The upward angle of the pulling line puts the newer tractor at a bit of a disadvantage, but it would have probably lost even with a horizontal line.
I also wondered if the huge wheels on the drive shaft of the steam engine contributed to its advantage. I am not an engineer but maybe one could comment on that?
The steamer weighs probably double, if not triple what the hJohn Deere weighs, Then, with the steamer pulling UP on the drawbar at a 10-15 degree angle (depending on how deep the JD had gotten in), the Deere’s back wheels simply had NO weight on them. (As the JD was pulled up and out of the ditch, the JD back wheels were not even touching the ground!)
So, to run the JD. Get on. Turn key. Start work.
To run the steamer. Go to barn, begin warming the burner and set all boiler valves and feedwater. (Melt feedwater and boiler and feed pump and all valves and sightglasses if in winter.)
Start fire.
Grease and lubricate EVERYTHING!
Regulate fire, monitor steam pressure, temperature, boiler level, and boiler heat up rate.
Blow down all steam pipes as boiler and pipes keep heating up.
Maintain fire and temperature.
2 hours later.....
When at proper steam temperature, pressure, and feedrate, begin moving steamer tractor out of barn.
At each 1 hour of work, return to barn to load up and water and fuel.
Return to field to use more water and fuel.
Regrease and lubricate everything each hour stop period.