On the Job: ’73 Kenworth W925

Today we’re looking at Austin’s vintage heavy-hauling work truck, an early 1970s Kenworth W925 and approaching fifty years old it’s almost twice the age of its owner/operator. It’s seen here on standby for fire fighting duty and since the alarm could sound at any time, it’s kept prepped and ready to go. It’s a waiting game and sometimes it’s all for nothing.

We just took it out into the woods, not far from its home base and photographed under amazing apocalyptic skies. Those dramatic colours are from smoke coming in from fires out in BC and the States, so nothing local, but still, the woods here were tinder dry at the time. Locals were understandably nervous since it’s happened to them before (read on) and no one wants a repeat.

On the Job: ’73 Kenworth W925 – it’s big, old and photographed for fun. Keep on truckin’ by Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)

Turns out the call never came (this shoot is from summer 2021), but still, everything had to be ready move at a moment’s notice.

The backdrop for our little outing was a section of forest in the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta, burned up about twenty years ago. All those dead trees hearken back to one scary summer and it’s amazing how disaster was so narrowly averted. The flames were knocking on the door and folks in surrounding communities on standby to leave. We can’t stress it enough…the fire came that close to civilization (the town of Hillcrest Mines in particular) and scared the bejeezus out of everyone.

Nature’s recovering nicely, as you can see, but those barren sticks are a haunting reminder of an event no one wishes to see repeated.

This truck was bought second hand and other than an engine upgrade (from a Cummins to an even bigger Cummins) is pretty much as built. Rigs of the time were so utilitarian then, but rugged and compared to offerings today, relatively simple to work on.

Watch for those cracks in the steering wheel – they pinch. All those gauges too and this was tech in 1973.

Austin drives his rig as though a seasoned veteran with decades of experience and shifts on the twin stick are seamless (recall, he’s mid-20s). That he was born into the trucking, logging and heavy equipment business might explain things. He handles timber harvesting and earth moving machinery with equal confidence and skill. It’s a family tradition, after all, and in the DNA.

This Kenworth W925 was a logger out in BC at one point and for a time was put to work at a ranch in Northern Alberta, before being brought down to the Pass. It’s no doubt lead a hard life, yet shows no signs of stopping and overall is in fine condition. You could hear it coming, then feel it coming, long before it came into view. It’s an unapologetic beast and we’ve seen our share.

The W925 model is a variant of the legendary Kenworth W900 highway tractor with certain suspension changes. We read the technical paper, but it’s clearly beyond our understanding and offers no insight as to the advantages of one type over the other. Better ride? Heavier duty, longer lasting or something else?

Any W925s we’ve seen in photos seem more beefed up over their regular W900 brethren, which suggests they were designed for more demanding conditions.

Kenworth had a factory on the west coast of British Columbia at the time this W925 was made, so of course one wonders if it came from this plant. Old papers sourced, mention they produced W9xx derivatives (without mentioning the models – we understand there were others) in the 1970s period, so it’s possible I guess. Kenworths’s Burnaby plant, near Vancouver, operated from 1955 to 1982.

We’d love to hear from anyone who might know more and invite them to comment below.

That big green machine on back is a 1990s era Timberjack skidder normally used for wood harvesting, but in a pinch makes a capable go-anywhere fire fighting rig. Outfitted with two detachable tanks, with pump, it can attend to larger spot fires in difficult or out of the way locations. Those oversized tires and chains mean business. That big blade and giant grapple claw means business! The whole rig end to end means business!

Timberjack was a well regarded line in the forestry business, before being purchased by a rival in the early 2000s and the name dropped soon after. The low-boy trailer that carries it around appears to be an oldie too, but like everything else it’s no doubt up to the task. The family can fix nearly anything they operate and have a large shop for just such a purpose.

This was a casual good-time shoot and nothing more. We’re enamoured with vintage metal, especially the big stuff, and Austin was glad to oblige. Doesn’t it look amazing given the setting and backdrop? As our thanks, we sent him some prints that came out of this and it’s the least we could do given it was such fun.

Austin’s Grandpa drove coal truck back when mining was a thing in the Pass and his rig was identical to the one in this link (here: Autocar Coal Hauler), which we got a tour of a few years back. The big blue Autocar seen in that post was bought at the same time (in the same colour too) and is in impeccable shape. Read about it and be in awe of it’s sheer size!

Austin showed us some of his old metal a few year back and this same Kenworth is seen in a couple photos…Austin’s Collection

Consult the oracle: (new tabs): Kenworth W900 Series and Lost Creek Fire 2003 (check out the photos!).

Drop by often for lots of new and interesting content posted regularly.

They’re saying…

“They have no fear when it comes to searching in remote areas, and they have an artistic eye for picture taking. It’s a very enjoyable site.” James Robinson.

Heavy metal…
The Springbank Lights Fleet.
Kelts’ Collection.
Industrial Works Dragline.

If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!

Date of Adventure: August, 2021.
Location(s): Crowsnest Pass, AB.
Article references and thanks: Austin L, American Truck Historical Society and JustOldTrucks.com.