331
	Norman Davidson
	1983

Bogged ploughing tractor - Benmore in Shin Forest

Donny Junor's Super Low Ground Pressure Caterpillar D4D with double furrow trail plough in deep trouble! This machine usually worked in soft and very soft peat conditions where it was sometimes difficult to walk but occasionally the very difficult conditions caught the driver out and he would be unable to extract himself when the surface of the peat gave way. Many times in a season whilst ploughing, the tractor would break the surface of the peat and the usual routine was to unhitch the plough, sometimes attach the winch cable to the plough and then creep very slowly either forward or back and often as not the skill of the driver and that their team mate enabled them to extricate themselves from the potential severe boggings. Once every few years things did not quite go to plan and an incident such as above occurred.
This machine has long extensions added to either side of the apical track plates giving a total plate length of over 4 feet if I remember. The drive shafts and under carriage of this D4 were specially modified to take the extended plates.
Picture Added on 07 May 2008.

If you found this interesting, have a look at the following groups of pictures.
Bogged near Lairg
Forestry in Action
Tractors and Ploughs