In 1978 the largest track loader that had yet been made by the Caterpillar company was introduced: the Cat 983B Track-Type Loader.
The lineage from which 983B loader came is an interesting one. The Trackson Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin had produced an inovative cable-driven shovel lifting system for digging or excavating, and sold them for mounting to Caterpillar tractors beginning in 1936. Caterpillar quickly recognized the value these devices added and began offering the "Trackson Shovel option" in 1937 with thier Caterpillar Thirty.
Over the years, Trackson continued its relationship with Caterpillar, developing cable shovels to be fitted on specially modified tractors with longer trackframes. During the 1940s these machines started to become known as "Traxcavators". In 1951 Caterpillar Company purchased Trackson and continued the production of the Traxcavator line under its own roof, creating many variations of this powerful and versatile style of loader in later years.
The 983B Track-Type Loader followed and improved upon the already impressive 983 loader, as well as abandoning the well-respected Traxcavator name. Producing 275 flywheel horsepower from its six-cylinder, 893 cubic-inch, 3406 diesel engine, the 983B featured pedal steering, freeing the operator's hands for the transmission and loader controls. An automatic bucket control system allowed the 4-1/2 cubic-yard bucket to rise to a pre-set dumping height and return to a pre-set digging angle for fast cycle times.
Equipment operators who had the opportunity to run it, still recall the 983B's power with awe. One such gentleman recounted to us how he was able to put the bucket teeth down and peel back a roadway, the asphalt pushing into a huge roll in the bucket like a layer of sod, and then lifting the whole of it to dump over the side of a haul truck. Now that's powerful loader.
