Ploughing at Blarmachfoldach above Fort William
The photographs are courtesy of Donnie Stirling, Tomich, who was a ploughing tractor driver for a number of years. Photographs provide with help from Sandra Reid.
Featured here is Jimmy Paton, (from Farigaig way?) with his
Fiat 70. In the background is another Fiat 70 operated by A. Ellison. Jimmy Paton’s machine may be FC5294 and has a hydraulic winch in front as well as a pulley block stowed in the front bin. The full team for the season may have been the three machines.
Donnie recalls that the collie dog from a nearby croft visited them every day no doubt for the company and perhaps to share some food a break time! The tractor is next to an old boundary wall which had metal post fence fixed into large stones that were hand drilled and secured with lead. One stone and post is in front of tractor.
In the back ground covered in some snow are the lower slopes of Ben Nevis the top of which is just out of shot on the right. Glen Nevis is the valley running down across the view in the middle distance. It is possible where the tractor is sitting became part of the West Highland Way route into Glen Nevis.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines