I've seen clickbait thumbnail pics of a steam-cat-trax leading to videos that didn't have one in them, but this is the first I've seen an actual one built... and it runs, too.
there were loads of steam powered tracked machines, in the form of steam navy's (steam shovels or excavators), Sentinel and Fodens both experimented with half tracked versions of their steam tractors, Lombard in the USA built a half tracked logging engine, which was very similar to a small railway locomotive. The Hornsby's chain track system was developed by Hornsby's chief engineer and managing director, David Roberts: and was patented in July 1904, and 5 chain tracked tractors were built, 1 steam powered, 3 using Hornsby's oil engine, and 1 using a Schneider engine (this latter one remains intact at The Tank Museum, Bovington, England. Richard Hornsby of Grantham, England, received a order in 1909 to build one of their patented chain tracked tractor, but using a conventional steam engine in place of Hornsby's patented oil engine. Hornsby had ceased making steam engines by this time, so the boiler and steam engine was made of William Foster of Lincoln. This was supplied after testing to the Yukon, arriving in March 1910 with several wagons, and gained the nickname "Caterpillar" because of how it crossed uneven terrain. Hornsby tried to convince the UK government and Military of the suitability of the application of their patented track system or artillery purposes, but sadly funding and orders were not forthcoming, and following a economic downturn in Hornsby's fortunes, the pattern was sold to the Holt Manufacturing Company, Stockton, California, USA, who renamed the pattern under the "Caterpillar" trademark, and went on to merge with C. L. Best and became the Caterpillar Tractor Company, Richard Hornsby Ltd of Grantham went on to be brought out by Ruston & Proctor Ltd of Lincoln in 1918, and became Ruston Hornsby Ltd. . Lt-Col. R. E. B. Crompton used his experience of the testing of Hornsby's chain track system to develop that used on the first tank in WW1, built by William Foster & Co, Lincoln.
I have always understood one of the genuine 'originals' still exists either in N. Canada or Alaska preserved, - well that's where it was found anyway. I have seen a picture of it and it was painted in a very light green. I believe it was called a 'Pedrail', I it's build date was around 1909 and I have a feeling it had some sort of 'tracked' trailer with it, - although it was called a Ruston Hornsby and not just 'Hornsby'. In the article I saw it was connected with hauling stuff to and from the 'goldfields' and then just abandoned. I'm afraid I'm not into steam, so apart from it's rescue and preservation, - (which did interest me), - I did not read the rest of the article.
Christopher Lovelock built in the same factory i work in, home of the worlds first tank. (Before their military potential was realised) Ruston and hornsby is still stamped on some tools around what few old machines remain, but its Siemens now and we make gas turbines. No been rustons for a long time.
justforever96 unlike a battle tank it was designed to pull heavy stuff over land that traction engines would get stuck in, it needs to have plenty of ground contact still if the front starts to lift or it would be stuck too with all the weight on to small an area at the back.
What's the ride like? It can't be too comfortable, considering this vehicle is tracked, also, hopefully there's good safety provisions for the driver and (Is the other guy the fireman)?
Thanks for that, it's the most obvious way of steering a tracked vehical such as this it's just that being a replica of an original design I just feel that a differential seems a bit advanced for something that was designed back in the 1800's
+Toontrain Differential gearing has been known in China for centuries so it was nothing new in the 1800's. As to your original question, "VERY CAREFULLY".
Keeping the fire box full of water down hill could be a problem with the track not flat and could cause an explosion ? We have steam shows in our area that is hilly and they back down hill to keep the fire box in the back full and the dome full of steam.
Guys I just found a gоod website whiccсch gives you freе_steam_wallet_саrd_с0dеs twitter.com/dbe26bb7522b6f80d/status/719079525670395904 Hоrnsbу Mammoth Rесrеаtiоn Crawlеr Steam Тrаctor
this would be an amazing machine to cross the amazon with add a big ship winch a couple trailers. at nights camp cut trees and burn them into charcoal to fuel it
It's rare to be able to find steam equipment that 1. is in restorable condition and 2. that hasn't been scrapped already. It's how we lost most of our trains too. Scrapped in the 60's or just left to die where it stood.
Hi, Folks. HMMMMMMMMMMMM????????????????????? Those tracks are NOTHING like the tracks on the original Hornsby Mammoth. From what I can gather, the tracks on the original machine were a large part of its downfall due to rocks getting stuck between the links during operation. Other than that and the 'Thomas The Tank Engine' engine, not a bad effort at all. Just my 0.02. You all have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.
Ugh It's ALWAYS a couple of 70+ year old white dudes, isn't it?! (I picture them watching Fox "News," in the evening, hanging their arm out of the driver's window of their diesel truck to police the Walmart parking lot handicapped spot while their wives are inside shopping, and incessantly complaining about not being able to understand the new Mexican girl in the McDonald's drive-thru.)
