Photo of traction engine/road train at depot?

[Tommy20]

OK, here's a weird request.  Just last week, I saw a post including a photo of a British Army road train leaving a military depot in Britain for South Africa.  IIRC, there were at least two, possibly three "trains", consisting of a traction engine and two box-car-like wagons each.  As I recall, the poster had an ancestor who served with the unit operating the train.

I've searched the boards thoroughly, but can't find that thread now.  I could swear it was here, but I suppose it might be from another site.  Does it ring a bell with anybody?

Help!!!

[3 fingers]

Can't help but this any good for inspiration?

http://15mmvsf.bagofmice.com/vsf/insper.html

[Tommy20]

That's not the one I'm looking for, but LOVE the German road train about a third of the way down!  Just bookmarked that one. 

Thanks!

[Golgotha]

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.aspx
The 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+train

Did also find these https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hornsby_%26_Sons
See 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.

[Poiter50]

Mimi and Toutou were hauled by steam tractor IIRC?

[Tommy20]

Found it!



A convoy of Fowler traction engines of the 45th Company, Royal Engineers outside
the Balloon Factory at Aldershot, preparing to travel to Southampton enroute to South Africa.

http://www.reubique.com/613.htm