What improved?
A cable pulled the plough across the soil. Heavy engines could stay at the edges instead of sinking into cultivated ground.
THE ENGINE ROOM / 05
Small parts. Big discoveries.
A little steam. A clever machine. Let’s see what makes it move.
ON THE WORKBENCHPaired engines · Cable plough1889 inspiration · Steam on the farm
Explore the steam history timeline
3D MODEL
Two engines. One field. Work as a team.A schematic pair inspired by Fowler’s 1889 ploughing engines.
Drag to turn · Scroll or pinch to zoom · Right-drag or two-finger drag to panTap a part to discover it
Ready when you are
FROM THE HISTORICAL RECORD · 1889 inspiration · Steam on the farm
THE ENGINE’S STORYA field worked by cable
Two engines wait at opposite sides of a field. A long cable pulls a plough between them. One engine winds in while the other lets cable out. The heavy engines stay at the edges instead of sinking into soft soil. The crews must work together to change direction.
Original, replica or teaching model?
Read the source Our pair is inspired by the 1889 Fowler engines described by the Powerhouse Collection. The gallery shows a later preserved Z7, clearly labelled as a related example.
A team effort
Drivers had to coordinate the two engines and the plough. One drum wound in cable while its partner let cable out.
Life on the farm
Steam could cultivate large areas, but machines, water, fuel and skilled crews were costly. This pair is inspired by engines built in Leeds in 1889.
In the archive
Select a photograph to look closer. Captions distinguish originals, replicas and related examples.
A restored Fowler Z7 ploughing engine; a later example of the same cable-ploughing idea.
kitmasterbloke · CC BY 2.0Archive record ↗
YOUR NEXT DISCOVERY
Look closer. Have a go. Find out.Think like an engineer.
THE ENGINEER’S CHALLENGE
ENGINEERPlough three strips
- 1. Learn the job
- 2. Put it in order
- 3. Take the controls
Two heavy engines stand at opposite edges of a field. They must take turns pulling a lighter plough across the soil.
Your goal
Plough three strips, changing direction and adapting to hard soil.
First, discover how the engine works by choosing the steps in order. Then adjust three controls for each round. You can try again, ask for help, or restart at any time.