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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Road locomotives
Were larger versions of general purpose engines built with the sole purpose of hauling large loads. They sometimes worked in pairs, and occasionally 3 or more engines to pull exceptionally large items.
The main manufacturers of road locomotives were Fowler, McLaren & Burrell, although most of the other big makers produced smaller numbers of road engines at some point. They were produced from the end of the 1800's right up until the end of steam production in the 1930's. Many new road engines were purchased by the military for use in various conflicts of the day. When these engines were sold off as military surplus they were bought by haulage contractors and put to work across various UK cities, Manchester, Liverpool, London and Glasgow in particular.
Road Locomotives were broadly similar to conversional traction engines but with a number of design features to make them more suited to the transport of heavy goods. Primarily, they tended to be larger than there general purpose engine counterparts, 6-10 HP, and they were of a much more substantial build with thicker metal used to build the hornplates and beefed up motion to cope with the strain the engines were put under when transporting large loads by road. They were commonly fitted with 3 road gears (but not always), and were generally fitted with an awning or roof to provide operators with a degree of protection from the weather. There was normally springing on the front and rear axles to reduce vibration whilst travelling on early roads. During the later part of steam engine production rubber tyres were fitted to engines and earlier engines nearly always had rubber tyres fitted to them during later life. A much less common alternative to rubber tyres was wooden block rims. Road locomotives were nearly always fitted with a solid flywheel instead of the spoked version that was fitted to general purpose engines as well as motion covers to enclose the motion off. There are several theories as to why these features were standard issue on road locomotives, one is that spoked flywheels and visible motion had a tendency to scare horses and by altering these features horses were less likely to be spooked when the two alternative forms of transport met on the road. A second theory is that this prevent oil being thrown from the motion and covering passers-by! Nearly all Road Locomotive's were built with compound cylinders, this provided the engine with more power and was generally more efficient for the type of work the engines undertook.
Transport and Supply during the First World War
A vast number of Road locomotives were used during WW1 for the purpose of moving large guns and machinerey. McLaren built some Road locomotives for the War Department in 1912 that were intended to be shipped to Russia for use as gun tractors. They were never shipped (because of the October Revolution); one example ended up in Australia instead. Many Road locomotive engines were still in use during WWII because of gasoline rationing due to shortages caused by much of the gas being diverted to the war effort.
WW1 steam convoy
https://www.youtube.com/...O0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSRx5UtjMPg
Steam Tractors the Power Behind First Motorized Armored Vehicles
It should surprise nobody that a steam traction engine (steam tractor) was the basis for the first motorized armoured vehicle used in combat. The first steam tractors had been built in the 1850s, and, after the American Civil War, their use proliferated.
In the 1870s many of the world's armies experimented with steam tractors, using them to pull road trains of supply wagons. Their speed was never more than 10 miles per hour, but that was three times the speed of animal-drawn supply wagons.
The British were among the largest builders and users of steam traction engines. They found them useful in many places in the empire, particularly in the vast arid lands such as Africa and Australia. When the Boer War broke out in 1899 both the British and the Boers immediately began using available steam tractors. The British Army immediately bought some for military use and sent them to South Africa.
These steam tractors were used to haul road trains of supply wagons to places not served by railroads. Boer troops began attacking them and the British had to divert troops to defend them.
In 1899, in cooperation with the British Army, the steam traction engine builder John Fowler and Company of Leeds, England, designed and built a special armored steam traction engine road train for use in South Africa. It was pulled by a 20 HP steam tractor fitted with an armored shell to protect its crew and working parts. It weighed some 15 tons complete with armor. The steam tractor incorporated sprung wheels so it could run as fast as 10 miles per hour on an improved level road and about half that on a level unimproved road or across level fields. It had no rough-country, off-road capability. Its operation was limited by the need to supply it with boiler water and coal fuel.
The Fowler armored road train shipped to South Africa had three armored and sprung wagons used to carry either troops, cargo or even artillery up to light six-inch field howitzer. The armor proved resistant to fire from the Boer's Mauser rifles, and shrapnel balls and fragments from artillery projectiles.
This Fowler armored road train was successful enough that two more had been built by the time the Boer War ended in 1903. There was no report of any similar equipment having been used outside South Africa, and their ultimate disposition is unknown. The Fowler armored steam traction engine appears to have been the first self-propelled armored road vehicle ever deployed and used in combat. Its service in the Boer War is well documented, although it was never spectacular. Military authorities of the time were very interested in it and the fact that hostiles were very reluctant to attack it when it carried a contingent of riflemen.
As a result of its success in South Africa the British and other army's continued to use steam traction engines. Even though more efficient internal combustion engine tractors and trucks began superseding them by 1910, they were used in World War I. The production of steam traction engines declined rapidly after World War I, but many of these basically rugged machines were still in use as World War II began. They then quickly disappeared from military use.
In preservation
Road locomotives are highly prized engines in preservation circles. Less genuine road locomotives exist than their similar showmans engines counterparts which has meant that values for them has gradually increased.
A significant number of road locomotives from British manufacturers have been returned to these shores in the last 20 years, generally these engines have differences between their counterparts built for the British market and some have been restored to the specification of a British engine.
In the early 1980's a group of road locomotive owners got together to form Amalgamated Heavy Haulage which was intended to replicate the haulage feats these engines undertook in the past. This activity was generally centred around the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Which during the 25th-29th August 2016 will have a WW1 commemoration display http://www.gdsf.co.uk/in...y-commemoration-display
WW1 Road locomotive "captured booty" build
Coming soon - Daran (aka Nemesis) will be creating a 1/16 scale example of a WW1 Road locomotive based on the Bandai traction engine kit which will include a captured 15cm Howitzer "war booty" prize.
Examples of military road locomotives are shown in the photos below, the final photo being one of the earliest forms of armoured vehicle.
Tomick attached the following image(s):
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This is a build I am really looking forward too, the detailing will be great fun! Plus there is a chance of building a fair sized dio!
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 Rank: Super-Elite      Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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I just received my bandai traction engine kit.It really is an awesome kit and I am sure your build will be great.
Carl
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Rank: Super-Elite    Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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This looks interesting Nem, looking forward to it :-) Steve
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Now this should be a great build will be watching its progress. Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Wow.... have a feeling Nem is going to be in his element doing this one and am sure it will end up being a superb build... Look forward to seeing this come together very soon..... Good luck with it Nem....
Regards
Alan
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Excellent idea, looking forward to this one Jase “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Looks a very interesting project Tom and will certainly be one to watch, a nice idea!! Good luck with the build and conversion Daran, though I have no doubt that you'll do it the justice that it deserves!!
Kev
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Hello everyone and thanks for the support on the build. It will be interesting to convert Kev, lots of subtle little changes that are going to be fun to do.
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 16/08/2010 Posts: 2,771 Points: 8,344 Location: Brighton
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Hi Darren. Look forward to seeing this one come together. Ian Current builds.Hachettes build the bismark,HMS Victory, HMS Hood.
Finished Builds Corel HMS Victory cross section.
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The kit has arrived along with the figure, howitzer will be here shortly. Really looking forward to this, its the Bandai kit, as its going to be heavily modified and will look nothing like the box art! lol. Nemesis attached the following image(s):
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The box art and what it should end up representing!Nemesis attached the following image(s):
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Definitely looking forward to this one Nem Rgd Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Good luck with the build Daran, I just know it is going to be awesome!!
Kev
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Sweet looking build that covers an unusual subject Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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I made a start on this tonight. I have made up some of the cylindrical parts and the larger assemblies as they will need work to remove the seams. I also had to do some scratch building as one side of the cylinder block was nowhere to be found! Out came the plasticard! Once it is fully dry I can shape it up properly.Nemesis attached the following image(s):
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Rank: Pro  Groups: Registered
Joined: 22/12/2015 Posts: 246 Points: 776 Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
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Nem,
I am so glad to see this. You were very kind to me with my old Bandai Engine photo report. This is a really fun kit and your approach is inspiring. BTW there was a Yardley Traction kit in the IPMS USA contest last week. Cybermodeler.com has a good shot.
Nothing special but I was surprised to see it. A great kit never dies.
Tom
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 17/12/2013 Posts: 3,982 Points: 11,974 Location: NY, USA
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Really looking forward to seeing this come together
Carl
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Nice to see this up and going Great start, I guess you won't be using the decals as your doing the military version, but just a warning if you do, I found my decals had a silver effect on th clear parts due to age Jase “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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US
