Today dump truck week continues with a really sharp looking Western Star. I am unsure of the age or model but I’m guessing early 90’s? Maybe something from the 49XXX line of trucks? Western Stars are similar to Autocars in the fact they found a style that worked and ran with it for a number of years. The logo near the cab reads 400 Big Cam which probably means a Cummins is under the hood.
Big thanks to Ryan for sharing this great truck with us!
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Another truck joins the Clarence Ritchie fleet. However this time it’s an Autocar not a Brockway!
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This happens to be the ever popular DC model with a Cummins powerplant. As of right now I am unsure of the year and other relevant facts. Stay tuned….
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It’s green. It’s an Autocar. It has construction style fenders. What more can you need? I give this truck the Daily Diesel Dose seal of approval!
Dump truck week continues tomorrow with a classic Western Star!
*UPDATE*
Clarence writes…
The Autocar is a 1973, DC9964 with a PT270 with a jake. The transmission is a TO955ALL riding on SUDD rears on Hendrickson rubber block suspention. 11:00/24’s all the way around with only 83,000 on it. When new it was owned by the Town of Adams MA. treatment plant and I bought it from a local slate company saving it from the blue wrench!
A heavy duty Ford LTL9000 still looking good after years of use.
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Welcome back to Autocar Mondays. Today we head off road with the model AP25 that was owned by Keystone Portland Cement Co of Bath, PA. Historical sources place this truck in the 1940’s vintage.
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Past Editions of Autocar Mondays.
I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this before; a transfer dump truck drag race. Standing still this 359 is an impressive setup but just wait till you see it action.
Did you catch that little trick when the driver had to back the truck closer to the trailer? Hitting a switch the truck moves backwards a few feet. The 359 is not running at this point so it must be some sort of electric motor. Pretty cool if you ask me. The tag trailer moves into the main trailer? What is this witchcraft?! This whole setup is alien to me as resident of the East Coast.
I’m starting to play around with catching more semi’s as the roll on down the road. Over the past few days I’ve been busy scoping out some good locations that offer clear views and plenty of truck traffic. I’m torn between the urge to grab still photos and shoot video. After all, who doesn’t love the sound of the jake break? The other part of the equation deals with camera settings. I don’t use anything but a slightly above average point and shoot digital camera and at times the shutter speed doesn’t seem to be up to the task of catching the faster drivers. Below is one of the better results from a recent outing.
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Either way it’s fun to see what will roll over the horizon next. The variety is definitely better than your average truck stop further proving if you’re not turning (and burning) you’re not earning.
A few days ago I received an email regarding snow removal equipment from a location I never dreamed would require plows and snow throwers. Hawaii. Yes, you read that correctly. Hawaii.
Karl sends us shots of a Unimog 1700 and an assortment of snow throwers that are used to clear roads that run up the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii.
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Check out the chains on that International!
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Thank you for the photos Karl!
There was a time when delivery trucks were not just generic white Ford E-Series vans. Back in the day there were many companies who specialized in building custom bodies on chassis supplied by GM, Ford, Dodge and International. The truck you see below is an example of such a vehicle. I have no idea who the manufacturer might be but for some reason I feel it was built on a Chevy chassis. The magazine Vintage Truck runs a regular series on panel vans and delivery body builders. I hope to dig through my archive and come up with an answer soon.
Until then will we just have to enjoy and analyze the photos provided by Dave T. With the exception of the fuel truck everything you see below Dan found at a parts yard in Marcy, NY. The little white truck is a 1974 AM General FJ-8A.
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Did you notice that hippy box truck in the background? Groovy and creepy at the same time. Big thanks to Dave T. for sharing these great shots!
Do you remember a week ago when I wondered if this truck would be the last action shot of the season regarding plow trucks? HA! I guess I brought this on. As I type the snow is falling fast and heavy. As fate would have it I crossed paths again with Truck 268 yesterday during a break in the snow action. Clearly this truck is on the downtown plow route.
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A shot of where the magic happens.
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Bonus Image
To give you an idea of what is happening around here on April 2nd take a look at this shot. International WorkStar of the New York State Thruway variety.
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Trash. Garbage. Rubbish. Refuse. Common words to describe the leftovers of our daily lives that no longer have value. Trucks like the two below haul it away on a weekly basis.
I caught both of these trucks waiting for the loading docks to open so they could exchange empty dumpsters for full ones. The Feher Rubbish Removal truck has any easier time with its load compared to the entrance awaiting the Waste Management driver.
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Unloading the WM dumpster into the building requires a skilled hand. There is very little room on either side of the entrance. The dock does not have enough height to allow the boom to fully extend so the drive must spool out and then pull ahead. The process repeats until the entire road is blocked by truck and dumpster. Then the fun part begins. Shoving the dumpster back into the building. I work next door and you can always tell when the process is underway by the sound of screeching metal and shaking floors.
See video below for an idea of what it takes.
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