D7 ploughing restock Faebit Wood,Torrachilty
Photograph courtesy of Bill Rayner, Tibbermore, who has provided some information on the ploughing operation at Faebit Wood in Torrachilty Forest.
“The driver was Archie Clyne from Ardross, if I remember correctly. The ground was that indurated and the ambient temperatures at about 25C that when ploughing into the wind the needle on the temperature gauge hovered just below the red section. On the return bout the needle was in the red by the end of the run and Archie had to turn the tractor to wind and then let it tick over and await 5 minutes for the needle to fall sufficiently afore starting the next bout. All the while being dressed only in his underpants and with layers of newspaper inside his boots to protect his feet from the heat of the steel floor plate! This machine with Archie driving was also used in Ardross, the Black Isle, Bogbain Wood on Meall Mhor, south of Inverness, the Angus Glens and further south in the Scottish Borders”
Some investigation in other photographs on this site has revealed the tractor was numbered as FC62222 as recognised by the red mark on the edge of the cab roof above the rear wiper. It certainly was the tractor that Archie drove but the driver on this occasion although hardly visible does not appear to have Archie’s usual head profile.
Check the PDF for other views of ploughing tractor on this site.
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines