Martyn Williams has found an early 1970s Caterpillar 951 63K ‘traxcavator’, saved it from the scrapman and embarked on a full restoration.
![1970s Caterpillar 951 63K](https://heritagemachines.com/wp-content/uploads/cat-1.jpg)
1970s Caterpillar 951 63K: Ready to be taken to its new home and start a full restoration. (Pic: Martyn Williams)
When he was a British Rail apprentice Martyn Williams worked on a number of Caterpillar 951s during the mid-1970s. Decades later he tried to get hold of one, but the machine he found was cut up before he could save it.
![1970s Caterpillar 951 63K](https://heritagemachines.com/wp-content/uploads/cat-2.jpg)
Martyn collected the 951 to give it a new life in preservation. (Pic: Martyn Williams)
Thankfully, he discovered this example in a friend’s collection, where it had stood for 15 years; it was due to be scrapped but Martyn stepped in to rescue it. Currently, the 951 isn’t a runner, but Martyn is making good progress with this former British Rail machine, which will carry a cab when finished.
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Showing the British Rail logo on the hydraulic tank. (Pic: Martyn Williams)
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This is the actual load wagon that was matched with Martyn’s Caterpillar 951 63K; DB908007 is now preserved at the Dean Forest Railway, in Lydney. (Pic: Martyn Williams)
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