What a fantastic picture and website does anyone have more info of machines like this especially in South Africa?
The picture seems to show this
http://www.farmcollector.com/steam-traction/steam-tractors-power-behind-first-motorized-armored-vehicles.aspxThe Fowler armoured road train, see article - "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." Searching then for this particular machine gets some really interesting pictures see
https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Fowler+armoured+road+trainDid also find these
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hornsby_%26_SonsSee heavy military oil tractor.
http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/engines/mclaren/history/ McLaren engines used for military purposes.
http://www.supercars.net/cars/3603.html Cugnot Steam Tractor - one of the first and made as early as 1769 for "Like many industrial innovations, it was the product of a military agenda that was motivated by the French Minister of War, Etienne-Francois."
Hope this helps.