I have seen trainloads of fresh New Holland tractors moving on the NS Pittsburgh and Harrisburg sections of the PRR. Yet the iconic New Holland factory at New Holland PA doesn't have a rail spur.. Where are they loaded?
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They may not make tractors in New Holland. I think it is all hay equipment.
small new holland tractors are made world wide. the large ones you see on flatcars come from racine wis. and ,i think bismark, north dakota .all the larger tractors and combines shipped on rail go to eastern ports for overseas delivery . the new holland,pa plant builds hay and forage equipment ,that moves by truck all over the u.s.
I saw a load of Deere tractors heading east a couple months ago, they were headed through Waterloo IN. on the old NYC. (now NS)
The large NH 4wd tractors (these bend in the middle) are made in Fargo, ND at the STEIGER Tractor factory. IIRC...BNSF services this place. The "smaller" (actually they are Large) NH tractors are made at the Racine Tractor Plant at 7100 Durand Ave, Racine, WI. They are trucked to the CP rail load out facility in Sturtevant a couple miles west on Hwy 11 and placed on rail there.
99% of the tractors, combines, ect. loaded and shipped on rail are for EXPORT. They usually end up at the Port of Baltimore where large drive on/drive off shipping facilities are found.
Some Enola pictures from last year's Pennsy convention.
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Web page with a video tour of the factory: Steiger in Fargo ND Tractor I grew up in Fargo (left for active duty in the military and settled in the South), which had both the Great Northern and Northern Pacific mainlines, as well as a connection to South Dakota on the Milwaukee Road (which was very slow running - light weight rail). This connection from Fargo heading south was originally a short line RR serving the small towns and elevators, later acquired.
Lots of farm machinery going EAST thru Pittsburgh over the years for export.
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Ahhhh........Case and New Holland have merged. The Racine address is for JI Case. Last I heard, Fiat owned them. Now??
The tractors on the flats look to be the same, just blue paint for New Holland, Red for Case.
Theyve been owned by the same company since before 2008, but they have not merged. They are still offered as two different brands.
Though some of their products are the same, I assure you large tractors and combines are not.
Years ago, I was watching a westbound Santa Fe freight train pass through Helendale, California. In the train was a flatcar loaded with John Deere tractors, and on one of them, there was a hobo sitting in the seat, apparently enjoying the breeze.
