Vancouver Island, BC. Logging at its Best!

[trakloader]

More From the 70's

The good old days, before my time....

 

[trakloader]

More Good Stuff

Let the pictures speak for themselves........

 

[Contract Logger]

These are great! I see the Skagit BU80 builder's plate- do you have pics of that machine, or can you tell us about it? Also- I have seen the Alliford Bay trucks (rusting) all over BC. Where was Alliford Bay located, or did they run a bunch of different camps? Sorry- just curious is all, I have seen a few of thier trucks on Vancouver Island.

 

[trakloader]

More Good Stuff

I'm running out, time to get that scanner going again.

 

[trakloader]

More QCI Logging

More stuff.

 

[Contract Logger]

Great pics as always. That Hitachi shovel is makin' some dust!

 

[trakloader]

More QCI Logging

From 1968.

 

[trakloader]

More Good Stuff

Some more.

 

[trakloader]

These are great! I see the Skagit BU80 builder's plate- do you have pics of that machine, or can you tell us about it? Also- I have seen the Alliford Bay trucks (rusting) all over BC. Where was Alliford Bay located, or did they run a bunch of different camps? Sorry- just curious is all, I have seen a few of thier trucks on Vancouver Island.

That plate was off an original Madill steel spar. As you know, the early Madill spars had various Skagit, Tyee, etc. winches on them. Alliford Bay is on Moresby Island, the company started there. They operated at various locations in BC, but are now defunct.

 

[Contract Logger]

The map cover pic rocks. Imagine the weight, and how top-heavy! Sometimes you wonder if they loaded up, snapped a pic, then tore some of it down pre-travel. That pic is obviously real, but wow..........

 

[trakloader]

The map cover pic rocks. Imagine the weight, and how top-heavy! Sometimes you wonder if they loaded up, snapped a pic, then tore some of it down pre-travel. That pic is obviously real, but wow..........

I seem to recall the loader operator got Hell for that. It took all day teetering that truck to camp. There are quite a few pictures of that load.

 

[Contract Logger]

I'll bet he did. I'd love to see more. Anybody get a weight or scale on that load.

 

[trakloader]

Some Newer Pictures

Taken earlier this year. E&A Logging Cypress 7280 grapple yarders. The blue one is ex-Gildersleeve Logging.

 

[Contract Logger]

Was the Gildersleeve machine ever in Alaska? I see Keaton Gildersleeve once in awhile, not often, but they had a couple up here. The crew called it the 'Blue Goose', but I never did get to see it...........

 

[trakloader]

More Recent Pics

7280's, etc.

 

[KenAl]

That plate was off an original Madill steel spar. As you know, the early Madill spars had various Skagit, Tyee, etc. winches on them. Alliford Bay is on Moresby Island, the company started there. They operated at various locations in BC, but are now defunct.

Alliford Bay now Oyster River Logging (ORL) using the old
Crown Z/Timberwest shop in Courtenay. Also have IPL Island Pacific Logging and there might also be another name they use also.

 

[trakloader]

Was the Gildersleeve machine ever in Alaska? I see Keaton Gildersleeve once in awhile, not often, but they had a couple up here. The crew called it the 'Blue Goose', but I never did get to see it...........

Yes, the owner of E&A went up with the operator to buy both the 7280, and a 7230C. The 7280 was the replacement for that abortion called a Madill 143. After the last time it tipped over, they decided to buy another 7280. GY-3 was the original E&A 7280, they bought it to replace the Tyee grapple yarder. (only one built, even bigger abortion than the 143)

 

[Contract Logger]

Have you got any pics of the Tyee grapple yarder?? That would sure be cool to see! You are pretty hard on the poor 143, lol. Some of the biggest, coolest machines built werent exactly sucessful in real-world application. Lots of makes and models come to mind.

Thanks you guys for all the info, very interesting stuff indeed.

 

[trakloader]

Have you got any pics of the Tyee grapple yarder?? That would sure be cool to see! You are pretty hard on the poor 143, lol. Some of the biggest, coolest machines built werent exactly sucessful in real-world application. Lots of makes and models come to mind.

Thanks you guys for all the info, very interesting stuff indeed.

I think the only picture of the Tyee GY is the one in the old E&A ad that used to be in Trucklogger Magazine. Last time I saw it was about 1998. The machine caught fire and burned down, no insurance. That 143 was a crime against loggers, it was so tippy I'm surprised they even let it leave the factory. To make it worse, all the hydraulic lines were just big hoses, placed helter skelter all over the machine. Constantly blowing. After it fell flat on its face for the last time, insurance rebuilt it, and it was immediately put up for adoption. I wonder who got it? Only 12 were built before they went to the 144.

 

[Contract Logger]

Big Gantry-Style Log Handlers

Here's another big truck unloading contraption. Built mostly by Cypress, there were a few of these up and down the coast. Thorne Bay had an identicle one, but the only thing left off it is the grapple, which is pictured below. Note my friend there standing under it.