Traction Engines

Traction engines are a familiar and stirring sight at steam rallies up and down the country, but what were they for, why do they look as they look, and where were they built? These book answers all these questions and more. The first self-propelled agricultural steam locomotives were built around the middle of the 19th century, and with their great pulling power and ability to provide power for other equipment, they revolutionised both road haulage and agriculture, until the introduction of the internal combustion engine after the First World War saw their popularity rapidly decline. The period of the traction engine's ascendency was relatively short, but they have left an indelible mark, with enthusiasts up and down the country having saved hundreds of machines from the scrapmen to entertain us every weekend at steam fairs and other vintage events.