Traction engine. Engraving of a steam-powered traction engine (at right) driving a threshing machine (at centre). Agricultural workers are putting whole, harvested corn into the top of the thresher which then beats and rubs it to separate the grain from the straw and seed husks. The grain is put into a sack (at lower centre) whilst the straw and husks are removed by a conveyor belt to be stacked (at far left). Traction engines were widely used in farming and engineering until the advent of the internal combustion engine to provide power for a variety of implements. Engraving drawn in 1861.