Forestry Memories

Ploughing in Berriedale, Sutherland

Ploughing in Berriedale, Sutherland

Date Added: 12 September 2020 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1966 Picture No: 4852

The photos are courtesy of Geordie Davidson via Tom McLellan, Taynuilt.

Geordie, working for Andrew Allan Forestry Contractors, is on a D4 Caterpillar tractor with wire rope operated Ross design trail plough. The location is on the south side of the Berriedale gorge next to the A9 and overlooking the main house, Langwell Lodge?, on Braemore and Langwell Estates. It seems that the area being ploughed here has been felled in the last few years and may a have a new tree crop now.

He comments “This D4 Caterpillar tractor had two winches on the back. The main winch was a Hyster. On top was a Scraper winch – it was live all the time and very quick. It was quite dangerous until you got the hang of it. However better than having to stop and put the main winch into gear, like you had to on the BTD8 International tractors just to lift the plough”.

The PDF has another view of Geordie on the tractor and the two winches are clearly visible and the slope of the ground very evident.

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Download PDF (121kB)

Groups: Caithness and Sutherland, Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines

1 Comment

Can anyone tell me what the weird looking thing on top of the cat's exhaust is meant for.? Comment left on 12 September 2020 at 20:13 by leslie phillip
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