The tractor on tracks is its final configuration now in Wyoming, Il. The wheel tractor is the other tractor in Wyoming. I am mistaken that the second tractor was one of four prototypes on tracks.
Anyone finding my stories too long, ignore with my blessings. Writing is good medicine for my cabin fever HA!!
The old guy (Mr Schaffer) that has the tractors in Wyoming is/was a local farmer and was not my co-worker. Years ago, he had an interest in collecting Cat "research" tractors?probably because his farm hosted some of the development tractors on test. One of the guys (Don H) in the development program drove the lowboy that hauled the research tractors from place to place so Don and Mr. Schaffer became good friends.
Don was our most valuable member of the skunk works?our gofer. He could go to the motor pool and check out a vehicle full of fuel--no questions ask. He could go the assembly line and be given parts?no paper trail. Need a turbo?tell Don---no charge. Later when we found the two tractors at Iowa State and some of us wanted them ?back home?, Don had connections. Don talked Iowa State into returning the tractors. Don knew Mr. Schaffer would keep them. Don checked out a lowboy, full of fuel and hauled the tractors ?back home? to Wyoming. No paper trail.
When the man from Upper Management found Frankenstein, he said to me ?I am going on vacation for two weeks and when I get back I want that ?thing? to have disappeared?!!!!!!! Disappeared was the key word not dismantled. I am sure the man meant dismantled but-----. The plan became I would tell co-workers that Frankenstein was ?disappearing? to my farm for tests which was the truth. I was not stealing the ?thing?. I knew Don could haul it and he did?no cost and no paper trail. The proverbial stuff hit the fan. That was the closest I ever came to getting fired.
Later Don would haul Frankenstein back to the proving grounds into the hands of ?friendly? coworkers and they would remove the front wheels. Later Don would haul Frankie Jr to my farm for tests and then to Dekalb for the planned museum. The tractors intended for the museum were kept outside along the back fence.
When Cat sold out to AgCo, we knew the research tractors would likely be junked. We knew Don could get a company lowboy and drive in and load up the tractors one or two at a time and the guards would let him do it because of the company truck?s logos. All Don needed was for me or others to tell him where to deliver the tractors to. Having escaped being fired once, I wanted to find them ?legitimate? homes. Others moved the tractors before we could contact Three Sisters Park near Peoria which would have, very likely, been glad to have the tractors.
Bottom line?Frankie Jr. vanished. I have control of Frankie 3 and Frankie 4. Frankenstein found a home with a Cat dealer?s old tractor collection in north central USA. I used to know exactly where.