INTRODUCTION:

Here we look at the invention and later the innovation of the Portable steam engine as we know it today. I believe that my facts and figures to be correct and where unsure I have referred to a number of reference books for guidance. Over time I will add other elements to this page in the form of links that will offer more detailed descriptions etc. 

INVENTION:

Without doubt, The Portable Steam Engine is the basic form of the Steam Traction Engine. Without the developments made in and around the design and efficiencies of these remarkable machines, it is unlikely that the Traction Engine and all its offshoots would have ever materialised in the shapes and forms that they did, thus giving both industry and agriculture a big boost and in more recent times the preservation scene such enjoyment.

The basic idea of a Portable was detailed by a name synonymous with the development of steam, Richard Trevithick. His ideas were put to the test using high pressure steam and put to the test using winding engines in the Cornish Mines. Although not defined as Portables as they were it is noted that these engines were simply designed, simple to use and could be moved from installation to installation if deemed necessary. Trevithick of course used this technology and in 1811 produced the first of a series of engines that were specifically  built for agriculture use.

It was not until a Scottish gent by the name of Andrew Meilke started to develop the threshing machine, alongside John Balls in East Anglia that steam was really thought of being of any serious use in agriculture. The threshers at the time were driven by Ox, horse, water or indeed by hand. Slowly steam engines started to be introduced on the bigger estates but it soon became apparent that it would be a lot more feasible to have the steam engine moved to the job of work rather than the crop shifted to the engine house.

At about 1830,around the time the Swing Riots started occuring Nathan Gough is reported to have made a portable engine that was based around a vertical boiler and engine that was carried on wheels. However with this being around some very disruptive times in agriculture, the idea was not progressed until around 10 years later.

A number of names all of whom were to become notable in the development of steam power all seemed unveil their own take on the Portable at the same time. Messer’s Alexander Dean of Birmingham, William Tuxford of Boston, J.R. & A. Ransome of Ipswich and the lesser referred to Mr Howden also of Boston displayed their wares which they believed would take the portable engine forward and although all differing from each other they all carried the basic principle of the engine being entirely self contained including boiler, wheel mounted and intended primarily for agricultural use.

Development continued at rapid pace from this point on with Clayton & Shuttleworth is believed to be the first to adopt a ‘locomotive style’ layout to their engines. This was of course with a horizontal boiler, horizontal cylinders over the firebox, a flywheel and the now widely used crankshaft. Although Clayton & Shuttleworths name is often referred to as the originator of this, it is noted that in some lay claim to an engine built in 1850 by Richard Bach as being the first to carry such a configuration.  

Other noted names to enter the fore were the likes of Garrett of Lieston and Hornsby of Grantham who would both be instrumental in taking the basic form of the Portable and developing it further.