Things seen in my travels…..

[1586 Jeff]

[Drysleeves]

[1586 Jeff]

So three of these were from today and the other two were from last week.

Those who know me well know that I love cranes, especially lattice boom cranes!  This was but one of the lattice boom cranes that I saw today in a tour of the state with a buddy of mine who asked me to ride along to fetch a vice that he bought.  He said something today about vices being heavy, awkward things to collect and I reminded him that we became acquainted by tractor collecting…..  We also saw numerous draglines at various gravel pits around the state today.

The blue (turning green with moss) machine is a potato bin piler that was made not too far from where it now sits.  My family bought it brand new in the early 1980s and sold it in 1997.  Now it is literally on the farthest opposite end of the state.  Interesting side note, the guards and shields are painted orange.  The manufacturer later switched to white paint for those to reduce the amount of lead in their paint.

[just Dave]

@1586 Jeff this is bit back in time , but you might like this, a 450T as rigged. It can be pushed a good  bit  higher with different rigging. We had one on each side, of one of our plants, for a couple years during a modification.  

[just Dave]

2 minutes ago, just Dave said:

@1586 Jeff this is bit back in time , but you might like this, a 450T as rigged. It can be pushed a good  bit  higher with different rigging. We had one on each side, of one of our plants, for a couple years during a modification.  

[1586 Jeff]

5 hours ago, just Dave said:

Appears to be a Manitowoc with a Ferris Wheel.

I have always wanted to run a Vicon system, but never been fortunate enough to do so.

[yellowrosefarm]

11 hours ago, 1586 Jeff said:

Appears to be a Manitowoc with a Ferris Wheel.

I have always wanted to run a Vicon system, but never been fortunate enough to do so.

I was  parts manager for a Manitowoc dealer in Richmond, va back in the 80's. Those customers were the greatest ever to work with. Always knew what they wanted and never grumped about price. "just get it here as quickly as you can".  If I remember right they ran diesel fuel in transmissions and gearboxes instead of oil.  They also sold a variety of truck cranes, Bombardier off road equipment, and ONAN standby generators. So, always something interesting in the shop.

[1586 Jeff]

Corvettes on a car carrier.

Ah the memories!

What odd shaped buildings with “interesting trackage”……

These are part of the old Alco Railroad works in Schenectady, NY.

Lots of history there, but sad to see that the tracks do not go into the factory anymore.

[1586 Jeff]

Spent the afternoon having a boom erection party. Fun, but the meatloaf and mashed potatoes disappeared in a hurry tonight!!

This was at the job site today:

[KWRB]

On 4/26/2026 at 9:33 PM, 1586 Jeff said:

Spent the afternoon having a boom erection party. Fun, but the meatloaf and mashed potatoes disappeared in a hurry tonight!!

This was at the job site today:

Eww. A green tractor!

[1586 Jeff]

13 minutes ago, KWRB said:

Eww. A green tractor!

Not just a green tractor, but a green tractor whose owner was fleeing from the Fashion Police!

[5288IH]

On 4/1/2026 at 6:59 AM, 1586 Jeff said:

It does have some history with me!!

I had looked into buying it 10-12 years ago (more like 25 years ago now that I think about it!) and found out that it cannot be moved from where it is.

Caterpillar D10 that weighs 192,XXX pounds and total gross weight of 199,000 pounds or more (a 7,000 pound anything will not even think about moving it….) require a NYSDOT bridge and road engineering study.
It is essentially landlocked because the roads and bridges are not rated to support a 250,000 pound truck, trailer, and dozer.

I had actually gotten into a tiny bit of hot water until I could prove that I did not own it and was a prospective buyer doing my due diligence to ensure that I could get it moved BEFORE I bought it.
 

It is not officially supposed to be where it is now, but 40-45 miles (and numerous bridges!!) east of there.

 

Oxy time

[ny bill o]

On 4/10/2026 at 4:18 PM, 1586 Jeff said:

Corvettes on a car carrier.

Ah the memories!

What odd shaped buildings with “interesting trackage”……

These are part of the old Alco Railroad works in Schenectady, NY.

Lots of history there, but sad to see that the tracks do not go into the factory anymore.

on a somewhat related note.... Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operational steam engine, was built in Schenectady at ALCO. 4014 is on a nationwide tour for the USA's 250th celebration, and will be in New York (Buffalo to Binghamton) in early June. Schedule available online.

[1586 Jeff]

This is a “paperweight” at my farm that I have not been able to identify:

[1586 Jeff]

And this is my farm in the background.

In the foreground is the neighbor’s artificial pond:

Here is a buddy’s pond and motocross track that I helped build a few years ago:

[Shell1066]

On 4/28/2026 at 6:43 PM, ny bill o said:

on a somewhat related note.... Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operational steam engine, was built in Schenectady at ALCO. 4014 is on a nationwide tour for the USA's 250th celebration, and will be in New York (Buffalo to Binghamton) in early June. Schedule available online.

Gonna be trackside lord willing in Penn! But won't have to deal with the crowd. Friends friend has his farm right by the track.

[yellowrosefarm]

9 hours ago, 1586 Jeff said:

This is a “paperweight” at my farm that I have not been able to identify:

Number "1" no matter how you look at it.

[AKwelder]

On 3/31/2026 at 12:08 PM, just Dave said:

A 4 piece job

Exactly

one truck with the blade and maybe the ripper

Two trucks with one track each

One heavy with the chassis 

and that can be lighter by pulling the motor 

 

 

[1586 Jeff]

So this happened today and NO, Nick (nor myself!) was not responsible for it…….

That is what happens when you cut steel ON THE TINES OF THE FORKLIFT!!!!

 

In the words of Homer Simpson: “DOH!!”

[1586 Jeff]

Post Office with a lighthouse and orange/vanilla twist ice cream with blueberries and raspberries!!!

[1586 Jeff]

On numerous continents I have had the privilege of raising my country’s flag.

I am still proud to do so!!

[1586 Jeff]

1460 that caught my eye passing by a dealership:

[1586 Jeff]

So I have a fascination with draglines, this is why I own one:

[TroyDairy]

On 5/21/2026 at 6:54 AM, AKwelder said:

Exactly

one truck with the blade and maybe the ripper

Two trucks with one track each

One heavy with the chassis 

and that can be lighter by pulling the motor 

 

 

Yeah..wont be cheap but that how you move these machines.  Large gravel pit in SW WA has a large Cat loader...forget model.  90s vintage.  Can in to area on several rail cars.  Craned off and took off road short hop to pit.  Wont leave till itvleaves in scrap according to operators.  Wonder if still out there

[Board Shortener Tom]

On 4/26/2026 at 9:33 PM, 1586 Jeff said:

Spent the afternoon having a boom erection party. Fun, but the meatloaf and mashed potatoes disappeared in a hurry tonight!!

This was at the job site today:

Those little cars were quite impressive back in the day!