Moment of History: LADWP First to Adopt Caterpillar Tractors

LADWP has long been a leader in groundbreaking infrastructure projects, from the concrete tunneling of the Los Angeles Aqueduct to the construction of RSC7- a major improvement to Los Angeles’ water system. Large-scale tunneling and engineering feats such as these may not have been possible without the early use of Caterpillar tractors, the iconic black and yellow tractors seen on construction sites today.

In this 1907 photo, one of the first Caterpillar tractors is shown hauling machinery and supplies for the construction of the 5.5-mile Elizabeth Lake tunnel, a critical area of the Los Angeles-Owens River Aqueduct. The first Caterpillar tractors were used to tow cement, rock, and other machinery and supplies across the Mojave Desert during the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Initially known as the Holt Caterpillar, 28 tractors were purchased by the city for transporting massive loads.

Photo courtesy of: Water and Power Associates