Modern Marvels on History Channel- AlCan Highway

[Tigerhaze]

For those that watch History Channel, you should keep an eye out for an episode of Modern Marvels about the AlCan Highway. It was on this morning, and has been on in the past so is a recurring episode from time to time. Usually they replay episodes shown in the morning again in the afternoon, so those at home could probably still catch it today.

Anyhow the reason I bring it up is that they have a lot of good vintage footage during WWII of using CAT D8 crawlers for clearing and constructing subgrade for the AlCan highway. It is pretty wild to watcth those old crawlers with the mechanical blades and towed belly scrapers in action, and the need for canvas engine covers to keep them from freezing up in the subartic temperatures. They also had to deal with crawlers sinking in the permafrost. It is well worth it to catch it if you can.

[JimAnderson]

That history channel presentation is definitely worth the time.If memory
serves me the black units used D6's.My dad was up in that area of the
world during that time helping build airfields.I still have photos of his
time there and the Euclid dumptrucks and Tournapulls are neat to
look at.As a side note I remember him telling me in the 50's and
60's about the oil wells that were drilled and capped in Alaska in
the 40's only to be discovered in the seventies. He was pissed that
we all were being BSed at that the time.I don't trust much that
the government says anymore.JMHO,JimAnderson

[Willyr]

You can see it on youtube as well. Alas there are too many digital thieves out there that have reposted it as their own that I wont list the link. So you are on your own. Yes it is worth watching.