Darby_Steam-Digger
The Darby Steam-Digger, a light traction engine, was invented circa 1879 by farmer Thomas Darby and built at Lodge Farm Pleshey, near Chelmsford in Essex, England. Robert Hasler, seen driving the Digger, helped to build this first prototype. In 1900 the company moved to a 6 acre site known as Stileman's Works in Wickford, Essex. In mid-1906 the works and its contents were auctioned under the order of the executors of the late T. Dowsett (who was the first mayor of Southend, and an extremely wealthy man).[1] This sale included 6 traction engines and 21 Darby Land Diggers.