{"product_id":"suffolk-dredging-tractor-stock-code-2240","title":"Suffolk dredging tractor","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the 1930s, steam power on the road was under increasing pressure from the  diesel-engined commercial vehicles that would finally kill it. Many  manufacturers during this period either converted over to internal combustion or  went bust. Perhaps the most tenacious survivor was Sentinel, who continued to  the last, producing ever more sophisticated engines for their steam lorries  which, in their final guise, were competing head-to-head with the diesel trucks,  sporting fully-enclosed four cylinder engines, shaft drive, fast steaming  boilers and electric lighting.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAlongside their well-known steam lorries and industrial railway locomotives,  Sentinel produced a one-off prototype tractor, designed for general purpose use  but with its roots in the direct-traction light ploughing tractors of earlier  decades. The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Company had already built a prototype  light tractor - the \"Yorkshire Power Farmer\" - using their well-proven  transverse boiler with a compound vertical engine, all mounted in a cut-down  lorry chassis. A neat looking machine, it influenced Sentinel who chose a  similar engine in preference to their own four cylinder unit, coupling it to a  secondhand Yorkshire Steam Wagon boiler they acquired, mounting the pair in a  purpose-built heavy duty chassis.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eI have high regard for John Haining's designs - in addition to the popular  ploughing and traction engine series he wrote for Model Engineer (including the  Fowler K5 ploughing engine which I had in 3 inch scale) he was a great  enthusiast for long-extinct prototypes. His design for the 2 inch scale Durham  \u0026amp; North Yorkshire traction engine popularised a super little engine from a  company which only built six engines in the nineteenth century, none of which  survived in full size - there must be hundreds of the small versions about  nowadays!\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSentinel's dredging tractor was a natural choince for Haining - he built his  own version of it in the 1970s, with a development program which produced a  powerful, free-steaming engine. The design was serialised in Model Engineer in  1978 with various modifications resulting from experiences with his own engine.  In his own words \"My three inch scale Suffolk steam tractor Hercules makes  three or four public appearances each year, and each time seems to arouse one of  two emotions - you either love it or hate it - there are no  half-measures!\".\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIt's true that the engine has rather distinctive lines, but the more I've  played with this one the more impressed I've become with it. The sight of a  large, twin cylinder simple expansion engine coupled to a boiler that does not  look over-large normally sets alarm bells ringing - I've driven too many engines  which require a stop for a blow-up twice per lap of the garden! However, rather  like an iceberg, most of the boiler is below the running boards and features a  cavernous firebox with three cross-tubes - the result is a unit that makes steam  like it's going out of fashion (and, unusually, can be steamed from cold without  forced draught).\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSteel cross-tube boiler fed by injector and mechanical pump driven from the  engine layshaft. Working pressure 90psi, twin safety valves, pressure gauge and  water gauge with blowdown. Twin cylinder simple expansion engine with  Stephenson's valve gear, all gear drive to winch and rear axle.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe winch is engaged by a lever on the near side - sliding it in engages the  main winch drum via a dog clutch, sliding it out disengages the winch and  applies a large disc brake. A second lever engages road gear, each back wheel is  equipped with a removeable drive pin. At the rear of the engine is a large,  wind-down spade-type ground anchor which is a most useful addition when using  the winch. the power takeoff shaft on the offside at the rear was used, on the  original engine, to operate an arm-mounted set of dredging buckets. In the model  it would make a good place to drive a variety of other machinery from.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003ePerhaps the most surpising thing about this engine is just how comfortable it  is to drive. There is a rather nicely made seat which clips over the water tank  and a pair of footboards which locate just behind the engine. The regulator and  steering wheel fall easily to hand and the Ackerman steering is quick and  responsive - just as well as the engine has a good turn of speed, guaranteed to  get you from the engine line down to the beer tent about twice as fast as a  three inch Burrell! It's easy to drive and fire, with a big firehole door. When  stationary, the engine can be put out of gear and ticks over very quietly down  to very low speeds.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe engine has been well-made and fitted with grease nipples to all major  wearing parts, from the steering kingpins to ground anchor sliders. It has a new  boiler certificate, expiring June 2005.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eLength 40 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight 300 pounds\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019200287061,"sku":"2240","price":2950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/2240-1.webp?v=1779902822","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/suffolk-dredging-tractor-stock-code-2240","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}