A mowing machine 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 ; a main gearbox 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 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 mounted to said central cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a central driveline , said central gearbox being operably coupled to a central cutting tool ; a wing cutting deck pivotally connected to said central cutting deck or said frame via a hinge ; a wing gearbox mounted to said wing cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a wing driveline , said wing gearbox being operably coupled to a wing cutting tool ; at least one wheel supporting said central cutting deck; and at least one wheel 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 ; a main gearbox 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 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 mounted to said central cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a central driveline , said central gearbox being operably coupled to a central cutting tool ; a wing cutting deck pivotally connected to said central cutting deck or said frame via a hinge ; a wing gearbox mounted to said wing cutting deck and coupled to said main gearbox with a wing driveline , said wing gearbox being operably coupled to a wing cutting tool ; at least one wheel supporting said central cutting deck; and at least one wheel 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. <EOS>