How complete were tractors when shipped?

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   I was talking to one of my mom's neighbors this morning and he triggered a question for me. He remembered Allis Chalmers tractors being built in Ephrata Washington when he moved to the area in the late 5os. I am reasonably sure that they weren't built there, but probably unloaded from the railroad to go to the dealership in Waterville Washington, as rail service to Waterville was abandoned in 1954. Would they have needed any assembly after being shipped, or would they be complete tractors? 

Ted

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TedN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 30 Apr 2025 Location: Central WA Points: 356	Post Options Post Reply Quote TedN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: How complete were tractors when shipped? Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 4:43pm
	I was talking to one of my mom's neighbors this morning and he triggered a question for me. He remembered Allis Chalmers tractors being built in Ephrata Washington when he moved to the area in the late 5os. I am reasonably sure that they weren't built there, but probably unloaded from the railroad to go to the dealership in Waterville Washington, as rail service to Waterville was abandoned in 1954. Would they have needed any assembly after being shipped, or would they be complete tractors? Ted
	190XTD seriesIII, 190XTD seriesI, maroon belly 7000, 7030, 7045, D14, 190XTD series??? project(or maybe parts)

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WF owner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 May 2013 Location: Bombay NY Points: 5302	Post Options Post Reply Quote WF owner Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 6:09pm
	In 1968, I was riding with my Dad when the train was crossing the road he lived on. I believe there were 28 AC tractors on that train going to our local dealership. Dad bought one of them, a 180. I know there were a couple on the train that were already sold. They all went from the local train siding to the dealership before they were delivered. I assume all the fluid levels were checked and a punch list of items that had to be verified, but to answer your question, they were complete and driven off the rail cars.

steve(ill) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: illinois Points: 93062	Post Options Post Reply Quote steve(ill) Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 6:33pm
	takes extra effort to ship a BOX or something that cant move under its own power... Easy to unload and move to dealership if everything is RUNNING..
	Like them all, but love the "B"s.

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23482	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 7:26pm
	There were years that 180's and 185's were delivered on two tier car transport trailers from Milwaukee. The steering wheels (and mufflers) had to be removed for the three units on the bottom deck. The air cleaner extensions were shipped in a kit box. They could ship six tractors at once. Maybe it was four, but pretty sure it was six. Anyway, part of the pre-delivery inspection by the dealership was to check the torque on the steering wheel nut to be sure it was tight !!

AaronSEIA Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Mt Pleasant, IA Points: 2595	Post Options Post Reply Quote AaronSEIA Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 7:26pm
	Pictures I've seen of them on rail cars makes it look like they were 100% and ready to hit the field once driven off. AaronSEIA

Mikez Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 16 Jan 2013 Location: Usa Points: 9017	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mikez Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Aug 2026 at 8:07pm
	I’ll pick my dad’s brain some. My grandfather was a dealer and they would go to local rail station and get tractors off the rr cars and drive them back to our place. They also would bring tractors back here for other area dealers to pick them up.

Dale-OH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: SW OHIO Points: 969	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dale-OH Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 7:11am
	Grandpa was a dealer in late 50s and sold out in 64. Dad would have been 11 when they sold, he never said anything about tractors being apart but talked about helping carry plows and other snap coupler implements out of box car and into trucks

TedN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 30 Apr 2025 Location: Central WA Points: 356	Post Options Post Reply Quote TedN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 9:59am
	I appreciate the responses so far, I thought they would be complete or nearly so before they left the factory. His thought that they were assembled there is the reason I asked. I did have to look up the history of the railroad to figure out why they would be unloaded in Ephrata, I had thought the spur to Waterville was open later than it was. There is a large building on the site(now used by Washington Fish and Wildlife) that may have been used for inspection when a shipment came in, and maybe to store items that would be better locked up. Ted
	190XTD seriesIII, 190XTD seriesI, maroon belly 7000, 7030, 7045, D14, 190XTD series??? project(or maybe parts)

Brian F(IL) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Paxton, IL Points: 2758	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brian F(IL) Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 10:22am
	In the late 60's and early 70's, the tractors came to my Dad's dealership via a trucking firm called Tractor Transport. The tractors were shipped complete (but only a minimal amount of fuel in the tank). Unlike what the Dr. indicated, we never saw any two-tiered trailers. They were all flatbeds with usually 3-4 tractors (depending on size). We never received any tractors by rail. This may have been because we were only about a 4 hour drive from West Allis, WI. However, I do believe all of the combines were shipped by rail from Independence, MO grainheads too). The cornheads we had to pick up in LaPorte, IN.

DrAllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 23482	Post Options Post Reply Quote DrAllis Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 11:58am
	I'm a little wrong (been 45 years ago). The 180/185's were hauled on a two tier deck, but only three units on the bottom tier. Anyway, that's where the muffler and air cleaner extension and steering wheel had to be removed, to clear the floor framework to the upper deck.

DougG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Location: Mo Points: 8481	Post Options Post Reply Quote DougG Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 5:17pm
	The Gleaner plant had railroad tracks right next to it - would have luved to see it in action back in the 70,s,,

JoeM(GA) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Cumming,GA Points: 5002	Post Options Post Reply Quote JoeM(GA) Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Aug 2026 at 7:03pm
	from all I’ve seen, I think the G was the only one shipped with any assembly required, and they only needed the front rims attached. The chassis shipped to Thompson Machinery in Louisiana to build the cane tractors might count too
	Allis Express North Georgia 41 WC,48 UC Cane,7-G's, Ford 345C TLB

PaulB Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Rocky Ridge Md Points: 5435	Post Options Post Reply Quote PaulB Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2026 at 6:45am
	I don't have actual experience with Allis Chalmers tractors way back when, however while in high school I was working at a Ford dealer during the late 6Y series into the first 7A series and from time to time tractors would arrive by trucks without tires. They had wood blocks banded around the rims to be drivable. Then we had to take them to a local tire shop to get tires put on them. Why the factory couldn't or didn't ship them with tires already, I don't remember.
	If it was fun to pull in LOW gear, I could have a John Deere. Real pullers don't have speed limits. If you can't make it GO... make it SHINY