Ploughing by steam

Pearn Steam Museum, Westbury, Tasmania
@JudyEv (323811)
Rockingham, Australia
July 4, 2018 6:43am CST
I grew up on a farm and have remained very interested in farming methods, particularly those of my forefathers. In Tasmania, we chanced upon a steam museum. Most of the exhibits were to do with farming and there were also a number of old tractors and other bits and pieces. One massive engine had me very intrigued as under the main engine was a sort of horizontal flywheel with steel rope wound round it. I couldn’t work out the purpose of this but luckily a nearby sign told me all about it. The engine was used for steam ploughing. In the low-lying wetter areas such as you might find in England, tractors were unable to be used for ploughing as they bogged too easily. These steam engines were usually made and sold in pairs. Each engine remained stationary at either end of the field. The plough would be pulled back and forth between them. The engines would move a few metres along the side as needed. The plough was guided by a driver on the implement. One engine always pulled from the left and one for the right which explains why they were made in pairs. The steel ropes were 16mm (3/8 of an inch) and approximately 550 metres in length. Wouldn’t one of them take your head off if it snapped? I found this fascinating but perhaps you not so much (sigh), But I can wish. (smile) I don’t have a photo of the machine but I liked this tractor which only had one front wheel. I’m not sure how it managed to stay upright.
6 people like this
6 responses
@rebelann (110809)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Jul 18
That's interesting, why don't they make cars that run on steam?
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110809)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Jul 18
Oh yeah that @JudyEv .... I guess even coal would be too heavy, geee, it would mean we'd all have to slow down some
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
It is too inconvenient to be towing a trailerload of wood to burn to make the steam! (that's meant to be a joke )
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jul 18
@rebelann Which mightn't be a bad thing either.
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31706)
• Baguio, Philippines
4 Jul 18
That's nice! I like this one front wheel tractor. So cute.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
To me, it looks like it is going to tip over.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jul 18
@Jessabuma I suppose so but I wouldn't trust it.
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@Jessabuma (31706)
• Baguio, Philippines
5 Jul 18
@JudyEv yes hehe!!! It has a good balance coz it has 2 wheels at the back.
1 person likes this
@just4him (303381)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Jul 18
Sounds like you truly enjoyed going through that museum. Good picture of the tractor.
1 person likes this
@just4him (303381)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Jul 18
@JudyEv No, it looks fine. I'm sure it's on the center of gravity so it stays upright without a problem.
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@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jul 18
@just4him I'm sure it does but it still looks wonky!
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@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
Does it look very unstable to you? It does to me.
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@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Jul 18
You were full of steam writing this post! Having three wheels is still balanced.
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@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
Well, it certainly doesn't look it!
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@Kandae11 (53623)
4 Jul 18
Farming methods have come a long way from back in the day. And less manpower is needed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
They even have harvesters that can now steer themselves using GPS co-ordinates.
@Icydoll (36725)
• India
4 Jul 18
Good to see this one front wheel tractor.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323811)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 18
It looks like something is missing, don't you think?