Cold start no problem for Antarctic Cats

Snowed-under Cat D6Ns start first time at –42°C as Coldest Journey team prepares to come home

THE two Antarctic-ready Cat D6N track-type tractors modified by Finning to embark on The Coldest Journey have started successfully despite four months snowed-under while the expedition team hunkered down to survive the harsh winter.

The team members will now begin the journey home and are expected to arrive back in the UK at the end of November 2013.

The two Cat D6Ns, which have been equipped with hundreds of specialist modifications that allow them to be operated in the harshest conditions on Earth, have already begun winching the cabooses north through a severe section of blue ice and crevasses.

Commenting on the start of the journey home, Finning engineer Spencer Smirl said: ‘The fact that both Cat D6Ns started first time despite months buried under snow is a testament to the build quality of the machines, and the quality of the modifications engineered by Finning.

‘The temperature often remained well into the –40°Cs, so without the specially designed heating and insulation systems, combined with the extra precautions that had been built into the machine to prevent the ingress of snow and ice, it would have taken a lot more effort to get the engines started again.

‘We’re all grateful for the support we know the expedition is receiving, and at this stage, we’re all just looking forward to coming home.’