About Us

Introduction

It may be of interest to explain what has lead us to construct a full size steam tractor replica and to offer a new steam traction engine for sale. As explained below, we have had a strong interest in steam engines for a long period. We have made a number of models including traction engines and have enjoyed displaying and operating them at rallies for full size engines. It is probably our involvement with these rallies that motivated a number of us to pursue a full size traction engine of our own. Now we have completed and commissioned our replica Wallis and Steevens traction Engine we hope to enable others to do so as well.

Our Family and Steam

model Allchin

Our enthusiasm for steam almost certainly began with my father; Henry Atkinson has a strong interest in model engineering and steam engines that has flowed through to the next three generations. Dad had a 3 ½” garden railway in the 1950’s and when I was a teenager, I built a 1 ½” scale Allchin Traction Engine that is still to be painted. We believe we were amongst the first in Australia to construct larger scale model steam road vehicles, commencing in the 1970’s. Our sons, Joe and George like all of our children first attended rallies in utero and when old enough, built a Bolton No 5 (5/8” x 5/8”) vertical engine. One day this engine will fit in the model Edwardian steam launch that George has yet to finish. In the mean time though George has made a Bolton No 17 (2” x3”vertical), restored a 16’ timber clinker hull and now has a very successful steam boat. Joe together with another fellow enthusiast completed the lion’s share of the restoration of a Queensland T class steam locomotive.

Jumping ahead a little, after the initial steaming of the Wallis tractor, Joe and George were sufficiently enthused to buy a Ransomes Simms & Jeffries portable which they are now restoring.

Model Clayton Undertype Wagon - Atkinson's Transport

Joe and Emma’s little boy Edwin clearly has the right genes and before he was two, he enjoyed ‘firing’ the portable with scrap wood and anything else he can fit through the fire hole door! A half scale replica of a Stanley Steamer is getting closer to completion and this has stimulated the desire for the authentic experience of driving a full size engine.
As an aside, our family does originate from that part of England which produced the Atkinson steam waggon and the Atkinson cycle internal combustion engine, although we do not claim any direct connection!

The next traction engine?

Finding a steam traction engine for sale or indeed any steam road vehicle to restore is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive. In our case, we did not have the space or heavy equipment necessary to dismantle and then rebuild a traction engine. An even larger model steam traction engine was tempting but then we discovered the 3 ton tractors. We realised such a small full size traction engine could be towed behind a suitable 4WD and with the chimney removed can be stored in a garage! It seemed extremely unlikely we would ever find an original example of such a small traction engine, especially in Australia, so we decided to build a replica. We believed an authentic replica would provide an experience faithful to the prototype and with appropriate maintenance, the confidence of long life.