Black Jack: The Life Story of Boughton’s Fowler Traction Engine

Trafford Boughton had a photographic memory and recorded the life and times of Black Jack, a Fowler traction engine, owned from new by the Boughton family. He not only described the trials and tribulations of traction engine ownership but also life at the start of the twentieth century when the family engineering business was getting underway.

Follow Black Jack through his early years, as he found his wheels, and how he worked through two world wars making a vital contribution to the war effort. This book charts his exploits, and what a loyal and hard-working servant he turned out to be. In the late 1940s, Black Jack was retired, but his future was uncertain. He might not have survived the post-war period had it not been for the growth in popularity of steam rallies but thrive he did and went on to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Show in London.

Time catches up with us all, however, and by the end of the twentieth century, Black Jack was worn out and with the family business no longer there to provide engineering succour, his future looked bleak. Trafford’s son, Rob, takes up the story describing Black Jack’s restoration to his former glory and plans for the future through a fascinating selection of images.

• Publication date: 15 August 2026
• Page count: 96
• Dimensions: Height 165 mm; Width 233 mm; Thickness 9 mm
• Publisher: Amberley Publishing
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781398130265