Steam Tractor

[johnwm]

I've heard of an unloved steam traction engine laying rusting in Oz. It was said to be a Burrell or a Foster (but nobody seems sure).

I'm trying to track it down as a restoration project for our small steam museum.

If you know about this, please get in touch. We will pay reasonable finders fees.

 

[gbent]

Given the location, would this be a "rural legend"?

 

[johnwm]

Well it could be I suppose! But I didn't read it in th 'Wizard'

These old engines are still out there somewhere, looking for loving homes, and our duty (at least my duty) is to find and preserve them from wherever they lie.

If you know of any steam powered reciprocating machinery, anywhere in the world, please let me know!

 

[gbent]

It has been a long time since I heard of a steam tractor changing hands. There are very few left in the land of Oz, as I have been told most were broken up for scrap iron during WWII.

 

[johnwm]

gbent,

Thank you for your feedback.

I shall just have to keep looking

Anyone else had sightings of steam reciprocating anywhere?

 

[MASSEY]

I saw three of them this summer at an antique farm and tractor show.

They drive 'em around a while then hook 'em up to a long belt and run a saw mill. If your interested I can you the name of the owner of one of them. They must have access to more than what was there. It must take parts from several steam engines to keep one in working order.

 

[johnwm]

Yes please Massey
johnwm@btinternet.com

 

[Hush]

The Reynolds museum in Alberta is supposed to have one of the largest collections in the world. They may be willing to make a deal or provide you some leads.

http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_al...reynolds_alberta_museum/information/index.asp

 

[johnwm]

Thanks Hush, I'll follow that up.

 

[bsutherland]

If you're looking for a steam tractor I would suggest you read some of the restoration/preservation publications and check out to see if there is any clubs in your area that get together and have shows and the like.
For some very interesting reading on steam tractors and such I recommend OLD GLORY, a UK publication, and Antique Power, a US publication.These always have ads for stuff for sale and auctions.
OLD GLORY quite often has articles on steam Down Under but apparently they're rather sticky about exporting any of it out of the country.
Hope this helps.

 

[johnwm]

bsutherland,
Thanks for the leads. I do subscribe to Old Glory. I also follow a few steam forums. I will follow up on Antique Power.

I hear that exporting from Australia is getting harder, but there don't seem to many engines left here in UK that are unrestored and for sale at reasonable prices.

I've recently heard about 2 engines in Peru, so I'll be looking there next I guess

Any more leads from anywhere will be warmly welcomed

 

[Steaman]

Try

http://www.steamtraction.com

This is a U.S. based magazine and they always have engine for sale in the classifed section.

 

[wilarytopia]

Have you considered South Africa?I know first hand that there were many steam units still there in the 70s, mainly stationary but there were quite a few tractions around as well(I even saw one working side by side with diesels).
Export should not be a problem because the Welsh Highland Railway

http://www.whr.co.uk/

have imported locos and track from there recently.They might be a good contact as their staff are probably as dedicated to steam as you are albeit in a different field.
Best of luck!