Road making in Ratagan and Glen Shiel Forests
The video was made by the late Ian Knox, Black Isle, who was an excavator operator working for the Forestry Commission Road Squad. The video tapes are courtesy of Martin Mackenzie, Balloch, who was given them by Ian’s wife Isobel.
The first operation of creating a formation and bringing in road surface material with a Moxy dump truck is in Ratagan Forest is under the supervision of John McSween, a native of Scalpay. Can anyone name the driver of the Moxy? Ian Knox is operating the JCB JS240LS excavator and digging out the actual road formation (base of road) and putting in all the culvert pipes.
In John McSween’s little story (recorded without him knowing) Rossie could well be John Ross the Forestry Commission Area Engineer and Davidson is almost certainly Ken Davidson Civil Engineer for North Scotland.
There is a view of the road workers caravan encampment including a van belonging contracted Moxy driver and the registration of the FC van can just be seen and may begin with a ‘K’ indicating circa 1993. An interesting scene is where sheep are seen leaving an area of grazing along a narrow causeway just as the tide comes, covers the land and almost cuts them off.
The second operation site according to Ian’s commentary is up near the Cluanie Inn and is there for likely to be the furthest east of the Glen Shiel Forest areas. After this the scene quickly switches back to Ratagan and an over view of Loch Duich the location suggesting that the new road is going in somewhere between Ratagan houses and Totaig. The final scenes are more into winter and from the mountain elevations most likely back in Glen Shiel where the rock breaker is working.
Any details of worker/operator’s names the machines featured and location details would be very welcome.
The link to the video is:
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Other Vehicles and Machines, Road and Bridge Engineers and Works, Video