Forestry Memories

Raasay Forest timber Haulage by Sea

The images are courtesy of Inverness, Ross and Skye Forest District and staff at their Fort Augustus office.

Grant Macintosh comments:
This was the first major timber harvesting on the island of Raasay for decades and after a special loading pier was built and machines transferred to the Island.
The driver of Ferguson’s lorry was Mike Eddie and the operator of the harvester was Norman Johnstone.

Sometime after this Gordon’s of Nairn had a long term contract and carried out a large harvesting programmes shipping from Rassay, Orbost and Totaig.’

Note the Forestry Commission lorry working as part of the loading team. Grant Macintosh confirms that two FC lorries were used in this operation along with Ferguson's. The FC drivers were Dougie Stansfield from Torlundy, Fort William and Donnie MacVicar originally at Inverinate but lorry based at Balmacara.

The shipping system was owned and operated by the Glenlight Shipping Company and operated with 650 tonne capacity barges guided by two tugs. The barges were appropriately named as 'Pinelight' and 'Sprucelight' and delivered the loads for Balcast to Ireland and for BSW to Corpach. One of the guiding tugs used was called 'Flying Childers' but does not appear to be any of the ones featured.

Any details of the shipping craft would be very welcome.

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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Ships, boats and sea transport, Timber lorries and loaders

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