I’ll have a Foster’s, please!

Posted by HAC on May 19th,2008

Just when you thought your wallet was safe, along comes a company that is building steam tractors again. Its been more than 70 years since these were being manufactured, but once again, there is a builder in the UK producing new steam tractors, to the original specifications, but with modern materials. These new tractors fully comply with the current UK and EU steam regulations. The engine pictured is a new build 1904 Foster “Wellington” 7hp tractor, by the firm of Dawson’s of Bicker, in Lincolnshire. Dawson’s purchased the rights to the name “WM. Foster of Lincoln” and their tractors will be numbered from the last used original Foster engine number. Build time for this particular engine was just over two years, and the cost? Well, lets just say its one of those “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it” things.

This Foster was commissioned to be as close to the original builder’s plans of the 1904 Foster as possible. To that end, Foster style safety valves and lubricators were re-created, using the parts on an original Foster as patterns. The tractor has the following specifications:

  • Single cylinder, simple engine, Bore 6″ Stroke 9″
  • Length 12ft, 9″, Width 4ft 10″
  • Height to chimmey top, 9ft 3″
  • Height to flywheel top, 6ft 4″
  • Rear wheels, 4ft 6″ diameter, 9″ wide
  • Front Wheels, 3ft 5″ diameter, 5″ wide
  • Flywheel, 29″ diameter
  • Operating boiler pressure 140 PSI
  • Fuel, coal
  • Transmission , 3 shaft, two speed selectable
  • One feedwater pump, one injector

For those of you who wonder what its like in the drivers seat:

What self-respecting Steampunk wouldn’t want one of these in the driveway?

  • cool you also included the anatomy of it...
  • I read your posts for quite a long time and must tell you that your posts are always valuable to readers.
  • MICHAEL J. SCHMITZ
    whats the pulling weight for a new steam engine. what's the price and the tranmission. would it be feasible for a 1988 R.V.? ENGINE,TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL? MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IS BLOWN AND IN NEW YORK.
  • Rowan
    Oh, I love the view from the drivers seat! I can just imagine all the rods rushing up and down, steam hissing everywhere...Lotsa clunking and hissing is definitely a key requirement in my next vehicle!
  • Annually, I go down to a local old-time tractor show that is mostly petrol, but thankfully, usually has a few of the old steamers (unfortunately wood-burning, not coal) clunking around. The sound from those along with the "hit and miss" petrol engines is so much different from modern vehicles. You can actually feel the earth "shake" as one of those cast iron giants lumbers by.
  • Skreenname
    That's awesome.
    But I just wouldn't ever use it. D:
  • Don
    http://www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk/public_visitors/steam/steam_home.html

    Check this out if you like steam! The Hook Norton Brewery still has thier original Steam Wagon for delivering that wonderful ale! though i doubt it is in everyday use =-(
  • Verne Wells
    Given the way gasoline prices are going, they might want to consider building a consumer-friendly model for farmers. :)
  • Professor George of Chaos
    If you do not intend to use it, Steven, may I have your share of excitement over this beautiful set of machines?
  • Mechanical Mouse
    Its just too clean
  • HAC
    The caterpillar track was in fact invented by a British company named Hornsby based in Grantham in 1905. In 1909 they demonstrated a tracked tractor to the British Army; impressed, the army awarded Hornsby a prize for their idea: however their idea was not taken up.
    Consequently Hornsby sold on the patent for the caterpillar track to a U.S. company, Holt Tractors..
    Fowler also did a track system that they called Snaketrac:

    Fowler Snaketrac

    Cheers
    Harold
  • Stephen Skubinna
    Well, actually I wouldn't get excited about a wheeled tractor. Somebody build a replica Holt steam tracked tractor and I'll start reorganizing my finances to get one. Holt was the predecessor of Caterpillar, and I believe was one of the inspirations for the prototype British tanks.
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