Newton Rigg Final Year Forestry OND Northern Study Tour

Newton Rigg Final Year Forestry OND Northern Study Tour - Inverness harbour

Date Added: 28 November 2020 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1981 Picture No: 4939

Photograph courtesy of John Burrow, Perth, taken on tour while based at Darnaway Estate.

An image with some uncertainty of the operation. The magnificent crane has been modified with the addition of an electric rotating grab controlled by electric leads and guide wires running from added powered spools on the jib. Can anyone identify the make and model of the crane?

This is believed to be pulpwood being loaded for export but not certain. Note what appears to be a barge lying off the pier on the far side of the crane. This looks like Scots pine whereas it was normally spruce that was exported.

Could the pine be bound for Dalcross chipboard factory?

Where was the metal strapping into bundles carried out?

Does anyone recognize the lorry – possible registration HAS 273W?

Download Large Version (471kB)

Groups: Forester Training Schools and Universities, Forestry in Action, Other Vehicles and Machines, Timber lorries and loaders

1 Comment

Aye John and Norman, the picture is taken on the eastern shore of the River Ness on the seaward side of the old railway viaduct that was washed away in a flood in the early 1980's and was then rebuilt when I lived in Strathconnon. Since then the wood loading area has moved seaward along the quay away from the roundabout at the quay end of Harbour Road and Shore Street to Longman Drive.

The crane appears to be a Ruston-Bucyrus and I think it might be a model 60SC painted in the original Ruston-Bucyrus livery.

In the background on the western side of the River Ness are the cranes and large sheds of the boatyard in the area known as Capel Inch. The black shed immediately behind the crane has been demolished and the area is now under new housing on Anderson Street, opposite Madras Street. Whilst the cranes and black shed behind the pulp stack is the site of the Gael Force mega marine store. The slipway to the north of this having been filled in to make a storage yard. Anderson Street led to the Kessock Ferry that was still operational until 1982, when the Kessock Bridge opened.

Scots pine was definitely exported, as we used to cut for this market at Torrachilty. I think that the steel bands were fitted at the quayside and would often break causing a right boorach! It was either loaded by the forwarder on site or a loading lorry.

The lorry appears to be one of H. D. Fraser's ERF 8 wheelers from Conon Bridge, originally Balblair on the Black Isle. The characteristic half white and half green livery on the cab along with the red lettering can just be made out.

Good health, Bill Comment left on 28 November 2020 at 21:17 by Bill Rayner

Form Goes Here