Isachsen High Lead Winch on Ferguson 35 tractor
Photograph is courtesy of Jim Christie, Crook of Devon, a former senior mechanical engineer in the Forestry Commission.
A great image of a cable crane winch operator in action. The date, location and operator are unknown but the use of a wagon to take material away from the back of the winch is unusual.
It appears that the products are much longer that the normal 3m long pulp and would quickly fill up the space behind the machine or perhaps different products were being cut in each rackway and the longer ones carried away by trailer. Further back below the road is a clearfell area and also behind is a timber lorry is loading up from a timber pile.
The winch operator has expertly managed to swing the middle of drag load of timber over the bolster pins of the pole wagon. Possibly by stopping the drag with its front end up high just short of the winch and then getting it to fall away from him and then allowing the timber to pivot around on it end towards the front of tractor. This required a very sensitive touch on both sets of brake and clutch levers.
The tractor is definitely not set up for skyline working as it has no drums on wheels and no signs of radios.
Can anyone provide more information on this operation, operator and location?
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes