Bridge at Achnashellach Forest Inverness-shire
The images are courtesy of Inverness, Ross and Skye Forest District and staff at their Fort Augustus office.
Forestry staff working on a new galvanised steel beam bridge replacement for an old Forestry Commission bridge above the remnants of an old wooden estate bridge.
The men are not clearly seen but does anyone recognise any of them. Note that they are bolting on the wooden longitudinal bearers onto which will be fixed the wooden running surface. At the rear is the old caravan formerly used as sleeping quarters but now as a shelter and store. Not sure what the old yellow truck is?
See comments and names below.
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Road and Bridge Engineers and Works
4 Comments
This is the North Scotland Forestry Bridge Squad working above Achnashellach Station on the track that goes over to Coulin.
In the photo are (L-R) David Straube, Ron Fraser, & Donald Macleod. Missing from the photo is the late Monty Maclean, who was the Bridge Squad Forman at the time.
This was quite a challenging job due to the deep gorge at this location, and we used the old wooden estate structure along with safety cables and harnesses to gain access across the gorge during the work.
The Beams shown in the photo were part of the original bridge at this location, but were removed, renovated, and extended, for the new bridge. The flange plate joints can be seen where the timber runners have been trimmed to fit over them.
We used the Caravan as our Welfare Unit, the van is a Leyland Sherpa, and it is indeed a Thwaites 5 tonne, 4x4 Dumper.
I was the Bridge Squad lorry diver at the time and used to assist with the bridge work when on site. The old Bedford TL is just out of shot on the right of the photo. We worked all over Scotland. Comment left on 03 July 2016 at 22:30 by David Straube
In the photo are (L-R) David Straube, Ron Fraser, & Donald Macleod. Missing from the photo is the late Monty Maclean, who was the Bridge Squad Forman at the time.
This was quite a challenging job due to the deep gorge at this location, and we used the old wooden estate structure along with safety cables and harnesses to gain access across the gorge during the work.
The Beams shown in the photo were part of the original bridge at this location, but were removed, renovated, and extended, for the new bridge. The flange plate joints can be seen where the timber runners have been trimmed to fit over them.
We used the Caravan as our Welfare Unit, the van is a Leyland Sherpa, and it is indeed a Thwaites 5 tonne, 4x4 Dumper.
I was the Bridge Squad lorry diver at the time and used to assist with the bridge work when on site. The old Bedford TL is just out of shot on the right of the photo. We worked all over Scotland. Comment left on 03 July 2016 at 22:30 by David Straube
Hi David. Thanks for identifying the site and men. I see sadly that you say the late Monty Maclean. I had thought Monty might have helped with some detail in Record No 3075 which would have been before his time but he might have rcognised someone.
Comment left on 04 July 2016 at 20:24 by Norman Davidson
I worked the winch on this job last year (2024) for Duffy Skylining, we had to track the machines over this Bridge, it was tight with just 1 inch on each side of the track, I will try upload a photo if I can work out how to.
Comment left on 21 September 2025 at 21:20 by Blair wallace
Form Goes Here
Dumper. Four wheel drive and around five tonne capacity. Comment left on 08 April 2016 at 17:09 by David McQuillan