Thomson Road Steamer
(Page 2 of 3)
Fall 2007
By Jack Alexander
A total of 12 Williamson engines were manufactured by Locomotive Works: two went to California, one to Minnesota and one to Pennsylvania. Williamson stated, “Two of the engines were sold to parties in Great Britain and are being worked as road engines. Being of American build they have naturally been very closely criticized, and it has been freely conceded that no such perfect engines have been made in that country.”
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In other parts of the U.S. they were introduced with every prospect of success. Difficulties which arose (in large part having to do with steering) were mostly overcome with practice and it was believed that their permanent success was assured. The rubber tires worked to a charm, and so long as the ground was dry enough for horses to plow the steamer would hold its own. Turning at the ends of a field was reduced much below that accomplished by teams (of horses) in actual competition.
Williamson’s American sales to Minnesota and Pennsylvania were to wealthy land owners interested in plowing their large acreages. The Williamson engine in Minnesota was purchased by Col. Thomson to break the virgin prairie. In Pennsylvania, the purchaser was the owner of America’s premier seed and nursery company, Landreth & Son. In 1871, Williamson also successfully demonstrated the ability of his engine to pull loaded barges on the Erie Canal.
West Coast Demonstrations
In California, the first Williamson engine, along with eight heavy plows, was purchased by the Tide Lands Reclamation Co., of Oakland, Calif. When delivered to G.D. Roberts, president of the company, it was transported from San Francisco over the Central Pacific Railroad Bridge. On Jan. 14, 1871, Pacific Rural Press reported, “Last Saturday, the steamer was taken out by Mr. Roberts, for a little trip over the worst roads and across fields, and was attached to the plows in one case, where the soil was very soft, to see if it would be able to get through. It performed all of its evolutions to the perfect satisfaction of those present, plowed a little, ran through ruts and mud-holes, ran off at a lively rate with a 5-ton road roller, and otherwise acted in a brisk and happy manner.
“The regular trial, however, is yet to be made, and as the Press has been invited to attend when this comes off, our readers will have a full account. We have only to add, that D.D. Williamson, 32 Broadway, N.Y., is the exclusive manufacturer (of this engine) for the United States,” the Press reported.