I've driven past this truck many times on my travels between Calgary and Spokane. It's obviously big, but until you step up next to it you really have no idea exactly how large it is!
Meet the Terex 33-19 "Titan". This truck was a prototype vehicle assembled by the Terex division of General Motors in London, Ontario in 1973. It's a three axle truck that weighs 260 tons when empty. Only one was ever built and it was the highest capacity dump truck in the world for 25 years. Other trucks capable of hauling bigger loads have since been made, but that doesn't change its place in the record book.
The Titan was first used in Eagle Mountain, California at the Kaiser Steel iron mine.
In 1978 Kaiser moved the truck (disassembled and sent by train) to Sparwood, British Columbia to haul coal in its open pit mine. After 13 years in service, the Titan was retired because of its high cost of maintenance. Each part needed to be custom-made and the truck was not productive during the times it was waiting for parts.
The 33-19 was restored and is now displayed as a tourist attraction in Sparwood, British Columbia, where you can visit it today. It sits beside the town's tourist information office.
(Sparwood visitor center)
Here are some statistics pertaining to the truck:
- It is powered by a two-stroke, turbocharged 169.49L V16 diesel engine
(generating 3300hp @ 900 rpms). The engine has the power to provide
enough electricity to run 3200 homes.
- Payload capacity: 350 short tons (320 t)
- Fuel consumption: 265 liters/70 gallons per hour
- Fuel tank capacity: 3232 liters/800 gallons.
- Maximum speed: 30 mph/48 km/h
- Tire size: 12 feet tall
- Independent front suspension and independent front and rear brakes
- Production cost in 1974 was $1.5 million dollars (over $7 million in today's
inflation adjusted dollars)
A photo of travelers standing beside one of the Titan's tires provided last weekend's One-Clue mystery photo (see below). Congratulations to George G for being the only one to solve this week's travel puzzle.
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