Fowler tractor with Cuthbertson plough
Photographs courtesy of John Brodie, Mold, N Wales who has sent in photographs of his father ‘Jock’ Brodie who for a time was a plough operator with the Forestry Commission in the northeast of Scotland.
John goes on to say ‘My father worked with the Forestry Commission during the 1950's, firstly at Swanley, Fetteresso near Stonehaven, where, as far as I can remember he was a lorry driver, this would have been 1951/52. We then moved to Finzean when he started work as a plant operator at Blackhall near Banchory. Again, as far as I can remember he worked in places like, Rannoch Moor, Pitlochry, The Culbin Sands and the Rhynie and Tomintoul areas’.
This is a view of a Fowler tractor and Cuthbertson plough outfit parked next to a refuelling point. Behind in the distance is the D4 caterpillar working as in the previous photograph. The year is thought to be about 1958 and a possible location is Drumtochty Forest but not certain of either. There is a go view of the rear of the Fowler showing the winch which was continually linked to and used to lift the plough head from the ground.
There is a good view of the ingenious long vertical pole system which allowed the frame to ride up and down over bumps and hollows in the ground but kept the plough head at a reasonably level keel in the ground thus delivering a drain or plough furrow which would run water without back up ponding. The plough head is the robust Cubertson single furrow F type often used for cross draining as well as for working in deep soft peat as a normal planting furrow plough. When cross draining normally two tractors would be used. Also seen are the two large cutting coulter discs which cut either side of the furrow and at the back of the plough boot the large rise and fall mould board which pushed the lifted furrow away from the side of the drain.
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Northeast Scotland , Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines