International 9900i – Revisited

If, on the odd chance you are ever north-west of the great divide and forgot to pack CDs for the long trip through the Western Darling Downs, then chances are you’ll be scrolling through the radio searching for a station.

The choice is pretty much limited to ABC local radio. This isn’t such a bad thing as they have very comprehensive road and weather reports this time of year along with a lengthy report of cattle and sheep prices.

On one particular morning in Goondawindi, after a few phone calls up the track and favourable reports on the radio, I’d decided to tackle the inland route and run up the Leichhardt highway. If all went well, I’d catch up with one of Len Knauth’s International 9900is at Banana somewhere around lunch time.

The Leichhardt Highway provides a north-south route through central and southern Queensland, linking Rockhampton, with NSW and the southern states.

The highway begins at Goondiwindi, as a continuation from the Newell Highway in NSW after crossing the Qld/NSW border and heads north 597 kilometres till it meets the old “Route-66” or the Capricorn Highway near the tiny town of Westward.

But it wasn’t always that way as the Leichhardt originally terminated at Banana. Then, during 2000 it was extended to the small communities of Wowan and Dululu then further north to the Capricorn Highway. This effectively gave roadtrain operators easier access on the north-south inland route.

The radio was abuzz with much speculation about Melbourne Storm’s Billy Slater’s ability to play in the upcoming Grand Final with the Roosters after a high tackle. Meantime, the Roosters had their own dramas with star Cooper Cronk in doubt to play with a shoulder injury. The kilomoters rolled steadily by as the two radio announcers discussed the pros and cons of the upcoming game. Damn forgetting to pack those CDs.

A few hours later I arrived at Banana. It’s true that Banana is a 'don't blink or you'll miss it town', with little more than a general-store, pub and of course the roadhouse. The people, however, are fair-dinkum and really do give friendly advice with a smile.

Sure enough, there in the parking bay was Len Knauth’s International 9900i Eagle coupled to two Moore trailers loaded with Ammonium Nitrate for the mines further to the south. Driver Max Smith had only moments earlier pulled up and the big 15-litre Cat was idling down. He’d loaded the two trailers earlier that morning an hour or so further north at Dyno-Noble’s Gracemere facility.

The old Banana roadhouse used to have an enviable reputation for some of the best feeds along the track, but these days after a change of management the old fashion country cooking has gone, replaced with large bain-marie filled with golden deep-fried foods. Max admits he misses the good meals he used to get here and adds the facilities have really gone downhill especially the toilets and showers.

“We’ll chance a coffee, it’s pretty hard to bugger that up,” he said.

Like most operators in the north of the country, Len started from humble beginnings and over the years has built up a steady client base through committed service.

The 9900i Eagle is suited a variety of applications from single-trailer, B-Double and Roadtrain and comes with heavy-duty suspensions driveline for these rugged northern roads.

Under the hood is a Caterpillar C15 at 500 horsepower, coupled to an Eaton RTLO20918B transmission. Meantime, the rear end is Neway air-suspension with Arvin Meritor RT46-160GP rear axles with driver controlled diff locks at 4.56:1 ratio.

In an era where the driver shortage is a burgeoning issue features like the classic bonneted design with bold use of polished stainless steel on the grille and headlight bezels, as well as the external air cleaners, are features that attract quality professional drivers, claims an International brochure.

Boasting ample room in the 51-inch Pro-Sleeper, with burled walnut highlights surround a 37-inch mattress along with plenty of storage areas and shelves, including a wardrobe and provision for a TV, are other features which drivers admire. Privacy curtains can be used for the entire cabin or just the sleeper, and there are controls for dedicated heating and air-conditioning too.

International claims the 9900i Eagle's luxurious and roomy interior provides a full complement of luxury and practical items that enhance driver control reduce fatigue.

The Eagle’s specification, complete with leather-trimmed steering wheel and burled walnut trim, imbues a sense of high quality and includes an extensive range of standard equipment such as cruise control, power windows, central locking, map lights, cup holders and a profusion of storage bins.

The Moore trailers and dolly behind the 9900i Eagle are built tough to withstand the rugged inland route. It is said that the vision for Moore Trailers started with founder Lionel Moore way back in the late ’60s.

Lionel was driven by a desire to create a better trailer which delivered more reliability and productivity for operators in the Darling Downs region where roads where little more than carved furrows in the dirt.

The key was to build a robust trailer that could endure the rugged corrugations of south western Queensland, yet still retain a light tare weight for maximum payload, a simple enough concept when you say it quick. The first Moore Trailer took shape way back then in a humble shed in the industrial estate at Pittsworth. The industry voted with its cheque-book and since that time the company has gone from strength to strength.

By 1995, driven by quite incredible growth and the desire to make their facility and expertise more accessible to their clients the decision was made to relocate the plant to its present site, right beside the Gore Highway on the outskirts of Pittsworth.

This was a very deliberate move because Lionel knew that the people that used his equipment would need to feel that he was never far away, that he was keeping his finger on the pulse, and that if ever there was a problem they were just up the road.

Max reckons the room in the 9900i Eagle is superb from a driver’s point of view. However, he adds that the ride is little rougher than he likes, but is quick to note the roads are some of the worst in the country. He likes the performance of the C-15 Caterpillar and has operated them before and can’t see why this one won’t deliver the reliability they’ve experienced in the past.

Model: 9900i
Engine: Caterpillar C15
Horsepower: 500hp (372kW) at 1850rpm
Torque: 1850 lb/ft (2508Nm) at 1100rpm
Gearbox: Eaton RTLO20915B 18-Speed
Air Cleaner: Dual Stainless Cyclopac
Electrical: 140A isolated alternator
Front Axle: Meritor MFS16-122A 6.5-tonne capacity
Front Suspension: 7.2T taper leaf
Rear Axles: Arvin Meritor RT46-160GP
Rear Axle Ratio: 4.56:1
Rear Suspension: Neway
Brakes: HD (P-type) drum brakes with auto slacks
Turntable: Jost JSK37