Crowsnest Collection – Finale

Every good thing must come to an end. And with that we present the final instalment in this series where were look at the Crowsnest Collection, an incredible and diverse mix of old metal. There are trucks, lots of trucks, rare makes including the likes of Diamond T and REO, others more common and everyday, ancient earth moving machinery, railway boxcars, junk metal, chunks of this and that. All of it is incredibly photogenic.

Hating to sound repetitive but a reminder, this yard is not open to the public. And another, at the request of the owner, none of what is seen here is for sale. Please don’t ask. He wants to hold on to them, his reasons, which matter not to anyone else, and is not entertaining offers. Still, I fully suspect we’ll get the emails anyway.

Crowsnest Collection – Finale: the last look at this incredible assemblage of vintage metal. By Chris Doering and Connie Biggart (BIGDoer.com/Synd)

Just an FYI. The backstory to many of these machines, unfortunately, has been lost to time. As such, details as to where they came from, and so on, may be a bit sparse. Even the exact model year is often an unknown, and given trucks and machinery often looks the same for long production runs, it’s not always easy to guess. Not that all this really matters anyway since we’re being pretty causal here, Even so, if you know, or find an error or omission, by all means message us.

That behind us, let’s talk trucks! And junk.

1) We often explore with art photographer Robert Pohl. This is his Ebony Camera, old looking but of modern construction, it’s crafted of fines woods and high tech metals. It uses that old fashioned medium film. Huge sheets of it. Remember that stuff? I guess it’s making a comeback. You have to slow down when shooting one of these beasts, each photo requiring several minutes of set up and preparation before the shutter is ever released. Here Rob is shooting a 1940s REO Speedwagon. Mighty fine attractive subject there!

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2) A pitted side view mirror belonging to a 1950s era Diamond T. It’s so tiny, how did they see anything in it?

Ebony Camera

1) An Ebony Camera, a work of art in itself.

3) Looking at some old CPR boxcars through a cracked windshield. These are former “grain boxes” built in the 1950s and today used as storage sheds by the firm that operates out of here.

4) Rob, in an almost zen-like state, oblivious to the goings on around him (the world could be coming to an end, and he’d not know it), working his magic. The cape, a rather odd fashion accompaniment, also mandatory super-hero wear, but used here to help block light so the screen can be examined closely for composition and focus. I kinda of timed it…tick…tick…tick…six or seven minutes to complete that shot. Now that’s dedication! Damn, I admire that. Nice REO.

5) The handsome grill of a mid-1930s Diamond T. I’m not all that familiar with this make, they’re not exactly common in this part of the world, but one thing springs to mind, they sure made some fine looking trucks. Not just easy on the eye, they also come across as extremely well built too. Any owners want to chime in?

6) Remains of a (1950s era it’s believed) Bucyrus-Erie 54-B Loading Shovel. It once worked for the local highway’s department and also a nearby limestone quarry. Behind is a Bay City Crane, age unknown but believed to be a model 30.

7) Shovel parts for the Bucyrus-Erie. The firm was and is known for it’s leviathan mining machinery. While these pieces are bloody huge, this was one of their more modest-sized earth movers. Seen in back, Crowsnest Mountain, surely one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks.

8) The same pair and wondrous blue skies.

9) A Mobile Equipment License, mandatory for earth movers and the like, affixed to an old Cat. It’s dated 1979. We saw others going back to the 1960s here.

10) A ventilation fan. Found it interesting visually. Known nothing more.

11) I told you there was lots of scrap metal here. Mostly it’s not car parts, although there is a fair amount of that too, but rather industrial junk, like these boiler remains.

12) The hood from an old Kenworth. It’s said the truck it once belonged to had a Hollywood connection, appearing in the 1970s Linda Blair flick Wild Horse Hank shot in the area. This author viewed the film and indeed there were some of this make and model playing a part in the movie, although not painted up with horses as seen here – I suppose it could have been done later as a nod to the movie appearance. Certainly possible I guess.

13) Big Red, a 1970s era Peterbilt (352?). The backside of Turtle Mountain in behind, made famous by the tragic early 1900s Frank Slide, not seen from this angle and so on the far side, that made a blink’n mess of things, the town of Frank and many people’s lives. It looks so harmless here.

Diamond T Truck

2) Pitted old mirror on a Diamond T.

14) A Galion Grader, perhaps from the 1960s (a guess). Familiar with the make, but never knew they had a Canadian Factory.

15) A workaday 1970s.1980s GMC Medium Duty. There were made in huge quantities and we see them all the time. In back, a boxcar once involved in a wreck and now an equipment shed, and our old friend Crowsnest Mountain again.

16) This is a 1960s/1970s International Loadstar. Like the GMC mentioned above, a huge number of these were made and even today are hardly uncommon.

17) Two stunners, a 1930s Diamond T left and a post war REO Speedwagon, yes from which the former area filling band took their name, in behind.

18) Diamond T was a class act. What attention to detail. The firm’s logo in rotting rubber on a running board. A 1930s model.

19) A military-look Dodge Power Wagon, believed to be from the 1960s. Dating them can be hard as they were made with little change from the the 1940s-1970s. This not the modified Dodge Pickup version, which is looked upon with a bit of disdain from aficionados, but a true Power Wagon. Simple, rugged and all business. What a winch! A different model Power Wagon (right) and 1950 Diamond T Truck in back.

20) This cracked and weather worn tire has turned its last mile.

21) International Harvester’s iconic logo of old. The firm was and still is (under the name Navistar) one of the largest producers of trucks around.

22) An old boiler from who knows where. A heating unit for an old building, something from a local industry, coal mine? Guesses all.

23) What the? Roller skates? Some of the more odd things discovered while exploring here.

24) Inside a building, more Diamond Ts (1940s). The fellow has a lot of them. Love the wood panelling. Very 1970s rumpus room. Just needs some metal flake mirrors and a pole lamp now.

25) And now a restored truck, one gorgeous Diamond T pickup from the late 1940s. Many of the others of this make seen were used as parts sources for this one. It’s a beauty and is used in parades and such.

CPR 40 Foot Boxcars

3) Cracked glass and ancient boxcars.

26) Another Power Wagon, this one a Fargo (1960s). All shiny and done up, it’s a real looker. The Fargo make was a Dodge clone and was sold at Plymouth Dealers here in Canada. As such, they’re fairly rare overall. Not seen in the US new, they’re quite a novelty south of the border with vintage car buffs. This one is also used in local parades and can be seen at car shows.

27) Outside the badging, a Fargo is pretty much otherwise a Dodge, with all parts being interchangeable. Still, that name, Fargo, makes it fairly rare. Nice red paint on this one. Love it.

There ya’ go. A big thanks goes to out host Ed, who allowed us free run of the place and the chance to explore everything in our own spacial way and at our own special pace. We had a great time. He still has one more yard full of metal, which we hope to visit soon.

Earlier in the series…
Crowsnest Collection – Second Helping.
Crowsnest Collection – Round 1.

We came back…
Crowsnest Collection – Reprise

More old metal…
Scot King C1FD.
Old Iron (SK Edition).
Badland’s Collection.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: June, 2016.
Location: Crownest Pass, AB.
Article references and thanks: Ed D., Keith Haddock, Hanks Trucks Forums, REO, Diamond T and Diamond REO Enthusiasts, AllPar.com.
The Crowsnest Collection is private property with no public access. BIGDoer.com visited with permission.

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Rob Pohl Photography

4) Rob Pohl in a zen-like state, working his magic.

Diamond T Grill

5) The grill on a 1930s Diamond T.

Bucyrus-Erie 54B

6) Reamains of a Bucyrus-Erie 54B Shovel with a Bay City Crane behind.

Bucyrus Erie Shovel

7) Shovel parts off the Bucyrus-Erie.

Bucyrus-Erie/Bay City

8) Glorious blue skies and old metal – does it get any better?

Mobile Equipment License

9 A 1970s era Mobile Equipment License affixed to an old earthmover.

Ventilation fan

10) This ventilation fan was oddly interesting.

Old boiler

11) What’s left of a boiler – lots of scrap metal here.

Kenworth Truck Hood

12) The Kenworth Truck this hood came from is said to have a Hollywood connection.

Peterbilt Cabover

13) Big Red, a 1970s era Peterbilt Cabover (model 352 we think).

Galion Grader

14) A made in Canada Galion Grader.

1970s GMC Medium Duty

15) A run of the mill GMC Medium Duty (1970s/1980s).

International Loadstar

16) A 1960s/1970s era International Loadstar.

Diamond T & REO

17) 1930s Diamond T and post war REO in back.

Diamond T Runningboard

18) On rotted rubber the Diamond T logo is still proudly displayed.

Dodge Power Wagon

19) A brutish Dodge Power Wagon.

Old truck tire

20) Cracked and weather worn.

IHC Hood Ornament

21) International Harvester’s iconic logo.

Old boiler remains

22) An old boiler – would love to know where it came from but no one knew.

Discarded roller skates

23) Roller skates?

Old Diamond T Truck

24) In a garage, more Diamond Ts. He’s got a lot of them!

Restored Diamond T

25) A restored Diamond T, a real beauty.

Fargo Power Wagon

26) A vintage Fargo (not Dodge) Power Wagon.

Fargo Power Wagon Truck

27) Fargo Trucks were sold in Canada, not the US, and are pretty rare.

52 responses

  1. Michael LeBaron says:

    When I think of a ‘monster’ truck I think of one of those old power wagons! They were built to be a beast, and nobody’s toy.

  2. John Found says:

    Love everything i can see in post.

  3. Gerry says:

    Never disappointed Bi Doer!

  4. Dana Krause says:

    They (Diamond T) were very trough trucks, My Dad had a bigger gravel truck just like this, I learned to drive in it😎

    • We’ve heard nothing but good things about them. Tough, good looking are two comments that come up most often. Learning to drive a truck that big must have been trial by fire!

  5. Jo Tennant says:

    Double WOW!

  6. Gary Makota says:

    They (REOs) were cool looking trucks. Very common as fire trucks in the states.

  7. Andy Bear says:

    Cool.They don’t build them like that anymore. And it has some very nice patina as well. This isn’t a REO Speedwagon, but an 1929 REO Fling Cloud Master Sedan at Fort Edmonton back in 2012….flic.kr/p/cS4dwW

  8. Rory Brown says:

    Holley carburetor has a 50cc accelerator pump for their carbs called the ‘REO pump’ because it is similar to ones used on REO trucks..

  9. Marsha Cochrane says:

    Very nice!

  10. Mike Bonkowski says:

    When this post gets shared multiple times, the lyric “heard it from friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another…” will be relevant.

  11. Mike Bonkowski says:

    I just can’t fight this rusting anymore….

  12. Ted Cutlan says:

    Lovely, even in rusty repose!

  13. Michel Figeat says:

    REO stood for Ransom E Olds, founder of Oldsmobile. Cool find. I’ve never seen a REO truck. I heard about one once in a gully behind a farmhouse. By the time I managed to contact the owner for permission to go photograph it though, she said “all that junk was hauled off to the dump last week.” 😞

    • Thanks for adding to the story. What an interesting name…Ransom. We get around and have only seen a few making them rare for this part of the world anyway. Thanks for commenting!

  14. Alex Meic says:

    (via Facebook)
    I’m also a photographer, albeit in my spare time lol, and these are absolutely gorgeous! Great eye.

  15. Josh Nagel says:

    Looks like all kinds of cool stuff there!

  16. Ray Rods says:

    Would be awesome to restore some of these.

  17. Mike Blish says:

    Love those dodge trucks back them.

  18. Manu Mohamed says:

    Lots of old work trucks. Someone once made a living with those things.

  19. Barbara Ann Patterson says:

    You do find some treasurers. So jealous.

  20. Bonnie says:

    Great shots! Thanks for sharing!

  21. Ken Patterson says:

    wow .. great shots …museum ?? or collector ?? thanks for the share!

  22. Rob K Hill says:

    Nice powerwagons! Great little collection I like those REO’s. Great pics thx.

  23. Andy McNiven says:

    Wish they were for sale! Could save one or two or them.

  24. Lewis J Lambert says:

    Lots of old work horses back in their day!

  25. Mark Alan Tolster says:

    Love the old power wagons…..

  26. Michael Williams says:

    (via Facebook)
    Nice. I had to be content with shots from the fence line.

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