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All Aboard the Watercress Express: Watercress farmer John Jesty doesn
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All Aboard the Watercress Express: Watercress farmer John Jesty doesn
All Aboard the Watercress Express: Watercress farmer John Jesty doesn t use horses or a tractor for his harvest at Bere Regis in Dorset. Hes laid down two miles of 18-inch-gauge railway track through his 14 acres of watercress fields. " Its the ideal way to get the watercress from the beds to the packing house." says John, 58. " The rows between the beds are only 30 inches wide and thats too narrow for tractors. A lot of watercress farmers use wheelbarrow. Others have wider rows between the beds, but lose a lot of valuable growing land that way." John designed the engine and rolling stock himself and even made it in the farm workshop. The train is powered by an engine from a 1932 Austin 7 and can haul up to six tons. May 1978 P004497
WATFORD
Mirrorpix
Media ID 21275375
© Mirrorpix
Agriculture Crops Farming Field Inventions Rural Scenes Train
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the innovative farming methods of watercress farmer John Jesty in Bere Regis, Dorset. In a time when horses and tractors were commonly used for harvests, John has taken a unique approach by laying down two miles of 18-inch-gauge railway track through his 14 acres of watercress fields. According to John, this unconventional method is the perfect way to transport the delicate watercress from the beds to the packing house. The narrow rows between the beds make it impossible for tractors to navigate, and using wheelbarrows would be too labor-intensive. Other farmers who opt for wider rows end up sacrificing valuable growing land. Impressively, John not only designed but also built his own engine and rolling stock in his farm workshop. The train itself is powered by an engine sourced from a 1932 Austin 7 and has a hauling capacity of up to six tons. This photograph showcases both ingenuity and determination in agriculture during the 1970s. It highlights how individuals like John Jesty are willing to think outside the box to optimize their farming practices while preserving precious resources.
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