It’s not always possible to get the perfect sight line when taking photos of trucks and heavy equipment. As we’ve seen time and time again most of these machines are stuck behind fences or tucked away at far ends of constructions sites. Just because I can only get one limited shot doesn’t mean the subject isn’t worth discussing. In fact the limited angle can be more intriguing and cause the eye to be more discerning in the search for facts. Check out this scene from the back forty of the Dewitt Highway Department.

Plenty of cool artifacts to stare at in this photo. The ex military loader is particularly interesting. It doesn’t look like a typical loader front end loader so maybe it was a forklift? Very hard to tell. One of the two road graders is sporting blue rims suggesting that it may have been NYSDOT surplus. Despite these three interesting machines dominating the forefront of the image I’m most intrigued by the the outline of a massive snow thrower lurking near the weeds. The Birds Eye View on Bing Maps confirms the basic shape but gives no idea at make, model or age. The mystery continues.

You don’t see too may of these Dresser Pay Loaders around anymore. This one is stuck near the back of the Carrier factory and is possibly used as snow machine. At one point inaccessible behind razor wire access recently became available due to the construction of a new public park. Dresser was the successor of the International Harvester brand of heavy construction equipment. Later Dresser would partner with Komatsu and many years later reemerge as Dressta.

We’ll wrap up today with another rear end shot of a classic loader in the form of this Caterpillar Euclid/Terex. I’m unsure of the model or year but I’m guessing late 70’s. This machine is operated by Luber Homes, the owner of a veritable treasure trove of vintage iron. Click here to remember and recall.

Update: Thanks to Jason for pointing out the loader is most likely a Euclid or Terex and not a Caterpillar. Thanks to a repaint this loader is a tricky one to identify except to the most discerning of eyes.

Update 2:

The graders have hit the Auctions International website thus revealing their true identities. The grader directly behind the wheel loader is a 1957 Austin-Westin. Detroit powered, broken rear axle, ran when parked eight years ago. The second is a 1968 Wabco. Also Detroit powered, ran when parked 15 years ago. Interesting that the oldest unit was the one most recently on the road.

No word on what happened to the military forklift.