For the second year running the most viewed and popular posts on the Digger Blog, feature Caterpillar and Finning related machinery topics, closely followed by our headline banner sponsors JCB. Caterpillar UK & Finning have been incredibly pro-active with the blog from its inception over 4 years ago, with top PR man Peter Haddock, of Edson Evers, being amazingly helpful and influential in his help with my work. With even more manufacturers looking keen to work with the Digger Blog in the future, I am looking forward to expanding my coverage even further over the next 12 months.
Entering the chart at number 10, was our coverage of the launch of Caterpillar’s new E series midi excavator during our visit to Caterpillar UK’s Desford facility back in March. Click here to read the full post. 
In at number 9 was a post from September that surprised me with its popularity, as many of the smaller pieces often do. It featured a Terex Franna crane that had struck an overhead gantry somewhere in Perth, Western Australia. Click here to read the full post. 
Number 8 brings us to the post about the delivery of 4 Caterpillar 6030 mining excavators, and other associated Cat equipment to Hargreaves Mining back in April. Click here to read the full post. 
At number 7 we have a post from way back in November 2010 and the Digger Blogs visit to JCB World Headquarters, to see the new Eco 3CX and 4CX backhoe loader models. These machines have generated a lot of interest in the industry, and that is testified in the fact that an older digger blog post is still generating a lot of page views. Click here to read the full post. 
Meanwhile at number 6 we have another older post from March 2011, about the Cat Compacts European tour, and also featuring some shots from another Cat event in Dubai. Click here to read the full post. 
At number 5 is another surprisingly successful post, featuring what is described as the worlds heaviest forestry mulching machine, which I came across during the blogs visit to Intermat in Paris last April. Click here to read the full post. 
Coming in at number 4 is my post about the blogs visit to see the stunning new “Story of JCB” exhibition, which is housed within the company’s World Headquarters in Staffordshire. Click here to read the full post. 
Entering the top 3 now with a post from March, on some of the new models Cat were planning to launch at the upcoming Intermat show the following month. We travelled to Cat UK’s headquarters in Desford, Leicestershire, to get hands on with some of the new models. Click here to read the full post. 
At number 2, we have our report on the undisputed star attraction at Hillhead this year, one of Hargreave Mining’s Caterpillar 6030 mining shovels, which certainly drew in the punters back in July. Click here to read the full post. 
And our number 1 blog of 2012 is .... the Digger blogs visit last April, to see the latest F Series backhoe loader models from Caterpillar, in action at the company’s excellent demonstration plot within the confines of the factory in Leicester. Click here to read the full post. 
It only remains for me to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, and I look forward to catching up with many of you at Plantworx in May.
