Skagit Iron and Steel Works, Sedro Wooley, Washington

[Contract Logger]

And wasn't the GT3 here a nice little machine, maybe even suitable for norwegian logging?

Certainly, or a dandy little grapple machine too- minimum invenstment against a Madill 120 or newer machine.

The Thunderbird TY-90 is a maximum 1 1/4" Skyline machine- a much improved Skagit BU-737 type yarder. The 739 was much larger (Skyline up to 2,000' of 1 1/2") and after Skagit went under, no one has attempted to build such a large machine. There are lots and lots of 739's still working, however, with Jay Browning's machine being the most recently re-built one.

Attached somewhere in this thread is the BU-739 line spec sheet, for reference. I think you have the TY-90 already, much smaller lines.

 

[TorkelH]

Certainly, or a dandy little grapple machine too- minimum invenstment against a Madill 120 or newer machine.

The Thunderbird TY-90 is a maximum 1 1/4" Skyline machine- a much improved Skagit BU-737 type yarder. The 739 was much larger (Skyline up to 2,000' of 1 1/2") and after Skagit went under, no one has attempted to build such a large machine. There are lots and lots of 739's still working, however, with Jay Browning's machine being the most recently re-built one.

Attached somewhere in this thread is the BU-739 line spec sheet, for reference. I think you have the TY-90 already, much smaller lines.

Yeah, I also see the difference between 737 and 739 now. What about the BU98, 99 and 199, was it something called 198 also? What is the difference between these machines?

I have probably lost the TY90 brochure, only thing I have is a scan of the front page blown up to poster size in my office, been there for 14 years!

 

[Contract Logger]

Skadill Yarder at North Fork Timber, Chehalis Wa.

North Fork Timber used several Skadill combinations over the years, including an 046 on a Skagit T-110HD, but I never took pics of it, bummer! It was painted orange with the white cab.

Here is a Skagit T-90 trailer with a Madill 009 hoist on it they were using through the 1990's. First 2 pics taken at NFT shops in 1993, last one at work at Vail for Weyerhaeuser up the Skookumchuck River in 1999.

Also, in the last pic the machine had been recently re-painted.

 

[JeremyM70]

North Fork Timber used several Skadill combinations over the years, including an 046 on a Skagit T-110HD, but I never took pics of it, bummer! It was painted orange with the white cab.

Here is a Skagit T-90 trailer with a Madill 009 hoist on it they were using through the 1990's. First 2 pics taken at NFT shops in 1993, last one at work at Vail for Weyerhaeuser up the Skookumchuck River in 1999.

Also, in the last pic the machine had been recently re-painted.

Drove by NFT last year on the way to a Ramsey visit, took some pictures as I went by. Last time I went by the NFT yard looked pretty empty, looked like they might have been moving somewhere else? Not sure if your Skadill was there in the pic?

 

[Contract Logger]

Yeah, I also see the difference between 737 and 739 now. What about the BU98, 99 and 199, was it something called 198 also? What is the difference between these machines?

I have probably lost the TY90 brochure, only thing I have is a scan of the front page blown up to poster size in my office, been there for 14 years!

I'll dig up all those brochures and scan them one of these days. The BU-98, BU-99, BU-199 etc, were all big big yarders- bigger that the 739's drum wise, but with less horsepower and less brakes, lol. They had frictions with primitive water brakes, and more line capacity, but far less line speed.

In other words, those machines would yard much bigger wood, only slower and with less operator control! Sounds like fun eh?

The 737 and 739 were really fast, had great Eaton water brakes, and big horsepower with the KT Cummins. Transmission was Allison or Twin-Disc, and they were easier to move and/or haul. Overall, just what a logger wanted!

The grand-daddy of the later Skagits was the BU-199. Only 13 were ever built, and they were big big yarders. 3 made it to Vancouver Island, Fred B. Moe at Chehalis Wa. had 2, Simpson Timber in California got 2, and the rest were scattered to various contractors around the NW.

One BU-199 even came to Alaska (Mike Graves Logging of Mollala, Ore) where he logged with it at Hobart Bay for Klukwan Tribal. He was bidding against Columbia Helicopters with it, and winning! He worked it there until they logged out, and the yarder went into a BC rock pit to dragline....

I got alot of pics of the Fred B. Moe machines, after they moved them off the Clearwater River (South of Forks Wa) and into the Chehalis yard.

Fred B. Moe ran a huge operation up the Clearwater River (logged right up against Olympic National Park on the West boundary) for years, and ran 15 Skagits out of that camp including both his BU-199's and 4 739's. He had a bunch of Washington's in there, too.

 

[Contract Logger]

Wow Jeremy, cool shot!!

Drove by NFT last year on the way to a Ramsey visit, took some pictures as I went by. Last time I went by the NFT yard looked pretty empty, looked like they might have been moving somewhere else? Not sure if your Skadill was there in the pic?

I dont see it, but this is an interesting picture for several other reasons!

1. Yarder at far left is all Berger, looks like and M2. NFT had several of these.
2. Yarder second left is a Skagit T-100 trailer with Berger hoist-unkown model, I havent seen this before...?
3. Yarder 3rd in (no Tower) is a Berger M2 on Cat D8 bottom, NFT had 3 of these.
4. Yarder (tower pointed toward us) is a Madill 071, NFT had 2 at Vail, maybe a 3rd elsewhere.
5. Yarder next (blue and white) is a Skagit T-90 with a Washinton hoist- either 127W or 137W, can't tell.
6. Last machine is a Berger trailer/tower with a Berger hoist, cant tell model #.

The 2 really cool things here are the Skagit/Washington machine and the Skagit/Berger, which is very uncommon. NFT also had a late-model Berger T-23 hoist mounted on a Skagit T-90, a rare combo and maybe the only one ever built. I have pics and will post when scanned. It was built for Weyerhaeuser Cosmopolis new in 1988 and still has the Weyerhaeuser logos in my pics.

This is cool stuff Jeremy, wish we had more pics of it!

NFT (Gordon Pogorelc) was a big logger in the day, and no doubt is bored with today's little wood and lots of hassle. He may have decided to retire...I never spent alot of time around his crews, and didnt know Gordon at all.

 

[TorkelH]

Big Skagits

I'll dig up all those brochures and scan them one of these days. The BU-98, BU-99, BU-199 etc, were all big big yarders- bigger that the 739's drum wise, but with less horsepower and less brakes, lol. They had frictions with primitive water brakes, and more line capacity, but far less line speed.

In other words, those machines would yard much bigger wood, only slower and with less operator control! Sounds like fun eh?

The 737 and 739 were really fast, had great Eaton water brakes, and big horsepower with the KT Cummins. Transmission was Allison or Twin-Disc, and they were easier to move and/or haul. Overall, just what a logger wanted!

The grand-daddy of the later Skagits was the BU-199. Only 13 were ever built, and they were big big yarders. 3 made it to Vancouver Island, Fred B. Moe at Chehalis Wa. had 2, Simpson Timber in California got 2, and the rest were scattered to various contractors around the NW.

One BU-199 even came to Alaska (Mike Graves Logging of Mollala, Ore) where he logged with it at Hobart Bay for Klukwan Tribal. He was bidding against Columbia Helicopters with it, and winning! He worked it there until they logged out, and the yarder went into a BC rock pit to dragline....

I got alot of pics of the Fred B. Moe machines, after they moved them off the Clearwater River (South of Forks Wa) and into the Chehalis yard.

Fred B. Moe ran a huge operation up the Clearwater River (logged right up against Olympic National Park on the West boundary) for years, and ran 15 Skagits out of that camp including both his BU-199's and 4 739's. He had a bunch of Washington's in there, too.

Thank you very much Contract Logger to clear out a little more about the big Skagits. Very interesting indeed. What's also interesting is how many of these really old machines that still excist and even are in daily use. Even if I have seen a bunch of them parked around and for sale or just rusting away, it must be a good many still working in the woods. Many of these machines where produced in the late 70's, that's amazing and impressive. I bow my head for both the engineers that built'em and the operators of these yarders!|

 

[Contract Logger]

I could not agree with you more!

Madill survived the longest, but produced lower production levels than Skagit or Washington during thier prospective runs.

Skagit, Washington, Berger, and Madill each produced between 1,250 and 1,400 diesel yarders, respectively, by 1990. Thunderbirs was young, so only about 250 at that time.

Washington produced hundreds of steam machines prior to this also.

I havent heard any figures since then...

 

[Contract Logger]

Skagit BU-739 and Skagit BU-199 at Chemainus BC

Skagit BU-739 and Skagit BU-199 at Chemainus BC, 2004

Your timing is good. Last week I ran across a few pics I took od a BU-739 and BU-199 parked side-by-side in 2004 at Chemainus BC (RB auction). Both are mounted on Skagit T-110 SP carriers (the 739 on a T-110 Std, the BU-199 on a T-100HD ).

The size and weight difference is visible, and the scans are decent.

 

[Contract Logger]

More of the Same....

BU-199 is huge.

 

[Contract Logger]

Skadill Yarder at Pacific Lumber and Shipping, Randle Wa.

PLS had a Skadill 009/T90 as part of its company logging operation at Randle, Washington for years. I saw this machine all over, but never thought to take a picture until the PLS closing auction, held at Randle in 1997. They had damaged the tube, and aquired a Skagit 90' tower tube from McPaul machine, who had rebuilt one as a spare, (McPaul painted it TB colors, thinking it would likely wind up on a TY-90).

At the auction, Ritchie Filla (Toledo WA) bought the whole machine for $6,500.00, because he wanted the tower tube as a spare for one of his Skagits. Can't buy/build one that cheap very often!

The hoist and trailer was sold or given to Jerry DeBraie (Cathlamet WA) as a parts machine. Jerry was running 4 TY-90's on Skagits T-90's at the time, so guyline drums, etc had some value to him.

Pic 1 was taken at the Randle auction in 1997.
Pic 2 was taken at Debrie Cathlamet in 2003.

Also seen in pic 2 is a Skagit T-90 trailer poorly painted TB colors. The blue 'Skagit' on the tube is starting to show under the peeling 'Thunderbird' paint, lol. (Thunderbird only built 2 90' towers themselves, the rest were re-paints).

 

[JeremyM70]

I dont see it, but this is an interesting picture for several other reasons!

1. Yarder at far left is all Berger, looks like and M2. NFT had several of these.
2. Yarder second left is a Skagit T-100 trailer with Berger hoist-unkown model, I havent seen this before...?
3. Yarder 3rd in (no Tower) is a Berger M2 on Cat D8 bottom, NFT had 3 of these.
4. Yarder (tower pointed toward us) is a Madill 071, NFT had 2 at Vail, maybe a 3rd elsewhere.
5. Yarder next (blue and white) is a Skagit T-90 with a Washinton hoist- either 127W or 137W, can't tell.
6. Last machine is a Berger trailer/tower with a Berger hoist, cant tell model #.

The 2 really cool things here are the Skagit/Washington machine and the Skagit/Berger, which is very uncommon. NFT also had a late-model Berger T-23 hoist mounted on a Skagit T-90, a rare combo and maybe the only one ever built. I have pics and will post when scanned. It was built for Weyerhaeuser Cosmopolis new in 1988 and still has the Weyerhaeuser logos in my pics.

This is cool stuff Jeremy, wish we had more pics of it!

NFT (Gordon Pogorelc) was a big logger in the day, and no doubt is bored with today's little wood and lots of hassle. He may have decided to retire...I never spent alot of time around his crews, and didnt know Gordon at all.

That is pretty impressive id'ing those yarders with a low resolution picture! I was up that way last month and saw some equipment in the yard, but no yarders. I still see their log trucks on the road alot down this way, so they must be working. Next road trip up that way I will do another search. Tomorrow roadtrip is to hike the Coldwater Lake trail and check out the equipment finally after 15 years of wanting to get up there.

 

[Contract Logger]

That is pretty impressive id'ing those yarders with a low resolution picture! I was up that way last month and saw some equipment in the yard, but no yarders. I still see their log trucks on the road alot down this way, so they must be working. Next road trip up that way I will do another search. Tomorrow roadtrip is to hike the Coldwater Lake trail and check out the equipment finally after 15 years of wanting to get up there.

They were a big outfit- with some really cool yarders over the years-lots of Bergers. Whenever we worked near them, they used Madill 071's and small shovels (Cat 225's and later Cat 320 and 322's). They had at least 2 071's and probably 3 or more. The big yarders were scattered statewide.

I wasnt into little equipment, so didnt pay much attention to that stuff back then. I do now, but too late

 

[Contract Logger]

They were a big outfit- with some really cool yarders over the years-lots of Bergers. Whenever we worked near them, they used Madill 071's and small shovels (Cat 225's and later Cat 320 and 322's). They had at least 2 071's and probably 3 or more. The big yarders were scattered statewide.

I wasnt into little equipment, so didnt pay much attention to that stuff back then. I do now, but too late

Big yarders are inefficient at small corners, so everybody who had multiple big yarders had 071's to clean up the corners behind them. They were considered cleanup yarders, not production yarders.

Boy, how times have changed, huh?:drinkup

 

[JeremyM70]

I got alot of pics of the Fred B. Moe machines, after they moved them off the Clearwater River (South of Forks Wa) and into the Chehalis yard.

Fred B. Moe ran a huge operation up the Clearwater River (logged right up against Olympic National Park on the West boundary) for years, and ran 15 Skagits out of that camp including both his BU-199's and 4 739's. He had a bunch of Washington's in there, too.

So I am assuming Fred B. Moe went the way of the Jensen & Groves and Ben Thomas's? Sold out when the going was still sorta good?

Looking forward to seeing his pictures.

 

[Contract Logger]

Skagits at Auction

These 4 pics were bad to begin with, and the scans seemed to worsen the issue.

Pic 1: Skagit BU-99 Slackline on Skagit T-110HD SP. Eugene Ore, 1987.
Pic 2: Skagits Lined up at Eugene 1987 Pac-West (Ross) Auction.
Pic 3: Skagit BU-94 Slackline on Skagit T-110 Trlr, Ben Thomas Auction, Woodland WA 1989.
Pic 4: Skagit BU-94 Slackline and Skagit BU-80C on T-90, Ben Thomas, 1989.

Sorry for the pics, enjoy the Skagits anyway if you can!

 

[Contract Logger]

Skagit Yarders at Auction, Hoquiam WA 1989

Thes 3 pics came from the big RB Auction at Hoquiam Washington in 1989. The Skagits all came from Willapa Log of Raymond, with yarders from Don Bell, TJ Spradlin, Anderson-Middleton, and many others. Notice the Bergers, Washintons, Thunderbirds, and Madills also visible.

I'll scan all those someday and post to the appropriate threads...

Pic three (on the left) shows a Berger tower with Skagit BU-80C yarder, and right of that is a Madill 009 hoist on a Berger tower/trailer. To the right of the Skagit BU-94's is a Washington 208, then 3 Madills- a 009, an 046, and an 052.

 

[Contract Logger]

Skagit BU-80C on T-90 Self-Propelled at Canyon Creek Log, Amboy Wa

Canyon Creek Logging of Amboy Wash logged for Plum Creek Timber through the late 1980's until 1995 or so. Howard Rogers was the owner then, I think he moved to Idaho or someplace to retire now.

Anyway, here is their main yarder, a nice little BU-80C self propelled machine.
The Skagit T-90 SP carriers had 6 guylines, a little cab up front for driving/moving the machine, and a fixed, non-removeable gooseneck. to move over the highway, you just drop the steer tires, pull the drive axles, ans go. Pretty slick one-piece move.

These pics were taken in 1989 and the loading shovel was a shiny, new Cat 229 with Pierce boom and grapple. These were popular around that time.

Last pic shows Howard himself moving the yarder one Saturday near Elochamin Lake.

Logging was in the Germany Creek area West of Longview.

 

[JeremyM70]

Canyon Creek Logging of Amboy Wash logged for Plum Creek Timber through the late 1980's until 1995 or so. Howard Rogers was the owner then, I think he moved to Idaho or someplace to retire now.

Anyway, here is their main yarder, a nice little BU-80C self propelled machine.
The Skagit T-90 SP carriers had 6 guylines, a little cab up front for driving/moving the machine, and a fixed, non-removeable gooseneck. to move over the highway, you just drop the steer tires, pull the drive axles, ans go. Pretty slick one-piece move.

These pics were taken in 1989 and the loading shovel was a shiny, new Cat 229 with Pierce boom and grapple. These were popular around that time.

Last pic shows Howard himself moving the yarder one Saturday near Elochamin Lake.

Logging was in the Germany Creek area West of Longview.

I remember them, they had a radio repeater at our Davis Peak radio site at least up until the late 90's.

 

[Contract Logger]

Skagit BU-90 on Tillman Power Trailer

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, many loggers were making the transition from diesel yarders on wooden sleds (used with wooden rigged trees) to steel towers. Most loggers were broke or near broke most of the time, so they were looking to take thier diesel yarder off the sled, and mate it to a steel spar- Skookum/Madill and Berger were the most popular option. They would build a steel tower and carrier to fit your yarder, whatever it was.

On Grays Harbor, at Aberdeen Washington, a machinist/fabricator named Jack Tillman cashed right in on this, and soon was building steel towers and carriers for all sorts of yarders people had locally. And Jack wasn't scared, either! He built some of the biggest yarders ever, and added drums or whatever was needed to your yarder. Or Cat- he added lots of steel towers to Cat D7's, D8's, and D9's with Carco or Hyster drumsets on them. Or IH, Allis Chalmers, or whatever you had around.

One of Jack's specialties was a self-propelled tower, with a gooseneck and dolly, like a trailer. The rear axles were driven, and the dolly was steered hydraulically for off-road moving. On the highway, the drivelines were disconnected, and the dolly removed for towingby gooseneck with a lowbed tractor.

These were often huge monstrosities, and Jack liked building 120' towers with 10, 11, and 12 guylines. Super heavy, super clumsy, super Tillman!

Below is a good example of a Tillman! Skagit BU-90 standard highlead hoist, mounted on the Tillman power-trailer, with big STEERING rear axles. Jack like steering on both ends of the rig for tight corners. Hyd steering removeable dolly seen also. The tower wasn't around, but was a 110' telescoper with 10 guylines as you can see.

What a beast! Photographed at TJ Spradlin's place in the late 1980's.