A serious pole saw

In anticipation of the next major ice storm (which we know is coming, since it has been several years since the last one) the electric co-op in my area has been making a determined effort to get all its ROWs—transmission lines and residential service lines--cleared of overhanging limbs. The co-op’s major tool in this effort is this tracked, telescoping pole, which can extend a circular saw blade for about 50 feet in all directions. It trims limbs with ease. It can also top trees with an angled cut. Strangely, to make an angled cut the cutting head does not pivot; instead, the entire boom operator’s cab tilts, with the result that the operator has to do some serious cheek-gripping to stay in his seat.
In these photos, the saw is lopping and dropping limbs around my house. The operator, apparently a “guest worker”, maneuvers this pole with as much ease as he can use his own arm. He works inches away from the power lines (me, I’d have sparking lines laying down everywhere), without mishap. If a limb should lodge on the line he can flick it away as easily as thumping a bug off his shoulder. As a result of his skill, the crew can clear a lot of line in a short period of time.

That would be a fun machine to play with, of course far away from power lines for me. I'll have to show this to my friend who owns a tree trimming/removal business.

Great post, pictures.
Thanks.
Its, I mean, it's an interesting machine

Thanks, Jerry. It's pleasing that you appreciate its capabilities.

A rig like that has been working in our neighborhood this week.

Never saw nothin as kickazz as that before, Except in the cartoons. A giant circular saw manuvered on tracks that will reach 80 feet high limbs.......Super Cool.

You could just drive around and cut holes in roofs and drop in a special delivery.

A few years back the power company did a lot of work to existing lines and built new ones, and over the course of time, their forestry contractor, Asplundh was doing quite a bit of work before and after, their people were very professional and courteous. They had one of those booms with a circular blade working on one section, they parked it at my long time friends farm. We were both joking, especially after the '08 ice storm, how useful that machine would be, practically every field here is bordered by forest, it creeps into the edge of the field, and has to be pushed back. His JD 3150 with loader, was turned into a shear that spring, I remember one area, the whole mess came down and without any damage or injury, covered the tractor, was not real thick or heavy, but I had to cut my way out with the chainsaw, it was secured to the fender.

Someone here on YT posted photos of one they built on a skidsteer, every farmer around here could use one every few years at least.

Had one here a few years ago only with the shaft coming down from a helicopter and was trimming the high transmission lines nearby.

Consumers Power contractors/tree trimmers have been using rigs like that for a few years. They use them in swampy areas.

That's a lot nicer than my township. Power company doesn't do squat so the maintainer just uses the ditch mower (on a boom) to mangle the trees away from under the lines. They look very attractive for years to come.

He decided to remove the two trees behind my mailbox this year. I'm not sure why as they are far enough back they are actually on the edge of my soybean field. They were also about five inches in diameter. You can imagine how stellar that looks. Hacks me off every time I leave the driveway. If anyone needs any kindling I know where you can get a bunch. Wear gloves.

The contractors for our Co-op came through here about two months ago.They had a similar machine mounted on wheels with huge flotation tire with ag. tread. It did the tilt thing as you mentioned. I wish theirs had the tracks, because those huge ag. tread cleats made such impressions in the soil that I can hardly mow that area with my riding mower, it's like driving over a washboard.

That machine is called a side tree trimmer. The boom is
insulated so it can come into contact with the lines, if
necessary, although it isn't supposed to. We used those
machines every day to trim branches along the transmission
line. I'm glad to here some of your positive attitudes regarding
trimming on your property to keep things clear. You would be
suprised how many landowners try to chase us away.