Grading of new forest road pavement
The image is from a collection of slides and photographs ‘rescued from the skip’ and handed to Forestry Memories. Generally very little information with or about them and for details we will have to rely on readers’ memories or geographical knowledge.
This is a great image of forest road operations in progress and features a road grading team.
We were very fortunate to have received the following comments from Bob Main former Area Civil Engineer in the Forestry Commission
“The photo features a Fordson New Major, E1A. They were in production from 1952 to 58. The New Major was replaced by the Power Major, which looked similar then by the Super Major which had white wheels and mudwings among other modifications. When I saved the image of the Fordson and grader and studied it in more detail I noticed that the sprags of a rear mounted winch and ground anchor are apparent. That explains why the tractor does not need wheel weights. The rear tyres are half worn. Also there is a fair amount of soot on the side of the bonnet by the silencer, which is typical and it has been fitted with a replacement starter motor. It has perhaps seen more service in the forest than I first guessed.
The piece bag is indeed an ex Mod issue. These were also in standard agricultural use. Some gas mask bags had a divider which was handy for holding the flask upright.
The grader is an Allens of Oxford similar to mine except it has rubber tyres. I have the original steel wheels which I intend to retrofit on mine. Someone may recognise the operators”.
Can anyone name the operators?
Any further comments very welcome.
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Mystery and unknown, Other Vehicles and Machines, Road and Bridge Engineers and Works