Big Lizzie

[Ray Dunakin]

This early Australian tractor was real beast!






'Big Lizzie': the largest tractor built in Australia with a 60 hp 8 ton, 215 rpm single cylinder Blackstone oil engine. The tractor unit: 34 ft long x 11 ft, weighing 45 tons and capable of carrying a 10 payload, 750 gallons of cooling water.

Turning radius - 200 feet, Complete train - 98 feet long
Four Forward Gears - 1/2 - 2 mph, Two reverse gears - 1/4 - 1/2 mph
Carrying capacity: 80 tons.

The odd-looking wheels were called "dreadnoughts" and were supposed to provide traction in sand or mud.

[Ray Dunakin]

Here's a pic of one of the trailers, carrying two steam traction engines:

[danpickard]

Ha, I remember playing on "Big Lizzie" (located in Mildura, in NW Victoria, Australia) back when I was a kid on holidays up there.  Recall it as one of the ugliest things I've ever played on   Imagine how big and scary those toes on the wheels appear when your still only 4' tall!

Thanks for the memory Ray

Cheers,
Dan