A mowing machine (10, 210, 400, 500, 600) configured to be pulled by a tractor in a direction of travel along a longitudinal axis (A L) of the mowing machine, said mowing machine comprising: a frame (20, 220, 420); a main gearbox (30, 230, 430, 630) mounted to a forward portion of said frame, said main gearbox configured for coupling to a power takeoff of the tractor; a central cutting deck (14, 214, 414) mounted to a rear portion of said frame and spaced apart from said main gearbox, wherein said central cutting deck comprises a planform shape and said central cutting deck being generally disposed in a neutral mowing plane; a central gearbox (34, 234, 434) mounted to said central cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a central driveline (24, 224, 424), said central gearbox being operably coupled to a central cutting tool (84, 94, 104, 284, 294, 304); a wing cutting deck (12, 16, 212, 216, 412, 416) pivotally connected to said central cutting deck or said frame via a hinge (72, 76, 272, 276); a wing gearbox (32, 36, 42, 46, 52, 56, 232, 236, 242, 246, 252, 256, 432, 436, 632, 636) mounted to said wing cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a wing driveline (22, 26, 222, 226, 422, 426, 622, 626), said wing gearbox being operably coupled to a wing cutting tool (82, 86, 92, 96, 102, 106, 282, 286, 292, 296, 302, 306); at least one wheel (64, 264, 464) supporting said central cutting deck; and at least one wheel (62, 66, 262, 266, 462, 466) supporting said wing cutting deck; characterized in that said main gearbox is disposed a sufficient distance forward of said central cutting deck and said wing cutting deck to permit said wing cutting deck to pivot about said hinge in a range of motion from a maximum downward angle with respect to said neutral mowing plane to a maximum upward angle with respect to said neutral mowing plane without disconnecting said wing driveline from either said main gearbox or said wing gearbox; and wherein said planform shape of the central cutting deck permits clearance of said wing driveline with respect to said central cutting deck during a downward portion of said range of motion wherein at least a portion of said wing driveline is disposed below said neutral mowing plane. a frame (20, 220, 420); a main gearbox (30, 230, 430, 630) mounted to a forward portion of said frame, said main gearbox configured for coupling to a power takeoff of the tractor; a central cutting deck (14, 214, 414) mounted to a rear portion of said frame and spaced apart from said main gearbox, wherein said central cutting deck comprises a planform shape and said central cutting deck being generally disposed in a neutral mowing plane; a central gearbox (34, 234, 434) mounted to said central cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a central driveline (24, 224, 424), said central gearbox being operably coupled to a central cutting tool (84, 94, 104, 284, 294, 304); a wing cutting deck (12, 16, 212, 216, 412, 416) pivotally connected to said central cutting deck or said frame via a hinge (72, 76, 272, 276); a wing gearbox (32, 36, 42, 46, 52, 56, 232, 236, 242, 246, 252, 256, 432, 436, 632, 636) mounted to said wing cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a wing driveline (22, 26, 222, 226, 422, 426, 622, 626), said wing gearbox being operably coupled to a wing cutting tool (82, 86, 92, 96, 102, 106, 282, 286, 292, 296, 302, 306); at least one wheel (64, 264, 464) supporting said central cutting deck; and at least one wheel (62, 66, 262, 266, 462, 466) supporting said wing cutting deck; characterized in that said main gearbox is disposed a sufficient distance forward of said central cutting deck and said wing cutting deck to permit said wing cutting deck to pivot about said hinge in a range of motion from a maximum downward angle with respect to said neutral mowing plane to a maximum upward angle with respect to said neutral mowing plane without disconnecting said wing driveline from either said main gearbox or said wing gearbox; and wherein said planform shape of the central cutting deck permits clearance of said wing driveline with respect to said central cutting deck during a downward portion of said range of motion wherein at least a portion of said wing driveline is disposed below said neutral mowing plane.