the fill area.
Another blade full... The D7E has a full blade at this shot looking north across the fill area at the south end of the R&GVRRM's restoration building. Eventually this fill area will carry railroad tracks coming south out of the building's two railroad equipment bays giving the museum addition equipment storage and work areas.
Back to the cut... The 627B starts another pass at the cut area with the museum's FM H12-44 #1843 locomotive parked in the back. Also shown in the museum's Cat D8 tractor pan. While serviceable, the D8 pan simply can not match the performance of the newer 627B scraper although the museum has used the D8 tractor pan extensively to move A LOT of dirt! It won't be long before it sees service again.
Off to the fill... The 627B heads past the north end of the restoration building to dump another load of earth at the south end of the building.
Prepping for the next pass... Museum volunteer Scott Gleason has the controls of the Cat D7E as he works the cut area after the 627B makes a pass. To make the scraper work most effectively, it needs a level cut area. The dozer has its work cut out to make that happen before the scraper returns.
Lining up... John McDonald has the 627B lining up for another pass. The cutting blade for the scraper can be seen under the machine.
Making a pass... Working alone, the 627B digs its way through the cut area. The 627B is equipped with two engines. One up front that pulls and another at the rear wheels that pushes.
Cats at work...With the 627B finishing a pass, the R&GVRRM's Cat 12 grader backs to make a pass at the cut to level it off for the 627B's next pass. The Cat 12 was recently turned to operational condition by the museum's volunteers.
In the dirt... The Cat 12 strains its way through the cut area with museum volunteer Joe Scanlon at the controls.
Up close... A close-up view of the Cat 12 at work with a full blade of dirt.
Turning around... The Cat 627B makes a turn at the north end of the cut area. The 627B is remarkably nimble and able to turn very sharply in a very small area for its massive size.
Not much left... After two days of digging with the 627B, there is not much dirt left to move. It would be all gone by the end of this work day. Thanks to the R&GVRRM's excavation crew to another job well done! Soon this area will hold tracks leading to the museum's restoration building.
