Forestry Memories

Cable crane on Isle of Arran

Cable crane on Isle of Arran

Date Added: 21 January 2017 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1985 Picture No: 3474

This photograph is from of David McQuillan, Dumfries, who comments:

‘An interesting cable crane outfit operating on the Isle of Arran in the 1980's. It consisted of the front section of a World War II American Diamond T tank transporter fitted with a cable crane tower and winches. There was also a Hiab type loader fitted which was used to keep the landing stage clear.

It was operated by an Australian who exhibited great skill in being able to operate the cable crane and the Hiab loader simultaneously.....very impressive!’

Can anyone remember seeing this very large and unusual outfit or know the details of what looks like a Timbermaster crane or similar combined with hydraulic loader all mounted on an old wartime lorry?

David believes Kerr Robertson may have been the name of the forester around there at that time.

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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes

5 Comments

A most impressive machine! Similar to many ex-army truck mounted spar cable rigs to be seen working in the west coast of the USA.
However, the truck is not an American Diamond T but a British built Scammell Constructor.
The front axle in the Diamond T was not driven the truck being of 6x4 configuration, whilst the truck in the photo is of full 6x6 drive. Comment left on 21 January 2017 at 14:02 by Ian Cameron; ex F.C. mobile mechanic.
Actually on Scammel lorry, owned by Mulholland familly from Arran who later went on to develop the Holland quick release hook. The lorry was converted by A and B services for Gordon Holland. Comment left on 22 January 2017 at 10:06 by Alan Gray Stephens
Gordon went on to set up Cable Logging Systems Ltd. He had developed a flywheel powered carriage that worked in conjunction with the quick release hook for rapid extraction of felled timber. In the late 1990s I worked on the successor to the vehicle in the picture. Based on a 6x6 AEC Matador, if remember correctly. Comment left on 02 April 2021 at 22:38 by Howard Neal
Howard Neal. Did you work with Gordon?
Comment left on 05 September 2021 at 15:39 by Cameron Ross-Bain/Mulholland
What a beast. Comment left on 06 September 2021 at 11:04 by leslie phillip
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