The Michigan 285 Shovel Loader on Post Crown Force road project in Thailand

[Mick Norton]

In 1967 there was a dire need to facilitate a means of loading tippers with laterite for the road project.  The Michigan 75 DS was on site on the Thai/Laos border project but proving unreliable.  A decision was made to utilise a prototype Michigan 285 shovel loader with Cummings engine that was sat in the Plant yard of 54 (FARELF) Support Squadron RE at Morris Lines in Singapore 1,200 miles away!

As time was the enemy some bright spark decided that the Michigan should be driven (under its own steam) the entire distance from Singapore to the Thai/Laos border and the late Jock Cameron (our Plant Sgt) was the chosen driver.

The journey took nearly three weeks until a weary Jock Cameron drove it up to the laterite pit on the road and handed over to myself as the designated operator.

The mammoth trip by road had taken its toll and after only one month the transmission developed major problems blamed entirely on the decision to move the 285 by road.

[john1950]

I would think the transmission would be under less stress on the road, getting up to temperature and being under a fairly constant load. Much less than going backwards and forwards all day , sometimes 24hrs a day loading a hopper or trucks, or doing a load and carry operation. Having moved on the road many different types of wheeled loader and motor scrapers by road that is my opinion. Clark transmissions as used in Michigan's were pretty bullet proof, I found Allison transmissions less reliable. I would have been worried more by the use of one driver for such a trip, followed by tyres. That was an epic trip by anyone's standards, he must have had a heart like a Lion.  

Edited May 2, 2022 by john1950
addition

[Mick Norton]

John,

I should emphasise that the roads going up through Malay and Thailand in 1967 were appalling often unpassable when the monsoons arrived.  Additionally once into Thailand there were no black topped roads just rough tracks and bridges that the Japs had left since WW2.  

1,200 miles is a huge obstacle even for a Clarks transmission.  There was a second Michigan 285 with a Rolls Royce engine compared to the Cummings and that proved equally as unreliable in the long term and eventually both were returned to the UK after the Thailand job finished in May 1968.

I often travelled up into Malaya with my Aveling Austin 99H grader (at 19mph!), with round trips from Singapore sometimes achieving 100 miles.  But nothing compared to the 285 journey.

I attach an image of the late Jock Cameron my great friend, the 285 operator, who was a formidable roads and airfields builder in those halcyon days when the Royal Engineers were very busy worldwide.

Mick

 

[john1950]

I only guessed the terrain would not be pristine.