Tech
Guinness World Record: 150 Case Steam Tractor Built from Scratch
Kory Anderson was about 10 years old when he first saw the only remaining boiler for a 150 Case, which was the world’s largest steam tractor in 1905.
He learned that the “Road Locomotive” as it was called no longer existed. The boiler was the closest he could get to the real thing, as all nine of the machines built had long ago been scrapped.
Seeing the boiler inspired him to want to bring the beast of a tractor back to life.
“As a boy, I just hoped my dad or one of my friends or somebody would build it,” he says. “And then as I got older, I realized it was going to have to be me.”
So in 2017, he and dozens of volunteers set out on a mission to build a replica from scratch of the largest steam tractor ever built. Sixteen months and 15,000 hours of work later, the dream became a reality.
And like the 150 Case it is modeled after, Anderson’s 150 is the largest steam tractor in the world – made official by Guinness World Records. (To see the 150 in action, check out the videos at the end of this story.)
Buying a Foundry Along the Way
Kory with his parents, Donna and Kevin Anderson, and brother Scott on their 1911 110 Case steam tractor, which was second only to the 150 in size.Kory Anderson and the 150 Case ProjectBuilding the world’s largest steam tractor is not your typical daydream for a boy – especially not one growing up in the late-20th and early 21st centuries. But Anderson’s childhood was a little different.
His parents, Kevin and Donna Anderson, were steam engine hobbyists and historians. He learned at a young age how to operate and work on the old tractors. He restored a 1915 65 Case steam tractor at age 16. He also made it known to all of the family’s friends and co-hobbyists of his desire to one day see a 150 Case.
At 22 years old, he made a trip to the Case archives in Racine, Wisconsin. As luck would have it, the company still had about 90% of the drawings and blueprints for the 150, which was designed more than 100 years ago.
In its day, the 150 was about three times larger than other steam tractors. The J.I. Case Company built nine of the Road Locomotives between 1905 and 1907. They were designed to fill in gaps on the railroad by hauling heavy freight over road. A copper mine in New Mexico was the first customer.
There wasn’t much of a market for the 150. But its design was later used for a smaller steam tractor for plowing that became a big seller, the 110 Case.
The remaining 150s returned to Racine. Some were stripped down for the engines to be sold for use at sawmills or generating electricity. After Case was bought by Tenneco in 1972, all the remains of the 150s had been scrapped. The boiler Anderson saw when he was a child was all that was left.
Anderson began making 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models from the drawings he had copied at Case headquarters and then advanced to making wood patterns. Meanwhile, he had started a welding, fabrication, machining and engineering company, Anderson Industries, and would cast parts for the tractor in his spare time. His successful business also helped fund his project, which ended up costing about $1.5 million.
Then in 2014, the Dakota Foundry in Webster, South Dakota, where he had been a customer for eight years for parts casting announced it was being sold to a company in Taiwan. Along with no longer having a place to cast the 150’s parts, a lot of his friends would be out of work.
“I had to buy a foundry along the way to be able to do all the casting,” Anderson says. “I also wanted to see the business saved and not shut down.”
A Sense of Urgency
Kory Anderson at work on the 150 CaseKory Anderson and the 150 Case ProjectAs 2017 rolled around, Anderson knew he needed to move quickly if he was going to build a 150 Case. His mentors in the steam world were getting older.
“I realized that I wouldn’t have any of my knowledge and I wouldn’t have this dream if it wasn’t for the mentors who shared the stories and taught me everything that I knew,” he says. “So it really became a drive of mine to get it started and get it finished as fast as I could just so that they could appreciate it and enjoy it before they passed on.”
So he and friend Gary Bradley began building the engine. Anderson would make the 8-hour drive each weekend from South Dakota to Bradley’s shop in Sheridan, Wyoming, where they had all the tools and equipment they needed and were free from the interruptions of day-to-day business at the foundry.
Work on other parts of the tractor was occurring elsewhere simultaneously by volunteers under Anderson’s coordination.
The wheels, extension rims and drawbar were being built and riveted together at friend Jim Briden’s shop in Fargo, North Dakota.
Trevor Guenter and a team worked on fabricating and riveting together the water tank and coal bunkers in Manitoba, Canada.
More than 10,000 followers on Facebook monitored the progress as the team rushed to meet a deadline of September 8, 2018, when the tractor would make its debut at the James Valley Threshing Show in Andover, South Dakota.
“A Whole Different Monster”
Kory Anderson with longtime mentor Jim Briden with the finished 150 Case.Kory Anderson and the 150 Case ProjectAnderson was nervous when it came time to fire up the engine for the first time, about three weeks before the 150’s big public debut.
“Anytime you completely rebuild something, there’s always potential for missing something or something not being 100% right,” he says. “It’s like rebuilding a motor and then starting it for the first time. You’re just kind of listening for any issues.
“But this thing being completely built from scratch and none existing, it was just a whole different monster.”
The 150 weighs 37.5 tons. Each wheel is 8 feet in diameter and weighs over 3 tons. The volunteers installed over 1,000 ¾-inch hot rivets for them.
In all, the tractor is 25 feet long, 14 feet wide and stands 14 feet tall. The bunkers have a capacity for 3 tons of coal, and the water tank will hold 600 gallons of water. The engine burns both wood and coal to maintain an operating pressure of 180 psi of steam.
Anderson and team members lit the first match for the engine on August 18, 2018. It ran without a hitch.
“It was just an incredible thrill to see it moving under its own power and everything moving smoothly and operating well,” Anderson says.
Going Viral
Kory Anderson and the 150 Case ProjectJust as the engine started as it should, so did the tractor’s performance at public events.
It sounds like a train locomotive and looks like one, too, as smoke billows from its stack.
YouTube videos of its feats of hauling rows of John Deere bottom plows have logged more than 20 million views.
Its largest pull to date came in 2022 when it hauled 50 Deere plows all connected together, along with an operator at each plow. Anderson says you couldn’t tell anything was behind the 150 because of its power. It has a top speed of 5.69 mph and delivers 5,000 foot-pounds of torque.
Despite its size, Anderson says, it’s fairly easy to operate – as long as you learn who’s boss.
“It is a brute. Everything on it is heavy. And if you try to fight it, it’s going to fight back. And it’s probably going to win.”
It has three levers, one for forward and reverse, one for throttle and one for “power steering.” The steering takes the most time to get used to. “You’re only able to turn at the speed the engine is moving,” he explains. “You’ve got to plan everything out, because if you get behind, you’re not going to be able to catch up, because you’re only turning that speed of the engine.”
Anderson says he has become comfortable operating the big tractor.
“Now I’ve run it enough, and I feel like a really experienced guy in an excavator,” he says. “You just become one with the machine.”
Guinness Comes Calling
Kory Anderson and the 150 Case Project“I never really expected that it would gain the traction that it has,” Anderson says of his 150.
But the viral YouTube videos created a sensation, so much so that he was hearing responses from unlikely corners, inspiring him to do more to show the big 150.
“What really inspired me the most was the amount of parents that I had coming to me saying, ‘My kids used to watch all this stuff on TV and YouTube, and now all they want to do is watch your steam engine videos.’”
The 150 also caught the attention of the famous Guinness World Records.
“They actually reached out to me,” he says. “They had come across the videos on YouTube.”
Guinness sent him an email announcing its intentions to review the tractor for entry into its world records.
In November 2022, Anderson got official word from Guinness that the 150 is the world’s largest steam-powered tractor.
What’s Next?
Anderson has shown the 150 several times and also attends steam engine shows to talk about building the world’s largest steam tractor.
His goal is to motivate others.
“You can have a dream, and as long as you’re willing to put in the work, anything is possible,” he says.
He also talks about finding the right team to help you and support your goals. He praises all the many volunteers who worked on the 150. And now that the 150 is finished, he’s paying back some of those friends by helping them build steam tractors of their own.
He’s also on the lookout for another big project, but they’re not easy to find. He wants to make sure whatever he does is 100% authentic like the 150. But many of the steam tractor manufacturers have been out of business for decades, so the blueprints and designs are difficult to find.
“I have my feelers out there trying to track things down,” he says. “So we’ll see what I can come up with.”
Watch the 150 in Action
Check out these videos below from Kory Anderson and the 150 Case Project of the 150 Case in action.
The video below shows the tractor pulling 44 John Deere bottom plows with some great drone footage at James Valley Threshing Show in Andover, South Dakota, in 2021:
In the video below, the 150 Case Road Locomotive pulls 50 John Deere plows in 2022, its largest feat so far. “There were areas where the plows wouldn’t go in deep enough to pull smooth, but rather bulldozed a 60′ swath,” according to the YouTube video description. “Over 80,000 lbs. of direct pull on the hitch to drag this load across the field, a remarkable showing of the power of steam!”
Caterpillar is bidding farewell to its 259D3, 279D3 and 289D3 compact track loaders with the introduction of its new, next-generation 255 and 266 models.
The completely redesigned models debuted at media and customer events at Caterpillar’s Edwards, Illinois, Demonstration and Learning Center last week. The 255 and 265 offer improved engine performance, more lift height, a roomier cab and more standard technology than their predecessors.
“We kept the DNA of the D3 series while reimagining the possibilities of loader performance using voice of customer feedback to lead the way,” says Trevor Chase, product application specialist for Caterpillar. “Both next-generation models leverage the many benefits offered by the vertical lift design. The new Cat 255 replaces the 259D3, while the 265 replaces both the 279D3 and 289D3 machines.”
The CTLs are the last of Cat’s building and construction products to get the next-generation treatment and simplified nomenclature. The first number (2) represents the skid steer loader and compact track loader machine family; the middle number (5 or 6) designates the machine size; and the ending number (5) is the compact track loader identifier. Skid steers will be identified by a 0 end number. Additional new models will roll out in the coming months, the company says.
CaterpillarMore power and torque
Cat equipped the 255 with a C2.8T engine and the 265 with a C2.8TA engine, both at 74 horsepower. This gives the new machines a significant boost in torque – 13% for the 255 and 43% for the 256 – over their D3-Series predecessors. The engine and cooling package are mounted lower in the frame for added visibility out the rear window and stability while lifting heavy loads.
Customers attest that the added lift height makes truck loading easier. The 255 offers 10 feet 4 inches of lift height, while the 265 can reach 11 feet high.
“The lift height has made a big difference when loading trucks,” said Derrick Roger, owner of Coast to Coast Lawnscapes, who spent several months testing the 255. “You can get on top of that truck now and empty the bucket; whereas, before you would have to shake the bucket to try to get the material to fall out.”
The 255 delivers 36% more tilt breakout, 26% higher lift breakout force and a 24% increase in rated operating capacity (ROC). The 265 also delivers 19% higher tilt breakout force and 22% higher lift breakout force.
Standard hydraulic pressure has been increased to 3,500 psi, allowing the 255 and 265 to operate all Cat Smart Attachments with the standard auxiliary hydraulics provided.
If demanding attachments require additional hydraulic flow, customers can have their Cat dealer activate the high flow functionality on the machine or remotely via software update. This makes it possible for the CTLs to hit 30 gallons per minute of flow at the standard system pressure.
A High Flow XPS factory option increases auxiliary hydraulic system pressure to 4,061 psi for both models, while also increasing the hydraulic flow to 30 gallons per minute for the 255 and 34 gallons per minute for the 265.
The torsion suspension undercarriage delivers better operator comfort, track wear and material retention, plus the stiffer design results in smoother graded surfaces, Cat says. A new 12.6-inch bar-tread narrow track option is available on the 255.
A more spacious cab
Cat says it has increased the cab width by 2.75 inches without making the machines wider and the footwell-to-ceiling height by 1.8 inches. The larger cab gives operators an additional 1.5 inches of hip room and 1.1 inches more width between the joysticks.
A range of new mechanical and air-ride suspension seat options are available, including a ventilated and heated seat. A new automatic temperature control allows operators to set a specific temperature. Relocated vents help cool or heat the machine quickly.
The standard package includes the same 5-inch LCD monitor as the D3 Series CTLs, which offers Bluetooth connectivity and functionality for the rearview camera feed, creep, job clock, and maintenance reminders.
Customers can upgrade to a new 8-inch advanced touchscreen monitor, like the display found in Cat’s next-generation mini excavators and small loaders. It delivers advanced radio control and supports the 270-degree multicamera option. The advanced monitor pairs with the advanced joysticks for integrated control of all machine functions and adjustments.
“You can adjust the movement – or the aggressiveness or the conservativeness – of how your tracks and lift arms work through your advanced touchscreen display,” Dante Thomas, skid steer and CTL marketing manager, said. “And you can control of all of your display functions from the advanced joysticks. There are buttons with enter and select functions on those joysticks that you’re able to change any functionality that is possible.”
Cat also redesigned the entry, making the 255 and 265 easier to enter and exit. The cab door can be opened even when the lift arms are not fully lowered to the frame stops. It can be removed without tools in less than one minute.
Advanced technologies
Calling the 255 and 265 “one of the most attachment-friendly machines on the market,” Thomas says both the standard and advanced monitors can run Cat Smart Attachments, such as the dozer and grader blades and backhoe.
“It has attachment recognition that when you plug the attachment into the machine, it recognizes which attachment is connected. It adjusts your joystick pattern, so it gives you intuitive and simple control,” says Thomas.
The available Cat Product Link Elite system tracks machine hours, location, asset utilization, provides fault code details and delivers advanced monitoring and machine health, that is remotely accessible via VisionLink. In addition, Product Link Elite provides remote flash and troubleshooting capabilities and quickly enables the remote activation of the SEA High Flow feature.
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Quick Data is a snapshot of new and used wheel loader sales trends from Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data, TopBid auction price service and EquipmentWatch market trend reports.
Demand for wheel loaders has softened with new and used financed wheel loader sales down year-over-year from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 according to Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data.
Financed new wheel loader sales dropped 10%, while used financed wheel loader sales fell by 15% compared to the same period last year.
Cat (22.4%), Deere (21.0%) and Komatsu (12.4%) held their positions year-over-year as the top three sellers of new financed wheel loaders. Top models sold included the Deere 544 P-Tier (401), Deere 624 P-Tier (380) and the Komatsu WA270-8 (364).
[Watch: “A Really Solid Machine” – Test Run of Komatsu’s WA475-10 Wheel Loader]
Cat (28.5%) and Deere (22.9%) also snagged the No. 1 and 2 positions for the highest number of financed used units sold, with Case (14.7%) claiming the third spot. On the date we examined the data, the top-selling models were the Case 321F (340), Cat 926M (164) and the Case 621G (159).
During this period, there were more buyers of new loaders in Florida (955) than in any other state. Buyers of new wheel loaders were also prevalent in Texas (893) and Illinois (665). Those states were also top buyers of used financed machines, with 712 units sold in Texas, 413 in Florida, and 412 in Illinois.
EDA data is compiled from state UCC-1 filings on financed construction equipment. EDA continually updates this data as information comes in from each state.
[Related Content: A Rundown of the Latest Wheel Loaders for 2023]
Used Wheel Loader Market
Used wheel loader prices rose 10.1% for the 12-month period from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023, according to Randall Reilly’s EquipmentWatch market trend data.
The average price for a used wheel loader was $137,465 in July 2022 compared to $151,367 in July 2023. The average age of used wheel loaders fell slightly during the period, dropping from 8.8 years to 8.3 years.
EquipmentWatchThe average age and price were calculated on 153,356 resale listings during the period in the EquipmentWatch database.
Over the last 12 months, prices for used wheel loaders have in general increased, with the largest gains in October 2022 (6.5%) and February 2023 (2.9%).
EquipmentWatch defines fair market value (FMV) as the monetary value of an asset that can be expected in a transaction with a single seller and single buyer, neither of whom is under any compulsion or time restriction to complete the transaction. FMV for heavy equipment is most closely associated with the private resale market, as opposed to the public auction market.
Wheel Loader Auction Prices
Caterpillar also dominated the auction charts, accounting for 18 of the top 20 wheel loaders sold in terms of price for the 12-month period of September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. Deere and Komatsu were the only other manufacturers to appear on the list.
The top auction price spot went to a 2021 Cat 966M with 2,188 hours. It sold for $400,000 at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Orlando, Fla., on September 21, 2022. The second-highest price paid was $315,000 for a 2019 Cat 980M with 7,836 hours at another Ritchie Bros. sale in Atlanta, on December 1, 2022. Rounding out the top three was a 2018 Deere 944K with 8,941 hours. It sold for $290,00 at a J.M. Wood Auction Co. sale in Montgomery, Ala., on March 21, 2023.
In total, there were 358 wheel loaders sold at auctions tracked by Top Bid during this time, with an average price of $99,747. (This does not include any units sold for less than $5,000.)
EDA, Top Bid and EquipmentWatch are owned by Randall Reilly, parent of Equipment World.
[Related Content: Heavy Equipment Auctions Set for Second Half of 2023]
Volvo Construction Equipment bought Terex’s off-road truck line in 2014, and six years later, it rebranded its articulated haulers under the Rokbak name.
On this episode of The Dirt, we hear from Paul Douglas, Volvo vice president of rigid haulers, who explains the differences between the old Terex line and the Rokbak trucks. He also gives a hint at some of the new things coming from Rokbak, including redesigned cabs and replacing the current trucks with new models. There’s also the possibility of a new size truck to hit the market.
Rokbak, as with other construction equipment brands, is working toward a zero-emissions future. On this episode, he explains where the articulated dump truck market is heading in terms of alternative fuel. He adds that customers will see big changes in emissions and engines in the next five years, with the ultimate goal of reaching zero emissions within 10 years.
So to learn more about Rokbak and what the brand has in store for the future, check out this episode of The Dirt.
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