Steam Traction Engine

This traction engine is outside the Pumphouse at MOTAT (Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology). Last weekend I finally went for a look around their exhibits. Growing up I went to a number of traction engine rallies back in England, so it brought back good memories seeing this huge machine. This one was originally built by J and H McLaren Engineers in England but spent its working life on farms down in Christchurch. The steam power that drives the wheels to move it along the road, can be diverted to provide power for ploughing, running machinery or crushing stone.