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All Aboard the Watercress Express: Water cress farmer John Jesty doesn
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All Aboard the Watercress Express: Water cress farmer John Jesty doesn
All Aboard the Watercress Express: Water cress 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 thates too narrow for tractors. A lot of watercress farmers use wheelbarrows. 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 form a 1932 Austin 7 and can haul up to six tons. John Jesty sits in the cab of his watercress express. May 1978 P004493
WATFORD
Mirrorpix
Media ID 21274409
© Mirrorpix
Agriculture Crops Farming Field Rural Scenes
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All Aboard the Watercress Express: In this photo print, we are transported back to May 1978 in Bere Regis, Dorset. Meet John Jesty, a visionary watercress farmer who has revolutionized the way he harvests his crop. Instead of relying on traditional methods like horses or tractors, John has ingeniously laid down two miles of 18-inch-gauge railway track through his expansive 14-acre watercress fields. As we gaze at the image, we see John proudly sitting in the cab of his self-designed train, aptly named the Watercress Express. Crafted entirely in his farm workshop, this remarkable locomotive is powered by an engine from a vintage 1932 Austin 7 and possesses enough strength to haul up to six tons of watercress. John's innovative approach not only streamlines the transportation process but also maximizes valuable growing land. The narrow rows between beds that prevent tractors from maneuvering are effortlessly conquered by his bespoke creation. While some farmers resort to wheelbarrows or sacrifice precious space with wider rows, John's solution proves both efficient and resourceful. With every journey along this charming railway track, bundles of fresh watercress make their way from field to packing house seamlessly. This photograph captures not just a moment frozen in time but also showcases one man's determination and ingenuity within the agricultural industry. Join us as we celebrate John Jesty's pioneering spirit and marvel at how he transformed farming practices with
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