Snow Groomers

Just when I thought summer had finally arrived, a fleet of snow groomers suddenly appeared. I guess you need to be prepared for next winter, but it is a bit unsettling to see these rigs on bare pavement.
Without trying to settle the argument about who invented this type of tracked vehicle, there are four different manufacturers represented and one conversion company, and there may be room for a few more.

Pisten Bully claims to be the largest manufacturer of snow groomers, and has a wide range of models - this is a small one. The company is an offshoot of the old Kassbohrer bus manufacturer (sold its Setra bus line to Diamler in 1995) and is based in Germany. It was established in 1969.

Prinorth, based in Italy, was founded by the race car driver Ernst Prinorth in 1951. Through a complex set of mergers and acquisitions, it is the successor to Bombardier's industrial vehicles division.

 Favero Lorenzo was founded in the 1980s, also in Italy, and is the builder of this Snow Rabbit 3X.

Tucker, founded in 1942 and based in Oregon makes many types of tracked snow travel vehicles, including passenger carrying types. Their registered trade mark Sno-Cat  must be one of the best known names in the  business.

I am assuming this is a Soucy Track conversion of a John Deere 6155R tractor. They build track systems for nearly every make of farm tractor available.

The two oldest contenders for tracked vehicles go well back:


Tucker

I caught this Tucker dozing in a pasture near Edmunston, NB in 1994.

 
It had enjoyed a second career grooming snow mobile trails. Miraculously its Tucker, Sno-Cat and Medford, Oregon name plates were still intact.



Bombardier

Before it was a recreational vehicle the Bombardier Snowmobile was the only form of motorized winter transportation in many parts of Quebec.

This was a typical unit from the 1950s. Often used as school buses (some with a plywood body) they were fitted with skis on front in the winter.

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