New Zealand - Palmerston North - Traction engine and chaff cutter on A S Aldrich's farm 'Matsubara', Bunnythorpe - Circa 1904 - 1906 - A S Aldrich 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: Traction engine and chaff cutter on A S Aldrich's farm 'Matsubara', Bunnythorpe – A S Aldrich circa 1904 to circa 1906, No Known Restrictions https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/cdc49167-004e-44e3-91fb-974a3dee17ab