Whitelees Forest - draining with ploughs

Date Added: 29 October 2007 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1974 Picture No: 274

Second of a small set of slides found in Aberdeenshire Disrtict Office showing draining in Whitelees Forest. Plough draining team in action with two possibly Bowen 60 tractors pulling a large Humpy plough which can make a drain over one metre in depth. The tractor in pulling the plough along by a winch rope in this case which is an indication that they have been in some very difficult and soft conditions. This further bourne out by the presence of cage wheels being added to the double wheels of the plough. The draining plough is normally pulled on the drawbar of the rear tractor which is its self pulled by a rope attached to the lead tractor's winch. In soft conditions the two tractors forge ahead by themselves paying out the winch rope from the rear tractor which is left attached to the plough. Once they have found a reasonably firm spot both tractors sit with all brakes on and winch the plough towards them. In this mode hydraulic depth control of plough cannot be activated because it is not attached to the hydraulics of the tractor. Note also the recovery sling attached to the rear of the plough should problems arise and the only way out is back!
Malcolm Crosby has identified the area as next to Craigendunton Reservoir in a crop planted in 1969.
Can anyone identify tractor types and drivers?

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Groups: Forestry in Action, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines

1 Comment

Comments by Brian Speirs who worked at Whitelee Forest for 33 years. 'The photographer is standing between two high points called Rough Hill, one to the east and one to the west. He is facing north-west and downhill towards the Reservoir. Tractors in tandem, are pulling a 'Humpy Plough' which has double wheels and cages: this suggests that the ground is very wet.
The pines in the distance are again not on Whitelee Forest ground.

Myres Burn flows east west off Myres Hill between the photographer and the very young plantation to the right which is part of Whitelees Forest but previously part of the lands of Craigendunton Farm.'
Comment left on 17 December 2007 at 16:49 by Norman Davidson for Brian Speirs

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