Ploughing at Leanachan Forest circa 1960
The photograph was taken by the late Finlay MacRae who was a District Officer in the Forestry Commission based in Lochaber at the time. The images are courtesy of his daughter Donna.
A stunning image of ploughing progress being discussed by Jock Chrystall who was Divisional Officer (Assistant Conservator) for North Scotland at the time and responsible for oversight of all the new plantation work in the southern area. The location looks like to be a little east of the Leanachan moor (Lon Lianachan) which is the very flat deep peat area visible over the back of the plough. A large fire in this area in the late 1940s or early 1950s apparently destroyed much of the 1930s planting around this location (the patches of larch may be remnants). However there are no signs of burnt trees here and this area may not have been planted initially. It is possible that the original planting area was being extended into the deep peat bog area with the advances in lower ground pressure tractors and Cuthbertson ploughs. Hence the visit! The hills in the back ground are those above Glenloy Forest with a winter blanket of snow.
The tractor is an extended track wide plate County and possibly an early version of the long tracked Bogmaster. This tractor only has one top idler track pulley where as there would normally be two and yet it is longer that the normal short version.
Can anyone name the driver? No cab to shelter from the elements and probably the machine engine had to have the water drained off at night to prevent frost damage! Machine registration is RGP154 and Cuthbertson F type plough number is 2627
Any points and comments very welcome. See follow up image on PDF link below.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines