15-Piece Tractor Train Is A Big Hit At Iowa Parades

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #6, Page #44

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Even though he retired from farming, Gene Huelman has found a way to use his favorite tractor – a 1947 MD Farmall diesel. Instead of working in fields, the MD pulls Huelman’s 15-unit tractor train to the delight of parade-goers in towns in northwest Iowa.
    “I don’t know exactly how I got the idea,” admits the Schaller, Iowa, resident. “I had parked some tractors in the driveway in a row and got the idea to hook them together.”
    Huelman, who has collected and restored all of Farmall’s letter series from the 1940’s and 50’s, had plenty of tractors to choose from, including approximately 350 farm toys.
    “It’s a good lineup,” he says. “They really gradually go down in size.”
    Huelman’s tractor train includes the following models: 1947 MD, 1954 Super H, 1949 C, circa 1947 B, 1949 A, 1947 McCormick Deering Farmall Cub, 1970’s 682 Cub Cadet garden tractor, 1970’s 282 Hydro Cadet garden tractor, 1949 open grill H pedal tractor, 1/8-scale Super M, 1/16-scale M, 1/32-scale M, 1/16-scale Cub Cadet, 1/64-scale Farmall 400 and a 1 1/2-in. long Farmall tractor Huelman found on a keychain.
    The 125-ft. train maneuvers surprisingly well around corners, he says.
    “One thing about the Farmall tractors is that they have a place up front to put hitches on them,” Huelman says. He customized tongues made of rectangular steel tubing between the large tractors and made hitches out of scrap iron between the smaller tractors. He has them hooked up so the MD steers the whole line. The hitches for the toys connect to the tires so they don’t break off in cracks or holes.
    Huelman laughs as he recalls how the toys went underwater through puddles at a parade just after a rain. He adds that though his big tractors are restored, the toys get the most attention.
    “It’s just comical. The little kids get down on their hands and knees looking at the little ones,” he says. Collectors appreciate the 1949 pedal tractor, which was a wreck before Huelman restored it.
    “It was the first pedal tractor that Eska made that really resembled a tractor,” he says. “It has some real value.”
    With all the restoration work and hitch design finished, Huelman’s biggest challenge is transporting all the pieces. It takes him three trips with a 25-ft. trailer. Attending parades is easier when a company sponsors him and picks up his big tractors in one load, and Huelman can bring the rest on his trailer.
    After a busy summer, Huelman threatens to “retire” his tractor train, though his wife, Marguerite, doesn’t really believe he will quit because showing it has been a lot of fun.
    “People are welcome to copy it,” Huelman says.
    And, he throws out a challenge. He’d like to see the green guys (John Deere) come up with a tractor train, too.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene and Marguerite Huelman, 610 Berlin, Schaller, Iowa 51053 (ph 712 275-4448; ghuelman@evertek.net).

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15-Piece Tractor Train Is A Big Hit At Iowa Parades FARM HOME Novelty Items Even though he retired from farming Gene Huelman has found a way to use his favorite tractor – a 1947 MD Farmall diesel Instead of working in fields the MD pulls Huelman’s 15-unit tractor train to the delight of parade-goers in towns in northwest Iowa “I don’t know exactly how I got the idea ” admits the Schaller Iowa resident “I had parked some tractors in the driveway in a row and got the idea to hook them together ” Huelman who has collected and restored all of Farmall’s letter series from the 1940’s and 50’s had plenty of tractors to choose from including approximately 350 farm toys “It’s a good lineup ” he says “They really gradually go down in size ” Huelman’s tractor train includes the following models: 1947 MD 1954 Super H 1949 C circa 1947 B 1949 A 1947 McCormick Deering Farmall Cub 1970’s 682 Cub Cadet garden tractor 1970’s 282 Hydro Cadet garden tractor 1949 open grill H pedal tractor 1/8-scale Super M 1/16-scale M 1/32-scale M 1/16-scale Cub Cadet 1/64-scale Farmall 400 and a 1 1/2-in long Farmall tractor Huelman found on a keychain The 125-ft train maneuvers surprisingly well around corners he says “One thing about the Farmall tractors is that they have a place up front to put hitches on them ” Huelman says He customized tongues made of rectangular steel tubing between the large tractors and made hitches out of scrap iron between the smaller tractors He has them hooked up so the MD steers the whole line The hitches for the toys connect to the tires so they don’t break off in cracks or holes Huelman laughs as he recalls how the toys went underwater through puddles at a parade just after a rain He adds that though his big tractors are restored the toys get the most attention “It’s just comical The little kids get down on their hands and knees looking at the little ones ” he says Collectors appreciate the 1949 pedal tractor which was a wreck before Huelman restored it “It was the first pedal tractor that Eska made that really resembled a tractor ” he says “It has some real value ” With all the restoration work and hitch design finished Huelman’s biggest challenge is transporting all the pieces It takes him three trips with a 25-ft trailer Attending parades is easier when a company sponsors him and picks up his big tractors in one load and Huelman can bring the rest on his trailer After a busy summer Huelman threatens to “retire” his tractor train though his wife Marguerite doesn’t really believe he will quit because showing it has been a lot of fun “People are welcome to copy it ” Huelman says And he throws out a challenge He’d like to see the green guys John Deere come up with a tractor train too Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gene and Marguerite Huelman 610 Berlin Schaller Iowa 51053 ph 712 275-4448; ghuelman@evertek net

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