What is traction motor?

Don't know about traction motor.
Was asked to wire Handheld 8 Button controller to 4 Motors, 2 They called "Tractor Motors?", Which allowed 2 motors to move In and out from the water, along I Beams(For Unloading Boats in the Water and Lifting Boats out of the water. Other 2 were Up and Down. Works Fine.
Could have made it wireless.

Traction motor is a part of a electric locomotive ,it is a electric motor providing the primary rotatory torque usually for conversion into linear motion