This engine is owned by George Kester and sons, Bob and George.
This is the last engine built by the Russell Company in 1924 or
1925, but it was not the last engine sold.
It was on a special order for Mr. Charles Tohl of Bolivar, Ohio.
The engine and flywheel were reversed on the boiler and used
backwards so the off barer on the sawmill could also fire the
The engine has a good history. All previous owners are known. We
are the ninth owners.
The engine is pictured on the bottom of page 46 of Jack
Norbeck’s book on American steam traction engines.
We have lots of fun tinkering and steaming it up and we always
have lots of company.
It is rated 20-60 HP with butt strap boiler. We are allowed 130
pounds of steam.
This picture was taken November 1979, just before we covered it
up for the winter.
Submitted by George Kester, Crete, Illinois 60417.
(Photograph by Patricia Kester.)
