World's Strongest

Watching a History Channel program about, among other things, the most powerful tractors in the world. Now, these are tractor pull machines, designed for competition. They gave a brief account of the different type of engines - modified stock engines, dedicated racing engines, Allison V-12s, even turbines - but they left one out. A type of engine which has been banned because it kept embarrassing all these modern, high-tech vehicles.

The steam traction engine.

Yeah, a steam-powered tractor might only have 12 horsepower. But steam engines are torque fiends, and steam traction engines are so heavy the sled is an afterthought. More than one person has observed that they move about as fast with the sled as they do without.

Now, while they are banned from competition the steam traction engines do sometimes make an appearance giving an exhibition pull. Only even those are rare. Because the machines are rare.

Or maybe the drivers of more modern tractors just don't like being shown up by antiques. :-)