I visited Ketton Quarry today, just to check on arrangements for the working weekend on 5th & 6th July, the Castle Cement staff have everything well in hand for the event.

David Skilling's will be bringing along his 977H traxcavator for it's first outing at Ketton, Bob Atkinson will be making a return to the show this year, together with regular exhibitors such as Russell Saywell & John Burbidge. I'm hoping to have a line up of at least 12 machines in attendance. I'm still working on sourcing a replacement 14.00 x 21 tyre or a 14.00 x 20 rim to get my No 60 scraper ready for the event (any help appreciated!).

I had chance to take a few pictures just as the plant were completing the last loads for the day.

The new Komatsu's - WA900 shovels, PC800 excavators, HD605 & HD785 trucks, DX65E and rubber duck purchased in March 2007, have just completed the first year of service at the quarry without any problems, although they still have a further 6 years of service to endure before they are scheduled for replacement.

Fortunately their are still a few Cat's in action, the quarry's 25 year old 988B loader is still in action daily loading PFA into the crusher to blend with the limestone, although it is now showing it's age, the 16G grader is still on haul road duty, but apparently the 245B excavator is now reportly to be in 2 bits. Merrimans still have a 385ME, 3 x 775, 775 water bowser and D9R on an over burden removal contract at the quarry and they have also awaiting delivery of the new style central cab 777F trucks to add to be fleet.

The Komatsu's