11/20/2025
After 10 years and 6 months of paperwork with the Forest Service, we were finally able to get this piece to our museum. It was built in the 1990's as a Tree Harvester and Forwarder. They took a Timberjack Clambunk, added 12', installed a B Motor to run everything else. They tried it in the field several times, but had quite a few problems, so the project was canceled. It sat at 14th and Catlin for years and about 20 years ago moved out to the Development Center where it sat since then. We went through three Development Centers Directors, who were great to work with, they wanted to see it go to the Museum too. The hold up was GSA and State Surplus. The Development Center had it listed on the books for $161,000 (Almost $500,000 in today's dollars)
Finaly after 10 years of trying, it was finally donated, and we moved it yesterday.
Thank you to Craig Petersen for moving it again. (He moved it from 14th and Catlin to the Development Center 20 years ago) Hopefully, this will be its permanent home.
Also big thank you to Bill Allen for his mechanical skills helping getting it running after 20+ years and helping to move it yesterday.
This thing is 56' long, 70,000 pounds and luckily, we didn't have many traffic issues. It was 16'0" and we were worried about stop lights, but those were fine. When we got close to the Museum, we "Bumped" an electrical wire (Lower) right in front of the Forest Service Regional office/Lolo Nation Forest office. The lowboy tried to back up, but the tag jackknifed, so we unloaded right there. A quick trip around the block with the Detroit screaming as they do, we parked it at the Museum. (Www.Forestrydays.com)
