Steam Tractors

farmerjohn · Sep 2, 2012

Saw these old steam tractors at Idlewild Park, Ligonier, Pa where they are used as decorations in the old west theme section of the park.

FBH44 · Sep 3, 2012

Thank you. They were beauties, all right, but all due respext and all, they"re almost just scrap metal. Come to Ozark Steam Engine Association Steam Engine Days September 13-14-15-16 just outside Republic MO., you"ll see a dozen or more steaming, running around, as quiet as can be until the whistle lets loose. Now THOSE are some beauties!! Don"t know which brand of tractors will be featured this year, could be JD, could be IH, could be AC, we"ll see.
Can"t wait.

Ultradog MN · Sep 3, 2012

I think the first one is not a tractor though.
More like a portable engine.

Texasmark1 · Sep 3, 2012

American Pickers was on a couple of nights ago and they were in NC doing some picking. One of the places they visited had several steam tractors in his woods. Really slick as one they used in a saw mill......soooo you get some wood chips from your saw mill, put them in the fire box, make yourself some steam and cut some wood making money and making more fuel. Now why can't we be that smart?

Mark

SweetFeet · Sep 3, 2012

farmerjohn,
Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Walt Davies · Sep 3, 2012

It's a crying shame when people just let something like this just set and rust away. A little paint and maintenance could go a long to to preserve them for a long time to let our grandchildren see what it was like 100 years ago.
Walt

Bob M · Sep 3, 2012

Interesting photos!

First one's a portable engine. To be moved it requires a team of draft horses, oxen, etc. (the engine cannot power itself)

The other is a Buffalo-Springfield self-propelled road roller. Photo is of a similar restored B-S roller underway at the 2011 Alexander NY Steam Show. Fascinating old machine!

GeneMO · Sep 3, 2012

Can't make it, I'll be at the Reno Air races.

Gene

NEsota · Sep 3, 2012

From the limited reading I have done on the subject; The "steam engine" was just that. It may or may not have had wheels under it. The "traction engine" had wheels and could move under its' own power, and shortly evolved into something that could pull a load. "Traction engine" was shortened to "tractor". All this happened before proibition.

Tim in OR · Sep 3, 2012

this was one of the many at brooks this year.
Tim in OR

Steam Tractors

farmerjohn

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FBH44

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Ultradog MN

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Texasmark1

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SweetFeet

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Walt Davies

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Bob M

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GeneMO

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NEsota

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Tim in OR

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