I'm sure you'll figure it out. Once you do, you'll never forget!

I'm sure when you do learn how to operate it, it's quite riveting! *shot for bad pun*

Well first you would need to learn how to be a good fireman so you would fire the boiler... Then you have to see how to shift from high to low.... Then grow really strong arms so you could steer the thing. No power steering on this rig....

I learned to drive traction engines (that's what this machine is) as a member of the Steam Apprentice Club, the junior sector of the National Traction Engine Trust. More to the point, there is no need for a separate fireman like on a railway engine. It's very much a one-man band but sometimes there would be a seperate steersman.

I got to drive more like herding an old Case much like the one in the photo in 1966 or 67 when we were at family friends. They were getting it ready for the parade. The Case was one of the first tractors in the area. Yes I do know they are called Traction Engines and they are rated in drawbar horsepower as in what will it pull in plowed ground.

Nice ol' Case traction engine! How cool!

They used to call them "Land Locomotives" .

If it is a steam tractor, not knowing how it works can kill you. They explode.

You are so lucky to be so close to such things!

From looking at that one, it will never actually operate again. The front of the boiler has been replaced by sheet metal for one thing. Oh well, it was a grand old girl in it's day, and really, they aren't that hard to operate. Harder to get fired up actually. I've run them a few times at threshing shows in the past.

oh that's a very cool steam train/tractor you're showing there