Lion Inn - Late February 1978

This picture shows the first break through on Blakey Ridge by a 'Big Mack' snowplough.

Note this is not the well known severe start to 1979 but the previous winter which was also very snowy in the later stages.

The road had been closed by snow drifted several feet deep for a number of days.

These giant ploughs were mounted on WW2 surplus American built trucks which have six ground driven wheels and a monster petrol engine.

They are no longer used, for many years Highways Dept. now have a combination of snow blowers and compact 4x4 JCBs and can clear anything in a couple of days.