In 2023, a 1957 Cat D9 dozer was discovered by a group of friends in western New York. The dozer, originally owned by County Line Stone, had been left in the woods, exposed to the harsh winter elements and surrounded by overgrown foliage, for more than 24 years. That was until a passionate group of heavy-machinery enthusiasts decided to recover the machine and get it up and running again.
"You could hardly see the machine because it was so grown in," said Paul Schroeder of Bennington, N.Y.
In August 2024, a year after the initial discovery, Schroeder and his team cleared out the surrounding trees, weeds and brush, which allowed them to access the machine and inspect its condition. The D9 showed significant rust and water damage, but despite its outward appearance, the internal mechanics of the dozer still showed potential for restoration.
Schroeder said, "I was able to turn the fan on just a little bit with my foot and I said, well, if the big motor turns over, chances are we could maybe get it running."
Once the team replaced the mag and carburetor, the pony motor was back up and running. With fuel still left in the fuel tank from the last operator, the machine was able to be moved out of the dense forest for the first time in 24 years.
The 60,000-lb. dozer, which has been nicknamed "The Light-Footed Giant" in reference to its easy steering and handling, included a 335-hp engine, as well as a 15-ft., 5-in. cable operated U-Blade.
"It speaks volumes for the machine to be able to endure those kinds of elements and still be able to run and operate after all those years," said Schroeder, adding, "I think that says a lot for the Caterpillar name and Milton CAT, they sell a good product. Caterpillar should live on for a long time if they keep building stuff like that."
The story of this dozer reflects the deep passion that many have for heavy equipment and serves as a testimony to how Caterpillar builds its products. In October 2024, the 1957 D9 was donated to the Western New York Gas and Steam Association, where it will be displayed as part of its collection. The efforts made to recover the dozer have been dedicated to one of its original operators, Nelson Aldinger.
For more information, visit miltoncat.com/.
