Best steam traction engine - Photo

[Ray Dunakin]

I just came across a great photo online, of a Best steam traction engine pulling several wagons full of construction materials. It was taken in 1908, in Twin Falls, ID:

https://ejournals.unm.edu/index.php/historicalgeography/article/viewFile/3044/html_11/5580


This looks very similar to the Best engine I saw displayed in Goldfield, NV.

[Allan G]

Great picture....! Allan

[Chuck Doan]

Excellent picture!

[michael mott]

There is something to be said for the quality of some of the old Black and white photographs, what a wealth of details all in focus.

Mike

[LesTindall]

Now there's one for you Barney.
Les

[finescalerr]

It sort of reminds me of the 20 mule team borax wagons from Death Valley except, of course, the steam engine replaces the mules.

Yesterday on the freeway I saw a beautifully restored steam tractor, in red, black, and green livery, on a flatbed trailer headed north toward Santa Barbara. It appeared to be of pretty typical design but was not a Tozer such as Gordon Birrell built (2013 Modelers' Annual). Somebody here probably knows all about those things and might suggest a possible manufacturer.

Russ

[Stoker]

Neato.  I am curious about the windsock looking item hanging from the smokestack. It looks like it could fit on the top of the smokestack as a spark arrestor, or maybe a boiler water filter perhaps?

[Ray Dunakin]

It sort of reminds me of the 20 mule team borax wagons from Death Valley except, of course, the steam engine replaces the mules.

They actually tried using a Best engine in place of mules for the borax wagons, but it didn't work out due to the bad water available, and the extremely rough, rocky roads. The engine, named Old Dinah, is on display at Furnace Creek in Death Valley.