Ouch, what rotten luck. I guess they'll tie the engine down better on future moves.

What I found interesting about this is the fact the engine was being shipped while it was under steam.

I presume they banked the fire prior to the trip, but I wonder about hauling an engine under steam on public roads. Since there were no injuries mentioned, it seems unlikely that its driver was on board to watch the fire and water level.

Steve Hunter

Seems to me that's the way it's always done. The engine is under steam to drive onto the trailer; the engine is then shut down in whatever fashion it is normally shut down, and the truck drives away. If the pressure vestal is legal in the jurisdiction, it's legal anyplace within the jurisdiction.

I've seen a youtube video of a small steam switcher rolled onto a low boy trailer under steam and hauled away while the fire is still burning. So for a traction engine, it's no shock they did the same.
Regardless, it makes me queasy to see that. Especially right after it got restored, too. Nobody deserves that. Reminds me of a pal who'd restored a WW2 3/4 ton weapons carrier truck over several years. The very first time he drove it on the road, he got creamed by a drunk driver in a pickup, totalled it, and he didn't even get a mile on the odometer! He got paid by the other guy's insurance company, but over 5 years of work couldn't be recovered with just a check.
Man, that, also makes me sick every time I think about that.

there's no real monetary value on these critters, 5 years of blood sweat and tears say's enough, now its give it another year or 2 in repair.

I beg to differ (about the lack of monetary value): here is a vendor of steam traction engines in all sorts of conditions:

http://www.prestonservices.co.uk/traction.html

(1 GBP = 1.68 USD approx.)

The owners of this particular machine hope to have it repaired and working again by September! Insurance money, perhaps.

Chris Cook

Two words.

Kee Bird.

Nah, this traction engine can be rebuilt. That B29 is toast. .. literally.