As our Iron Test team arrives at the CJ Newland Logging container near Whanganui, it is a bit puzzling to see the new Alpine Yarder RS450MI about 100 metres away up through the cutover hauling wood. First impressions on this log site are that there is a lot going on. As well as the Alpine hauling stems there is a Tigercat skidder growling away industriously, a John Deere and Waratah 626 Bigwood is processing logs, while an owner/operator Tigercat grapple loader is loading a truck. 

Clambering up through the frosty, slash-strewn ground to get a better look at the Alpine reveals a big green monster of a machine on heavy duty tracks that would be quite happy climbing directly over stumps, logs and untracked ground in general - kind of like the 4WD version of a yarder and possibly the ultimate component in a two-staging operation because of that extreme duty track gear. 

The CJ Newland Alpine has not quite done 1000 hours yet and is going smoothly as well as surpassing expectations. To find out more, get your copy of the December 2022/January 2023 edition of NZ Logger magazine, on sale from 5 December. Check the link on this page to subscribe to either a printed or digital copy(or both).