**THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ***
****THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTUCTION****The following articles provides information on the history of the grooming machines that CTR has owned through the years. It is listed in chronological order of when the club acquired them. David Waples 2026
Ski-Doo Alpine: twin track, single ski pulling a homemade drag. Very hard to steer.
Polaris ATV: 6 wheel ATV with track kit on rear drive wheels pulling a homemade gooseneck drag . Also very hard to steer.
Two mid-2000’s Ski-Doo Snowmobiles:
Wide track, long track, 2 speed gearbox, 500cc 2-stroke fan cooled engine, pulling homemade cutting drag with smoothing pan. Electric actuator to adjust cutting depth of the drag. This was a new groomer operators
1974 Thiokol Imp 1404:
6 foot wide twin track snowcat, brake steering, English Ford 104 cubic inch 84 HP (maybe) gas V-4 engine (also used in Saab cars), 3 speed manual transmission coupled to a 4 speed transaxle providing 12 speeds forward & reverse. Pulled two different 6’ 4” wide homemade cutting drags with hydraulic actuated adjustment for cutting depth and wheel set to raise the drag off the ground. This machine came to CTR out of the Tug Hill Region, previously owned by Richie Evans, a race car driver from that area. This was CTR’s first venture into a true snowcat style machine. It was worked hard climbing the hills of Colden and Boston which took it’s toll on the engine and rear axle gears. It was loud and hot in the cab, often running with the doors wide open. It was sold into the State of Maine and fell off the trailer on the thruway going there. Minimal damage was done and the new owner rebuilt and used it for personal needs.
1978 Bombardier SkiDozer 252G:
8 foot wide twin track snowcat, brake steering for the cat alone, ram steering with the drag attached, Ford 300 cubic inch 120 HP gas straight 6 with a Ford C-4 automatic transmission. Pulled a homemade 8’ wide cutting drag with hydraulic adjustment for cutting depth and rear wheels. CTR purchased this machine from the WNY Snowmobile Club of Boston. The ram steering system was new to our operators and took a bit of time to master. This machine became the workhorse of the club for many years. It was paint and bodywork restored by club members and had many major maintenance projects performed by the hard working club members. A very reliable machine and put down a fantastic trail. It was sold to an Outfitter in Utah in 2021 and was used to transport pack mules in and out of their remote camp. Last I knew it was back home in Quebec, Canada. There was a farewell party for it when it left the CTR, those in the picture were the main operators. The drag was kept by the club and used on another future machine.
1976 Thiokol Super Imp 1450:
6 foot wide twin track snowcat, brake steering, Ford 200 cubic inch, 104 HP gas straight 6 with a Ford automatic transmission. Pulled a drag that the Thiokol Imp 1404 had used. This machine was purchased from a snowcat dealer in Idaho. It served the club well and due to the longer tracks and more powerful engine, it climbed the hills of Colden and Boston much better than the Imp 1404. Still loud and hot in the cab like the Imp 1404. Re-tracked with all homemade cleats with ice pics that helped to climb the hills that could become difficult in icy conditions. It was sold to the Minnesota DNR in 2015.
198? Bell’s Welding Trail Boss 110:
8 foot wide twin track snowcat, brake steering for the cat alone, ram steering with the drag attached, Perkins 110 HP turbo diesel 4 cylinder with automatic transmission. Pulled a drag made by Bell’s Welding. The machine was purchased from a club in Cattaraugus County and was CTR’s first venture into turbo diesel power. Unfortunately, it did not fit our trail system well since it did not make turns very well. So, it did well on the C4 powerline, but that was the SkiDozer’s domain. It was fraught with many deficiencies and repairs and was not reliable. If there was ever a groomer folly that the club endured, it was this machine (ever to be known as the Trail Bitch). Hence it had a short stay with CTR. No love lost for this one….
1994 Tucker 1000:
7 foot wide, four track snowcat, articulated front/rear axles steering, Cummins 4BT turbo diesel, 110 HP, Allison transmission. Pulling a Mogul Master drag. Higher torque output enables even better hill climbing power. Where once we had to take a ‘light cut’ going up the gasline hills with the Imp and Super Imp, we can now take a ‘full cut’, thereby reducing overall grooming time by eliminating multiple passes on these sections. It turns easy and can maneuver tight woods trails. Much quieter inside with the engine behind the cab. It has many high contact wear points that require constant maintenance, but repairs are fairly easy though often time consuming. Purchased from a Chautauqua County club in 2013 and is still in service for the 2026-2027 season.
1995 Tucker 1000:
A twin to the 1994 Tucker, but it has a front blade for cutting mogul tops and berms. Also pulls a Mogul Master drag. Purchased in 2014. Still in service for the 2026-2027 season.
1998 Tucker 2000:
Big Brother to the Tucker 1000’s, wider (8’), taller, longer and more powerful, 165 HP Cummins 6BT turbo diesel, Allison transmission. Pulls an 8’ homemade drag (from the Ski-Dozer). Replaced the Ski-Dozer with main usage on the powerline from ‘Park to Park’ grooming service (Emery Park to Spraguebrook Park). Easy turning machine but not as agile as the Tucker 1000’s due to the longer length of the snowcat and drag. Plenty of power, but unfortunately cannot access the gasline hills of Colden and Boston due to trail & bridge width limitations. Purchased in 2021 from a Chautauqua County club. Still in service for the 2026-2027 season.