Waterloo - What is made there?

ddivinia · Jun 11, 2008

I noticed in this article:

Sandbagged levee holds in Iowa, protects city - Yahoo! News

That a railroad bridge is toast. What all is made in Waterloo? I suspect some people might be waiting on equipment.

D.

Dutch445 · Jun 11, 2008

UMMMMMMMMM

TRACTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yankeerider · Jun 11, 2008

Deere website indicates an iron foundry there and 7000,8000,9000 series tractors. Also list an engine plant there, which makes sense in conjunction with the foundry.

BleedGreen · Jun 12, 2008

Deere announced Wednesday morning that they have "indefinitely suspended loading operations due to high water levels around the factory" and that they will notify dealers when operations resume.

ddivinia · Jun 12, 2008

BleedGreen said:
Deere announced Wednesday morning that they have "indefinitely suspended loading operations due to high water levels around the factory" and that they will notify dealers when operations resume.

The big tractors might be hard to get for a little while..

D.

megotatractor · Jun 12, 2008

Yep, Big, Green Tractors. There is indeed a foundry, an engine works, and tractor factory. I have toured all three and highly recommend it to anyone who has a day to spend. These facilities are amazing and fascinating. Watch in the foundry as they cast the big diesel engine blocks and tractor chassis. See these castings machined into engine parts and at the end they start these engines for the first time. Be amazed as engines and chassis are painted and assembled in the tractorworks,something like 40 acres under one roof. Cabs are built there and mated to the tractors, wheels are slapped on and they drive the machines to a testing area.

Wombat125 · Jun 12, 2008

megotatractor said:
I have toured all three and highly recommend it to anyone who has a day to spend.

Me much jealous.

I'm kicking myself for not doing precisely that when I lived in Marion, IA for so many years. Phooey.

Egon · Jun 13, 2008

The Waterloo boy, start of John deere tractors?

A History of The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company

mikim · Jun 13, 2008

Wombat - I grew up in Springville .....56 - 68 ... left after H.S. never to return except to visit. Going back over the 4th to see Mom. When she's gone - I'll probably never go back again. My wife really likes the antique shops in Marion though.

Wombat125 · Jun 13, 2008

mikim said:
Wombat - I grew up in Springville .....56 - 68 ... left after H.S. never to return except to visit. Going back over the 4th to see Mom. When she's gone - I'll probably never go back again. My wife really likes the antique shops in Marion though.

Perhaps you knew the Mysaks and the Tews from Springville?

I'm kind of with you though. After 35 years, my folks moved back to the farm in Minnesota, so I'll probably never get back to Marion.