The Oklahoma Steam and Gas Engine Show in Pawnee, Okla., is always held the first full weekend in May, and steamer Jeff Detwiler, Oklahoma City, was on hand with his 65 HP Case steam engine.
Jeff was only 7 when his grandfather took him to Pawnee for his first visit in 1974, but even at that young age the steam bug bit.
It took 26 years for Jeff to realize the dream of owning his own engine, but in 2000 that dream finally came true when he acquired a 19 HP Keck-Gonnerman.
This 65 HP Case is a special steam engine, previously owned by the legendary Harold Ottaway, who ran Joyland Park in Wichita, Kan. Jeff acquired the Case following Harold’s death three years ago, and the Pawnee show was the steam engine’s first outing in 45 years. This engine once reportedly pulled 112 HP on the brake!
Look for a full story on this remarkable steam engine in the next issue of Steam Traction.
