New Zealand - Traction engine - Traction engine hauling 16 tons of steel cable for the Roslyn tram service up the hill near the top of Rattray Street, Dunedin - 6 January 1932 - E. A. Phillips Photo A traction engine - A steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location - The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it - They are sometimes called road locomotives to distinguish them from railway locomotives – that is, steam engines that run on rails. - Traction engines tend to be large, robust and powerful, but also heavy, slow, and difficult to manoeuvre - Nevertheless, they revolutionized agriculture and road haulage at a time when the only alternative prime mover was the draught horse. (Reference: Wikipedia) --------------------- Image source: Edward Jones and his traction engine: Photograph circa 1890 Item from Collection: Percy, Carol : collection (12-114) https://digitalnz.org/records/33828560/edward-jones-and-his-traction-engine-photograph