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Traction engine
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====History==== The first steam ploughing engine built and trialled was in 1837 when [[John Heathcoat]] MP demonstrated a steam powered vehicle he designed for ploughing very soft ground.<ref>"Heathcote's Steam Plough", ''Chelmsford Chronicle'', 29 December 1837, p. 4</ref><ref name=Haining49>{{cite book |last1=Haining |first1=John|last2=Tyler |first2=John |date=1985 |title=Ploughing by Steam: A History of Steam Cultivation Over the Years |publisher=Ashgrove press |pages=49β58 |isbn=0906798493}}</ref> This used a very early form of [[continuous track]]s, and its twin-cylinder steam engine could be either used for the ploughing winch or for propulsion. Another ploughing engine, devised by [[Peter Drummond-Burrell, 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby]], possibly designed by [[Daniel Gooch]] and constructed at [[Swindon Works]], the [[Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland]], awarded Β£100 out of a possible Β£500 of its prize for creating a steam ploughing engine,<ref name=Burton38>{{cite book |last=Burton |first=Anthony |date=2000 |title=Traction Engines Two Centuries of Steam Power| publisher=Silverdale Books |page=38 |isbn=1856055337}}</ref> {{citation needed span|date=November 2022|was exhibited at the [[Great Exhibition of 1851]] in London}}. Lord Willoughby had indicated that his design could be copied freely, and Fowler had visited [[Grimsthorpe Castle]], the estate where the ploughing engines were deployed.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pearson |first1=R. E. |last2=Ruddock |first2=J. G. |title=Lord Willoughby's Railway |publisher=Willoughby Memorial Trust |date= 1986-09-30 |isbn=978-0951165607|at=Chapter 2}}</ref> Between 1855 and 1857 a farmer by the name of William Smith and [[John Fowler (agricultural engineer)|John Fowler]] developed wire driven ploughing engines that were powered by portable engines.<ref name=Haining72>{{cite book |last1=Haining |first1=John|last2=Tyler |first2=John |date=1985 |title=Ploughing by Steam: A History of Steam Cultivation Over the Years |publisher=Ashgrove Press |pages=72β76 |isbn=0906798493}}</ref> By 1863 [[W. Savory and Sons]] had introduced a mobile ploughing engine and were using engines at both ends of the field.<ref name=Haining92 /> Their wire drum was vertical and was mounted around the boiler of the engine.<ref name=Haining92>{{cite book |last1=Haining |first1=John|last2=Tyler |first2=John |date=1985 |title=Ploughing by Steam: A History of Steam Cultivation Over the Years |publisher=Ashgrove press |pages=92β95 |isbn=0906798493}}</ref> Production took place outside the UK with [[Kemna Bau]] of Germany producing ploughing engines.<ref name=Burton46>{{cite book |last=Burton |first=Anthony |date=2000 |title=Traction Engines Two Centuries of Steam Power| publisher=Silverdale Books |page=46 |isbn=1856055337}}</ref> Peak use in Britain was during World War 1 with a bit over 600 pairs as the country attempted to increase food production.<ref name=Johnson13>{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Brian |title=Classic Plant Machinery |publisher=Boxtree Limited |publication-place=London |date=1998 |isbn=0-7522-2437-9 |page=13}}</ref> Use of ploughing engines declined in the 1920s as internal combustion engine powered tractors took over.<ref name=Ranieri92 /> [[John Fowler & Co.]] stopped producing of ploughing engines in 1935 .<ref name=Burton46 /> Low prices in the aftermath of World War 2 resulted meant a few farmers purchased them and continued to use them into the 1950s.<ref name=Ranieri92>{{cite book |last=Ranieri |first=Malcolm |date=2005 |title=Traction Engine Album |publisher=Crowood Press |page=92 |isbn=1861267940}}</ref> As late as 1998 few engines in preservation were taking the occasional commercial job dredging lakes.<ref name=Johnson13 /> {{clear}}
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