For close on 75 years, the steam traction
engine provided the motive power for numerous
activities, from driving farm machinery, road
rolling and road haulage to agricultural
ploughing and fairground rides.
In the same way that the steam traction engine
replaced the horse, the motor lorry and farm
tractor replaced the traction engine. Many
redundant traction engines were virtually
abandoned in yards and hedgerows awaiting
their final fate which, in many cases was the
scrap dealer’s cutting torch.
A few enterprising enthusiasts in the early
1950s recognized the need to preserve at least
a small number of engines, which were
considered to be workable and not require any
major expenditure. Most were purchased for a
little over scrap value. As time passed enthusiasm
for the preservation of traction engines
grew and more engines were rescued from
where they lay, to the point where today over
two thousand traction engines, are known to
be preserved.
In more than 140 superlative images of traction
engines in settings which recall their original
glory, Paul Stratford captures the essence of
these magnificent machines.This large format
pictorial album is intended as a tribute the
traction engine manufacturers and to those
who have laboured long and hard to preserve
and restore some of these remarkable engines.
Paul Stratford was born and has lived his
whole life in Warwickshire. From an early
age he has always had an interest in steam
railways, which began with the Stratford
and Midland Junction Railway, which ran
close to his home village. Latterly he
has travelled extensively both in the
UK and Worldwide photographing
working steam railways before turning his
attentions to not only photographing,
but also restoring and driving traction
engines. Having an affinity with the
owners has enabled the author to
position engines in many and varied
photogenic locations. After becoming a
volunteer in the steam locomotive
department at the Gloucestershire
Warwickshire Steam Railway he has
subsequently qualified as a fireman and
now has ambitions to become a driver.
Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 0 85704 054 1, hardback, 238x258mm, 144 pages. Published July 2010.
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