Valmet 840 Forwarder driver testing
Photograph is courtesy of Jim Christie, Crook of Devon, a former senior mechanical engineer in the Forestry Commission. The allocated year is uncertain.
This image and the four attached as a PDF are of a Valmet 840 forwarder and unknown driver undergoing some type of driving skill test. The two large dumbbell shaped pieces of wood with steel rings and bar inserts will have taken quite a bit of time and effort to produce. Note that one is lifted by a sling onto the logs placed on the bed of the forwarder. The idea may be to go over an obstacle course and keep the dumbbells on board. The person guiding or judging this operation looks like Mike Cheesewright, at one time a harvesting systems Training Forester.
Is this a Highland Show forwarder competition undergoing field trials and design? Any thoughts and ideas very welcome!
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes