The Steam in their Veins

By Bill Vossler
Published on March 6, 2018
article image
by Nikki Rajala
The 1/2-scale 22 hp Gaar-Scott steam engine.

Family is a big part of the motivation for Lawrence Swanz’ love of steam. “Like many of us, I got into steam because of somebody else,” he says. “In my case, it was my grandfather, Leo P. Huston. Gramps, as I fondly called him, got me interested when I was very young. I used to hang out with him and attend shows with him. That’s how I got started.”

It’s only natural, then, that Lawrence would pass down his interest in steam engines to his son, Nick. “He didn’t have much of a chance,” Lawrence says with a chuckle. “We had our first father-son talk about steam when he was three days old, out by the half-scale Gaar-Scott engine. I wanted to dab a little steam cylinder oil on his forehead, but his mother said no, even when I told her it was water-soluble and would wash off. However, at a show a couple of weeks later, I did it. My wife forgave me … eventually.”

Like taking care of a baby

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