Traction engine

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A traction engine is a wheeled steam engine used to move heavy loads or to provide power at chosen location. Unlike a steam locomotive, it is not designed to run on tracks.

The earliest mobile steam engine is thought to have been invented by Nicolas Cugnot who demonstrated an engine for hauling artillery at the Paris arsenal on October 23, 1769. Unfortunately the idea was discredited when a similar engine ran into a brick wall during a demonstration in Paris.

Traction engines tend to be large, extremely heavy, slow, and poorly manoeuvrable. They typically have two large powered wheels at the back and two smaller wheels for steering at the front. They became popular in industrialised countries from around 1840, when the farm machinery company Ransomes of Ipswich developed a traction engine for agricultural use.

Traction engines saw use in a variety of roles between 1840 and 1940. They can be divied according theiir use.

Agricultural General Purpose Engines

The most common form in the countryside. They wer used for hauling and as a stationary power source. Even when farmers did not own such a machine they would rely upon it form time to time. Many farms would use draft horses throughout the year, but during the harvest Threshing contractors would travel from farm to farm hauling the threshing machine which would be set up in the field and powered from the engine — a good example of the moveable stationary engine.

Steam tractors

a smaller load hauler, popular in timber trades in the UK.

'Road locomotives

used for haulage of heavy loads on public highways. A particular form was the Showmans vehicle. These were operated by travelling showmen to both tow fairground equipment and power it when set up either directly or by running a generator. These could be highly decorated and formed part of the spectacle of the fair.

moveable stationary engine
road rollers (steam rollers)

A specialist form of the locomotive with a heavy roller replacing the front wheels.

Road haulage traction engines were generally replaced by steam lorries which had pneumatic tyres. All other traction engines have been superseded by diesel engine powered equivalents.

Traction engines continue to be maintained and preserved by enthusiastic individuals and are frequently exhibited at agricultural shows in Europe (particularly the UK), Canada, and the United States. They are often a main attraction in a live steam festival.

There also has been a traction engine featured in the Rev.W.Awdry's The Railway Series. His name is Trevor the Traction Engine, and was saved from scrap by The Vicar of Wellsworth with the help of Edward the Blue Engine.