The Tree Crusher
Manufactured by LeTourneau, the G175 Tree Crusher was designed specifically for land clearing and is the only selfpowered
tree crushing machine of its size. Electrically powered, it is similar in principle to a steamroller. The main components
are two 8" diameter by 30’grouser covered rollers
connected by a main frame assembly. Steering is achieved by
angular rotation of the front roller assembly.
On November 9, 1964, the machine arrived at Kennedy Siding
on size flat rail cars and took four days to unload and
reassemble. From November 21 to December 9, 1964, an
attempt was made to get the machine across country to the
work area, which was approximately four miles away. Various
problems were encountered and the machine got tuck a
number of times. One hill had to be cut before the machine
could climb it and the weather took a turn for the worse with
the rollers icing up and stopping all further activity. The machine
was left for the winter about two and a half miles in
from the assembly site.
During the first part of the summer of 1965, the machine was plagued with troubles. It became stuck a number of times
and mechanical failures were common. A total of 340 acres were downed from mid-May to the end of July.. In the latter
part of the summer, production was increased and the whole operation began to function more smoothly. From August 1
to November 17, the tree crusher downed 2,250 acres, then shut down operation for the winter.
For years, there had been talk of moving the LeTourneau G175 Tree Crusher from Cut Thumb Creek to Mackenzie to
become one of the town’s major tourist attractions. On May 28, 1984, the Municipal Council of Mackenzie took the first
positive step and appointed a ?Tree Crusher Committee? led by Arnold Boomhower, to undertake the relocation of the
giant piece of equipment.
On Friday, October 19, 1984, at 8:00am, two cranes loaded the
six massive pieces of the tree crusher onto two low beds, two
hi boys and two logging trucks. By 2:30pm the convoy, complete
with pilot vehicles, wound its way down the Parsnip Forest
Service Road to the Municipal Yard, arriving at 3:45pm.
Over the next two days, the tree crusher was reassembled at its new site on Mackenzie Boulevard.