Allis Chalmers and Trojan

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Eric

You’ve read the text (I hope) now see the video.

The Trojan

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Leave a comment

Everyday Big Rigs – PACCAR

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Eric

You can’t say you didn’t see this one coming down the road! This Peterbilt 587 of Transco Lines is decked out in an eye catching U.S. Marines livery. If you check out the Transco website linked above you’ll see photos of trucks sporting paint jobs of other military branches. Headquartered out of Arkansas I don’t see many TLI trucks on the road around my part of New York but this one just happened to be parked in a driveway down the street from me. I couldn’t walk by it and not take a picture.

Peterbilt 587

I came across this Kenworth T800(?) of Quebec based MJP express, at a rest stop not too far from Canada. If you are having trouble reading the trailer it’s not your eyes, the trailer wears both English and French Canadian slogans.

Kenworth W900

One good Kenworth deserves another. Here we have a 2012 W900 with a Cummins ISX and just under 300,000 miles. Buy it today!

Kenworth W900

Posted in On the Job | Leave a comment

Mack for Refuse

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Eric

If this truck could talk what would it say? Better yet, what would it sound like? I imagine it would sound like a burned out old hippie. I’ve seen things maaaaaan. This is not a terribly old truck. Maybe around ten years at most? No doubt, garbage trucks lead a hard life and this MR is no exception. Peer through the windshield and you’ll see pieces of the dash scattered all about. I foresee and expensive repair bill in the future.

Mack MR

This LE is faring a little better from the Town of Marcy, NY. You’ll notice that packer body has rusted away in certain spots, a condition that is slowly spreading to cab. Remember, Slow Down to Get Around.

Mack LE Garbage Truck

And finally a Mack Granite roll off of Robinson Roll Off. The building in the background is undergoing renovation to be a common space style building. Basically, dorm rooms for adults. Read more about here.

Mack Granite Roll Off

Posted in At the Dealer, On the Job | Leave a comment

Bucyrus Erie Spotting

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Eric

Resident Northwest expert and historian Matt Folsom stops by today with a slew of Bucyrus Erie machines recently spotted across the Central New York region. Northwest fans do not panic! Matt has not switched sides. While Northwest Engineering is his preferred brand he isn’t so picky to pass up these gems. There is no room for Ford and Chevy guy style feuds when it comes to old iron! Nah, I’m kidding. There is plenty of room for good natured ribbing. Below, the official slang for each camp.

Bucyrus Erie – Bad Ending

Northwest – Not Working

P & H – Poor and Helpless

This unique looking setup is a Bucyrus Erie Transit Crane B-E 15-B mounted on Dart 6×4 frame. Power to the carrier portion is provided by a gas engine while a 3-53 Detroit Diesel powers the upper house. The 15B was rated to swing a 5/8 cu. yd. bucket. If you would like to see more of this machine swing by the Vintage Tracks Museum in Bloomfield, NY this summer. Over two hundred other pieces of equipment are also on display. I had no idea such a gem existed so close to home! My wife will be thrilled. 😉

Bucyrus Erie Transit Crane

The next machine is a Q 22-B drag line now residing in a farmers field near West Sparta, NY. A 3/4 cu. yd. Hendrix perforated bucket moved the material while a 4-53 Detroit made the power along with plenty of noise. Based on the ring around the machine I would say the cows, or whatever livestock use this field, keep a close eye on this machine. Trespassers beware!

Bucyrus Erie 22-B dragline

Moving up the scale we visit this model 71-B with 3 cu. yd. bucket. Once again power comes from a Detroit, this time in the form a 12V92. Now were talking..and it better be loudly to hear over that buzzing dozen. Current resting location is a Hanson pit outside of Phelps, NY.

Bucyrus Erie 71-B

And finally, the largest of them all, the 88-B with a 5 cu. yd. bucket and massive Cummins V-12 diesel engine. This machine resides in one the many  “aqua quarries” of the Suit-Kote Corporation that run along I-81. This one can easily be seen from the interstate right before the Homer, NY exit.

Bucyrus Erie 88-B

Photos of this monster come to us courtesy of Mario Torres. Both the 71-B and the 88-B hail from the same family line an actually use the same cab and house. Because of the large undercarriage the 88-B has a noticeable bump by the operators cab.

What a tour! If you’re still in the mood for more check out this post of Manitowac dragline in action!

Posted in Heavy Equipment | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Snow Bust

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Eric

Let’s face it, this year was a bust when it came to snow. It’s a mild disappointment to me but a major upset to those who actually rely on the weather to provide for their families. It always seems to be feast or famine when dealing with mother nature. With thoughts turning to spring it’s time to clear out some old photos.

I saw this truck at the local spring shop getting ready for final delivery. It looks very much like this setup from the City of Watertown, NY. Under body scrapers are not that common around here.

Western Star 4800 Snow Plow

Here is a blast from the past, it’s the former Town of Pompey, NY 1991 Autocar ACL now plowing for private contractor in Massachusetts. I last saw this truck at Teitsworth auction in the spring of 2014 shortly after it was replaced by a Western Star 4800. Thanks for the share Duane!

Autocar ACL Plow

Seen below, Town of Savannah Sterling, short box Western Star 4700, Freightliner 108SD, and that new 4800 for the Town of Spafford back at the dealer already? If for mechanical reasons I blame emissions. Always the emissions.

Posted in Snow Plows | Leave a comment

Autocar Mondays – Martineau’s Towing

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Eric

Have you noticed that past two or three Autocar Monday trucks have been tow trucks? To save the rest you need the best. Autocar. This cool shot comes from the world famous Mike TheBostTrucker Gaffin. A trucker by birth, Mike never fails to spot amazing looking trucks while cruising the open roads of New England. Browsing through his Instagram feed as I often do I came across this shot of Martineau’s Towing Autocar rotator of Methuen, MA. This four generation towing family is still at in the original location. While the times, people and equipment have changed the need for a rugged and reliable truck have not. You can check out more photos of the company and their trucks by clicking here. More recent photos can be viewed on their Facebook page here.

Martineau's amazing Autocar wrecker ! #wrecker #towrigs #towtruck #towtrucks #towtrucklife #towrigtuesday #wreckerservice #wreckers #wreckerlife

A photo posted by Boston Trucker from Youtube (@thebostontrucker) on

A big thanks to TheBostonTrucker for sharing this photo and another big thanks to Dave for finding more shots of the Martineau fleet!

Posted in At the Dealer | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

International Farm Trucks – The Video

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Eric

The title says it all. Happy Easter everyone!

Posted in Vintage | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Old Farm Equipment

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Eric

Old farm equipment might be something of a misleading title when it comes to the tractors loaders and graders seen below. Along with the trucks from yesterday these fine pieces were also up for auction due to the retirement of Weisbrod Crop Farms. There were many other pieces for sale including seeders, tilers, sprayers, and vintage tractors but I only focused on the most eye catching like this Trojan 204A.

Trojan204A Loader

According the the auctioneer of the event the owners of the farm “thought the world of this machine” and it’s easy to see why, it was in prefect shape. Not only did it look the part but it smelled the part with a aromatic mix of diesel, hydraulic fluid, grease, and earth. The smell of all earth moving equipment. This Trojan was powered by some form of Detroit most likely of a three or four cylinder variant.

Trojan204A Cab

Climbing into this machine and sitting in the cab made me think of what it would be like to sit a fighter jet cockpit. It’s small, narrow, and low in the machine. The cab door slides forward and rotates down to lock you in. Very unique and probably a real PITA to find or replace nowadays. As you can see the controls are basic. Not shown, the handle to engage the 4×4 system.

Sitting next to the Trojan was this 1954 Allis Chalmers grader. A former Village of Chittenango unit this grader is a blast form the past. Nothing about this machine was light or not overbuilt. Out back a three cylinder Detroit served as noise maker. It started with hesitation and a shot of starter fluid into the air intake. Video to follow.

Allis Chalmers Grader

For the farmers out there you’ll be shaking your head on this pair once you hear the final selling price. Like the trucks and everything else for sale these two 8760s were maintained to the highest degree with the one on the right having received a complete engine overhaul. Both sold for less than 35K a piece! A quick browse through tractor time confirms that these were the steal of the day.

John Deere 8760

One final bit of plant, as they would say across the pond, was this mint condition Badger complete with two buckets and ripping tooth. Detroit powered of course.

Badger Digger

As with the trucks I have some walk around video and start up clips. Stay tuned!

Related Reading: Still Working – Trojan 304(?)

Posted in Vintage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

International Harvester Farm Trucks

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Eric

If it wasn’t for the corn husks scattered across the ground you could easily believe this photo came from the used truck portion of an IH dealer circa late 1970’s. But truth has a habit of being stranger than fiction as just last year these trucks were hard at work in the fields of Chittenango, NY hauling corn. Yes, someone was still using a 1958 VCO in 2015. Mind blowing!

IHC Trucks

And what about that M-Series? It happened to be my personal favorite of the day. It was in near mint condition inside and out. Under the butterfly hood a large and presumably thirsty International six 6 cylinder gas engine resided. A right to left five speed transmission with a three speed auxiliary was used to pull crops to waiting silos.

25935339801_a8fe22cda3_b

The M and the VCO were part of larger fleet of trucks that were once part of Weisbrod Crop Farms LLC. Two Fleetstars (one diesel, one gas) along with three Loadstars rounded out the classic part of the fleet. There were a few other late model trucks also up for sale but you can see those rigs anywhere so I didn’t pay much attention.

Farm Trucks

Believe me when I tell you these trucks were immaculate both inside and out. Original gauges and lights were to be found in the pristine cabs. No clumps of manure or random tractor parts to be found here. As the auction progressed each truck fired right up when it came time to solicit bids. Oh the bids. I’m ashamed to tell you what these trucks went for because I didn’t come home with any of them. The blue Fleetstar dump truck with a 250 Cummins and 13 speed RoadRanger when for 1,300 bucks. The M-Series? 1,000 dollars even. The 1958 VCO? 700 dollars. Truly, this was a buyers auction.

I have some video to process of these fine trucks with expert narration. I even have a few shots of the big gas engines firing up. While they are not diesels they have a charm of their own. In the meantime, enjoy the gallery below that contains model info and hammer price.

Posted in Vintage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Everyday Big Rigs – Peterbilt and International

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Eric

I came across this fun scene the other day, it’s the remains of the Onondaga County War Memorial ice rink heading off to a new owner. Presumably someplace in Canada.

Peterbilt Big Rig

I’m not just taking an easy shot at Canada here, the trucks were from an company in Buffalo, NY so I’m only making a logical conclusion here.

International 9400

The new ice rink for the War Memorial, the home rink of the Syracuse Crunch, is slightly larger than before, make it more attractive to players or something like that. I dunno. Can you tell I don’t follow hockey?

Posted in On the Job | Tagged , , | Leave a comment