And plenty of traction engines

Only flicked through it online will wait for my printed one to have a good read.

J

I'd like to echo the thoughts above.

Regarding traction engines it should not be forgotten that Model Engineer was very important in reporting on the early traction engine rallies of the 1950s and 1960s. It provided information at a time when there were few other publications suitable or willing to do the same. I am sure that without Model Engineer the expansion of interest in road steam would have been that much slower.

Kind regards

John B

I think there are a few ploughing engines about with surplus US Sherman tank engines, get drawing John.

Or what about scaling up the Aveling DX roller with its IC engine as the 2" is a bit small.

Ha ha… no, you can't buy Ketan for less than a fiver!!

Further to John Billard's comments above, I very much agree – until the appearance of Old Glory there was nothing to do with Road Steam on any newsagent's shelf. It was, as you say, down to Model Engineer to publish (frankly) anything of interest. Even now, apart from the two 'mainstream' road steam publications, you very rarely see Traction Engines in any medium. Compared to railways it has always played second fiddle and yet it has a tremendous following and, as I have always said, it is largely where the youth of this hobby is to be found; I think that JS's comments pretty much sum up the reasons why … in a word, 'independence'.

Diane

> the traction engine guys have their own forum which has a lot of traffic.

Mostly in a long queue down a country lane waiting for a chance to get past?

>ducks<

I do agree that traction engine have a lot to offer youngsters who probably don't want to be part of a club.

I think tanks and cars (and boats and planes) probably appeal to this group. Planes and boats have well established and now separate self-build followings. Few people have cottoned on to building cars other than from kits (an exception Alex DuPre). Tanks does seem to be a growth area and I await MEs first tank build series with interest – I want to know an easy yet cost effective route to making tracks.

Neil

Primarily aimed at full size engines, but there is an active model section, where I am running an insouciant build diary for my Burrell SCC engines. I'm also about to start a parallel thread looking at the theory of compounding, steam flows, valve gear and valve gear design. I can think of at least three members on TT who also do, or have, posted here, and there are probably more.

I'm building traction engines partly because of the freedom from needing a track and partly because I had some passing association with them as a small kid. I've got no real interest in 'playing' trains and to be honest I don't suppose I'll run the traction engines that much when, and if, I finish them. I'm more interested in the machining and in trying new techniques. After the engines I quite fancy a go at making a clock.

Regards,

Andrew

> I had some passing association with them as a small kid.

I remember seeing the film 'The Iron Maiden' ("MIghty In Strength and Endurance&quot then later seeing her for real at something like an St Athan's airshow (this would be mid-late 70s). I later got a small (00/HO type) kit of her, and was given a large coffee table book called 'Steam On The Road' which had several pictures of the engine. Apparently a Fowler ploughing engine converted to a showman's. She seemed awesomely huge to me as a boy.

I guess the book is still at my Dads, I should reclaim it!

You can probably guess it made quite an impression on me – I always wonder why this famous engine doesn't turn up in the 'round the rallies' report each year.

Neil

Insouciance: a relaxed and happy way of behaving without feeling worried or guilty

Sounds like life in this part of the world. Now where did I put that corkscrew?

Russell.

I can remember from my early childhood, the "steam roller" owned by the Dunedin City Council, in place of the cyinder, and valve gear on top of the boiler, there was an IC engine of some sort in place, I must have been about 4yrs old.

V8Eng, not that many years ago it would have been termed as gay(not todays meaning). Ian S C

> Iron Maiden was originally a Road Loco not ploughing engine

Well I did read the details nearly 40 years ago…

Neil

Well if that wasn't a flippin' trap I don't know what was!! (I did think it was an odd name for a book!)

I shall have to have words with him. But thanks for pointing that our Jason. Put it down to Editor's Error. Sorry.

Diane