Gravel Road Grader in action – Registration BJJ964H
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.
Very fortunately we have the following comments from Bob Main, former Area Civil Engineer with the Forestry Commission:
“The Aveling Barford grader in this picture, I think (based on the bulk of the silhouette) is operated by the late Geordie Smith from Fochabers. This is I am almost certain from a slide taken by John Dye in one of the blocks up the side of the Dramlachs in the 1970s.
Replacement graders were heavier Aveling Barfords fitted with front blades and GMC 4 cylinder two stroke engines up till the mid 90s. They were replaced by an O&K then a Canadian Champion then Volvo. By then the operator was Roy McGregor. By the mid 90s we were using much more crushed stone to build the roads and the graders by this time were fitted with rippers. MES were not happy with the number of tines and tips which were being consumed (sometimes a set of tips a week) compared with our counterparts in the west, I think it was the O&K which had the whole frame torn off the back and had to be specially reinforced.”
The attached PDF is a close up view of the grading blade and its adjusting mechanisms. Also in view are some ripping tines.
Further comments very welcome.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Mystery and unknown, Northeast Scotland , Road and Bridge Engineers and Works