Week 340
SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT!
This week it's
time for something completely different; a visit to the Melbourne Steam Traction
Engine Club in Scoresby, just around the corner from where I live. Most of the
most photogenic
exhibits are kept in the storage hangars and not easy to photograph, but I have
tried to bring
you a fair idea of what is to be seen there.
1. What steam engines are all about: dials and valves and tubes and pistons and flywheels.
2. A traction engine - the rear wheels are as tall as my 6'2"!
3. This is a
so-called portable engine, i.e. one used for supplying drive to other
equipment like shearing
machines, threshing machines or bale-making machines. This one is in the
process of being restored.
4. A rusting old portable engine awaiting restoration. It looks as if the boiler (on the left of the photo) on this one exploded .
5. Metal and cobwebs.
6. Another portable engine. Note the two large flywheels used to drive the belts feeding power to equipment.
7. A little yellow tractor.
8. Steel and water.
9. This model diesel engine
pulls the little train taking children for rides around the
museum grounds..
10. This roller reminds me of my childhood - my father was involved in
road-building and rollers similar to this one were a
common sight for me (and no, it's not a steam roller!).