Bert Legge driving Cuthbertson Buffalo Tractor
Photograph courtesy of Ronnie Legge, Huntly who goes on to say:
‘I can remember seeing this machine when I was a boy about
55 yrs ago up at Bogenclough moss beside the old sheep steading.
It was called the Buffalo and best suited for bogs. The photo shows my father in the Water Buffalo, the other operator could be Duncan Jamieson from Insch’.
The Water Buffalo tractor was produced by James Cuthbertson of Biggar from about 1951 through to 1960s. The tractor appears to have been an original design with the aim of working in very soft wet conditions and had a very low ground pressure. The power was supplied by a 75HP Albion engine and this model has a light winch on front as well as on the back. It is not clear how the winches were driven. Of interest also is the unusual design of the grousers on the track plates. It is possible the grousers were vulnerable to bending in harder or stoney conditions or on forest roads and the angled bits were a modification for strength. Can anyone confirm why the grousers do not go straight across as normal?
Duncan Jamieson from Insch also remembers this machine at the ploughing of Essie Moss near Boganclough, Clashindarroch Forest. At one time there were 4-5 tractors working there and they all bogged at one point trying to rescue the first one that stuck. The Water Buffolo came to the rescue and by a combination of winching and acting as an anchor it managed to get them all out with the help of the others as they were each debogged.
Jim Connell from Banchory ( who worked alongside Bert Legge) said
‘This machine was hired by East Con. For a 6 month trial in 1955. It was an ideal machine for the job but too expensive for the Commission to buy. The Commission were happy to buy less effective machines in bulk and 'save' money.
It had a winch at the back and one at the front and was fit to pull my TD 9 and Cuthbertson Plough as well as pulling its own Cuthbertson Plough, ie double ploughing. The Buffalo saved me from bogging 3 or 4 times a day. There were 72 grease nipples on its tracks!
The machine worked on the Clashindarroch Forest but didn't think it worked at any other location in East Conservancy.
I think the driver of the Fordson Major could be Duncan Jamieson.’
This photograph does not seem to be taken at Essie Moss, Clashindarroch however as the houses in the back ground are orientated wrongly and there seems to be a road and telegraph poles running half way between the tractors and houses.
Download Large Version (251kB)
Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Northeast Scotland , Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines