Vitale Heavy Hauling

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Eric

I didn’t expect to catch the dismantling and hauling of the SANY crane from the other day but apparently it was destined to be. Stopping by the job site on Thursday afternoon I found the boom of the crane spooled down and already disconnected from the chassis. Returning bright and early Friday morning it became apparent that the SANY was going to be back home by the end of the day. Two new cranes were on hand to assist with the dismantling. A Link-Belt 8690 was removing the 6-ton counterweights two at a time. A few feet down the street a Terex-Demag was loading the boom pieces onto waiting flatbeds. Sadly I had to get to work before the crew started the removal of the massive track pieces. As soon as the clock struck Noon I raced back to Armory Square to catch more of the action. I arrived just into time to catch one of the crawlers leaving on a lengthy four axle lowboy. A nearby parking garage provided a nice vantage point of the crowded street action.

By this time the SANY looked a car that had been jacked for its rims and left on blocks.

SANY Crane

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The next step in the moving process involved backing another very long Rogers lowboy underneath the crane. The driver did an excellent job of lining up the trailer but balance is key with a load like this. The crew wanted to move the trailer over just a few inches to get it perfect. At first a telehander was employed but didn’t have the necessary power. The Link-Belt was called off the bench and easily shifted the trailer in moments. At this point riggers buzzed around with straps and chains to secure the load. The remaining parts of the boom slowly moved 180 degrees backwards essentially folding in on itself. A special mounting brackets were attached to the back of the crane which secured it directly the trailer. Finally the operator cab was turned 90 degrees toward the machine. A final inspection of the chains and straps and all was ready for the road.

Vitale Heavy Hauling

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I can only imagine what this whole operation cost. Three cranes, multiple hauling rigs, support trucks, and manpower. Pricey. At the end of the week a 60 car parking garage had seemingly risen from the earth. Most people will be none the wiser regarding the men and the machines that it took to make such a basic and unassuming structure but now you do. The more you know…

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Posted in Heavy Equipment, On the Job | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

SANY Crane – Auburn Crane and Rigging

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Eric

Crane lovers rejoice. Today is your day.

With the weather finally starting to break I can once again stop by the many construction sites on the west side of the city. One such project is the new Marriot Courtyard in Armory Square. The hotel itself is nearing completion with the majority of the work now occurring on the inside of the building. Just recently construction began on an attached concrete parking garage. That is where I caught this massive SANY crane for Auburn Crane and Rigging.

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The back of this crane has twelve six ton counter weights and one 5.8 ton weight. The crawler chassis also had addition weights attached but it was hard to see their rating without crawling under the machine. All told it has at least 78 tons of weight out back.

I originally stopped by this site early in the morning. At that point the crane was still located within the footprint of the new garage. I had just missed the raising of a wall support but hung around hoping for more action. Eventually I ran out of time and started back to the office. On my way out I noticed work crews setting up detour signs which raised my interest. Returning during my lunch break I found the crane now occupying the street which helped to reveal its true size. I was able to take photos from all angles and grabbed some great video of a 25 ton parking deck soaring in the sky.

I was impressed by the quite engine of the crane. Very little noise even when the operator was spooling out cable for the riggers. It was by far the quietest machine on the jobsite. The concrete forms arrived by truck from a location in Chambersburg, PA which is nearly five hours south of Syracuse. The trucking firm responsible for the hauling is an outfit by the name of Charles W. Karper Inc. I had the pleasure to speak with one of their drivers as he waited to be unloaded. He told me the drivers try to make the round trip between NY and PA but the facts of construction life often change the best laid plans.

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It was great to see this crane in action but I’m left with one question. How do they get this beast out of there? I would love to see the tear down and hauling of this machine. Stay tuned…

The Video. Apologies in advance for the wind noise.

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On the Job – Syracuse DPW International WorkStar

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Eric

Might this be the last plow truck shot of the season? According to the calendar spring arrived one week ago so there can’t be many more plowing days left. Oh who am I kidding! This is Central New York. Snow will be falling for at least another month.

Keeping with my 2013 New Years resolution (to shoot more on the job plows) I bring you this Syracuse DPW International WorkStar. I think I may have discovered the secret to keeping a new years resolution. First, pick something you like or want to do. Second, the resolution should not take more than four months to complete. Guaranteed success!

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By the way. The salt spreader on this truck is a Highlander. Everytime I see one the same thought runs through my mind. THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

2013 Snow Plow Action

Onondaga County North Area Maintenance Facility

NYSDOT International S-Series

City of Oswego International PayStar

Truck 57 – Onondaga County DOT

Village of East Syracuse

Onondaga County International WorkStar 4700

City of Syracuse – Variety Pack

Posted in On the Job, Snow Plows | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

MATS 2013

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Eric

So now that the Mid American Trucking Show has come and gone I figure it’s about time for me to condense the new product information for you reading pleasure. Better late than never right?

Peterbilt

Peterbilt pulled back the wraps on their new Model 567. A truck aimed at the heart of the vocational buyer. Think dump trucks and day cab heavy hauling. The new 567 features a slopped hood, one piece windshield, and an aluminium cab. I’m up in the air on the looks. The long hood looks weird in the computer renditions but a little better in the video below.

 

Kenworth

Kenworth sent waves through the faithful when the new T-880 hit the stage at MATS. Some love it. Some hate it. Personally I find this design more appealing than the 567.

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Kenworth T-880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volvo

Remember Volvo? Yeah, they had a new truck at MATS. The VNX, A heavy haul model for those that need to pull around 225,000 lbs or more. Trucking info has a great article on the new model as well as some other Volvo centric information this link. If your prefer, you can watch a video of the new VNX below.

 

Freightliner

Freightliner rolled out the 122SD, the truck destined to replaced the Coronado SD. Similar to the VXN this new offering from Freightliner is aimed at the long distance heavy hauler. More info can be found by visiting the Freightliner page located here.

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Image from Freightliner Facebook page.

International

International brought a funky looking ProStar by the name of “Project Horizon”. Jammed full of new technology and some interesting body work this rig represents a look at the future that is closer than you think.

Clearly truck builders see an opportunity for growth in the serve service\heavy haul categories. The rebounding home construction market and the always vibrant energy sector probably have much to do with the current onslaught of heavy duty models.

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Saunders Concrete – Autocar 39196

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Eric

Another Monday. Another classic Autocar truck photo. The mixer below belonged to Saunders Concrete of Nedrow, NY. As it happens this a local company for me and one that is still in business to this very day!

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Some of you may recall posts relating to the modern trucks of Saunders Fleet. Here they are…

Mack DM

Freightliner F112

Posted in Autocar Trucks | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Trucks of National Grid

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Eric

National Grid Freightliners are fairly ubiquitous looking trucks. Thirty years from now people may not care about what they looked like or what they did but if they do I will have the photos. Plus I have a growing archive of their heavy trucks and equipment so I can’t stop now.

This group was assisting in replacing telephone polls and utilities two weeks ago.

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I’m still waiting to see how the old poll is removed from the ground.

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If you’re a fan of the National Grid Freightliner M2 Business Class look check out the links below.

National Grid Freightliner M2 112 6×6 Buck Truck

National Grid Freightliner M2 112 CNG Dump Truck

National Grid Cable Handler and Flatbed Truck

National Grid Bucket Truck

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Big Red Towing – International PayStar5000

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Eric

I was coming home from work the other night when I passed a disable garbage truck on the exit ramp. The company service truck was on scene but there was not much activity to spy. A few hours later I was back in area when I noticed that the cavalry had been called in.

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What more can I say? This truck is a beast. Here is a quick drive-by video with the garbage truck in tow.

Posted in On the Job | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Lost and Found – Brockway Trucks

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Eric

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Brockway on this site that wasn’t at a truck show. Thankfully Andy has stepped up with not one truck but two! Below we have a ’74 Brockway powered by a Detroit 238. I’m not sure on the exact model so I’m hoping the more devoted Brockway fans can help out. I’m guessing it’s a 361.

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The next Brockway is a definitely a 361. Andy believes it may have been a NYS DOT truck from back in the day. The large faded circle on the door certainly speaks to a government shield that was peeled off years ago.

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A large winch resides behind the cab and I believe I can see steel fenders over the rear wheels.

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I can’t tell if there is a fifth wheel out back or not. Andy found this truck near Clyde, NY but the exact location has been forgotten. Sounds like a good reason to search the streets of Clyde!

Know of any old trucks or heavy equipment in hiding?  Email Me!

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Onondaga County – North Area Maintenance Facility

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Eric

There is an old saying that goes “diversity is the spice of life.” The Onondaga County DOT is definitely a subscriber to that line of thought based on the numerous makes and models of plow trucks in their yard.

I stopped by the North Area Maintenance Facility two days ago to check out the action. I figured I might get lucky and catch a few trucks coming and going and that is exactly what I got. My timing was almost perfect and I was able to catch a few trucks returning from their runs. If I had arrived just a few minutes earlier the incoming amount of rigs would have been one for the books. The yard was full of activity with drivers loading salt and topping off fuel tanks. Trucks scheduled for the night shift were left outside while the rest where pulled into a large garage.

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The first truck (191) in the gallery below I snagged through my windshield while at a stop light. There was no time for zooming or framing but I think it came out okay after some cropping. The Freightliner 114SD provided the nicest catch of the evening as he slowly approached the turn into the garage. Upon seeing the the red Kenworth at the fuel island I thought it belonged to a local municipality but it turned out to be this truck from months back. As far as I know it is the only Kenworth in the fleet. It would join the night shift lineup that consisted of a Sterling and a Volvo.

So there you have it, the diversity of Onondaga County DOT. Only two trucks makes were absent, Western Star and Mack. I know OCDOT has more than a few Western Stars on the road but no Macks. This happens to be a tad ironic considering Beam Mack is located directly across the street from the garage!

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Posted in On the Job, Snow Plows | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

NYSDOT – International S-Series

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Eric

Believe it or not this truck is something of a dinosaur when it comes to the NYS DOT fleet. From my outsider perspective I see nothing but new tandem axle Mack Granites with shiny aluminum bodies running up and down the State highways. Even the newer model International 7400’s look old compared to the Macks. Sooner than later you will be able to grab this truck at auction which leaves me feeling a little sad as this is my favorite model of International on the road. Maybe if I had to sit in the cab of one all day I would feel different. 😉

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A little blue smoke, a loud clutch, and a nice throaty sound (by todays standards) and he’s off to battle the snow.

All the angles.

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Posted in International, On the Job, Snow Plows | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments