I was cleaning up my inbox the other day when I came across this photo from Clarence. Not many GMC trucks of this vintage receive such a steady workout day in and day out. Here we see the C7600 being loaded by an Akerman H14. Stopping to think for a moment I believe we’ve seen this truck in nearly every season. Here it is winter. And here it is spring. I’ll consider this photo late fall so all we need to complete the collection is something from the dead heat of summer.
Along with that great photo of a 4×4 N-Series Ford, Jim also supplied a shot of this 1957 Walter Snow Fighter. Past history is currently unknown but I can tell you that this truck still finds work keeping the pit road open at the Champion Materials quarry in West Carthage, NY. Deep snow, step inclines, unpaved roads, the perfect scenario to slow down any truck that isn’t a Walter with 100% Traction. Thanks for sharing Jim!
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There is nothing like heavy lake effect snow to increase the enjoyment of working on the third story of an unfinished building. It becomes even better when you are swinging heavy wooden trusses through high winds and driving snow.
While looking for snow plows I ended up revisiting the Amos Building addition. Considering the weather I was surprised to see a crane onsite and work taking place. But I suppose if you wanted for the perfect weather in CNY no project would ever see completion.
The last time we saw this site was back in October which by looking at these photos seems like the height of summer!
Last week I mentioned that my potential photo of a mean looking International Paystar was wrecked by red light running jerk. Honestly, it nearly ruined my entire evening. I kept replaying the event again and again in mind because obliviously I have too much time on my hands. I decided that if I was ever to have peace in my life again I would have to grab a shot of this truck. Yesterday the weather cooperated and blasted Central New York with lake effect snows to help lure the plows back out of hiding. I figured that if I saw my dream truck once on a particular stretch of road I could catch it again so before work I went and stood on a street corner for about 45 minutes. The first truck to come along was just a late model WorkStar. Been there. Done that.
A few minutes later a single axle 4×4 WorkStar passed down the same stretch. Things were starting to look up. Then, in the distance I saw it. The truck was caught in morning traffic so I zoomed in and snapped off a shot between passing cars. It turned out just a tad blurry but I’ll take it. Peace returned to my life.
Looking back at the photo it dawned upon me. I’ve done this exact routine before with the same truck on the same streets! Oh well. I still had fun. If you’re a regular visitor you might be feeling cheated so here are few new shots.
Monday I was passing by the Onondaga County DOT North Area Maintenance Facility when I caught the fleet fueled up, sanded up, and waiting for a fresh batch of drivers. You can catch a sense of how hard the wind was blowing that day. Someone needs to push that dumpster out of the way.
Last year after Buffalo was buried under literally tons of snow in the span of just a few days various governmental agencies woke up to the fact that while they have the trucks and man power to deal with such events these forces are not always in the right location at the right time. This year through social media I’ve noticed both NYSDOT and NYSTA making a concerted effort to move snow fighting power to areas predicted to receive heavy snowfall. Perhaps this is standard operation procedure and I’ve just become aware of it or maybe being proactive is the theme of 2016. Anyway, to make some sort of point I caught this NYSDOT Case loader parked outside of a Thruway depot. Apparently staged for cooperative snow removal? Who knows.
In the gallery below we have a few more shots of recent activity. In order of appearance, Freightliner M2 for Town of Dewitt, Volvo VHD OCDOT, NYSDOT, video still of Paystar along with one more shot.
Jim sent me this great photo the other day of 1964 Ford N-700 4×4 once operated by Oneida County Rural Telephone Company. In his own words.
This is a picture of my uncle Peter McCarthy-Vice President of Oneida County Rural Telephone Company (and later Northland Communications) in Holland Patent, NY (on the left) and Ed Blask-Salesman with Dahl Motors of Utica, NY. The truck was a 1964 Ford N-700 4×4 custom built auger truck used to set telephone poles. Peter was a great guy who recently passed away in September 2015. Ed Blask owned Ed Blask Ford in Yorkville for many years.
This is a great photo for so many reasons. Thank you for sharing Jim! For those interested click here or here to see Northland trucks in their current incarnation.
I only have one photograph of this great looking Autocar and that is a real shame as this truck is an absolute joy to behold. Alan Cooper used to run this truck back around 1975 with a 400 Big Cam Cummins under that long hood. In the cab the driver had a choice of 13 speeds through which to row. Looking at the top of the cab I see just one big horn. I assume it was loud enough to equal at least two, probably four. Great looking piece of classic iron. Thanks for the share!
Have you spotted an Autocar? Let the world see! Email eric@dailydieseldose.com today!
Look at this Poor old Loadstar sitting alone and cold at the edge of a farmers field. Years of hard work have taken their toll on this rig and it’s unlikely it will every hit the road again. By coincidence or not this truck sits very near the same road as Loadstars featured on this site in the past. Click here and then here.
Look at the moves on this snow blower, front and rear independent steering or quad steering, or maybe crab steering. Whatever you call it this machine has it. Part of the Placer County snow removal force this Larue blower has the power but not the noise. Check it out in action here.
Elsewhere in town Ryan found a few other tools of the trade including a funky looking Rolba. Thanks again for sharing Ryan!
I’m going to give coverage of the 2015 ATHS National Meet a break this Friday and instead return to the deep and generous well of the ATCA Northeastern PA meet from Harford, PA. The first thing that struck me while watching this video was how bright and green everything was back in the early days of September. Anyway, we start off with a pair of Brockways, a Peterbilt quickly follows, moments later a Detroit powered Ward LaFrance blasts by shortly before we finish with slow going Mack Superliner.
Yesterday was a frustrating day. Despite plenty of snow weather I only was able to grab one decent plow shot. I came across a few interesting rigs but events always conspired to ruin the moment. I would have been able to get a decent shot of an AWD late 80’s early 90’s International PayStar but was cut off by the typical morons found on downtown streets. A short while later I came across three NYSDOT trucks plowing three lanes at once. One of them was a 2574. Still working in 2016! Sadly, my camera was too slow and a concrete median wrecked what little I captured. Who knows, that 2574 might just survive long enough to be replaced by the new Internationals the State should start receiving in a year or two. Anyway, the captions tell the story.
