Gary Yaeger, 146 Reimer Lane, Whitefish, Montana 59937 sent
these pictures taken during their steam-up at Carl Mehmke’s on
September 23, 1996. At left, Carl Mehmke stands in front of his
father’s 32 HP Case, displaying his National Gas and Steam Hall
of Fame plaque.
The picture shows the Montana licensed engineers present at the
steam-up to play, plow, visit, celebrate and just have fun with the
engines. On the plow, left to right, are Mike Yaeger, of Helena;
Carl Mehmke; Dean Ailing (of Burbank, California, but licensed in
Montana); and Gary Yaeger. Standing in the middle row are Jim
Spevacek, Geraldine; Dick Tombrink, Worden; Clyde Corley,
Geraldine; and Austin Monk, Kalispell. Kneeling in front are Dave
Vanek, Lewistown; Jim Waldbillig, Phillipsburg; Don Bradley,
Forsyth; and Ove Larson, Dutton. Gary listed the engineers by town,
noting that it is nearly the same distance diagonally across
Montana from northwest to southeast as it is from Chicago to
Washington, D.C.
engines. On the plow, left to right, are Mike Yaeger, of Helena;
Carl Mehmke; Dean Ailing (of Burbank, California, but licensed in
Montana); and Gary Yaeger. Standing in the middle row are Jim
Spevacek, Geraldine; Dick Tombrink, Worden; Clyde Corley,
Geraldine; and Austin Monk, Kalispell. Kneeling in front are Dave
Vanek, Lewistown; Jim Waldbillig, Phillipsburg; Don Bradley,
Forsyth; and Ove Larson, Dutton. Gary listed the engineers by town,
noting that it is nearly the same distance diagonally across
Montana from northwest to southeast as it is from Chicago to
Washington, D.C.
Gary notes, ‘Anyone traveling through the Great Falls area,
who hasn’t seen the Mehmke Museum, is in for a real treat. The
public is always welcome, and the Mehmkes are magnificent
hosts.’ For more word from Gary Yaeger, read this issue’s
‘Soot in the Flues’ column.
