Steam schools have been with us since the
heyday of steam traction engines. The safe and competent operation
of steam traction engines was priority when steam engines ruled the
agricultural landscape 100 years ago, and it’s still priority
today.
Our listing is compiled from information sent by readers and
through calls made to schools that have operated in previous years.
As such, there may be schools we have omitted, and we encourage
readers to alert us to any schools we haven’t listed.
The photo above was taken by Mark Corson at the 2005 Pawnee
Steam School, which was held in Boonville, Ind., March 18-20.
Pictured are the instructors who volunteered their time to lead
this year’s classes. From left: Ray Vaughn, Joe “Mr Case” Graziana,
Harold Stark, Brian Vaughn, Bruce Babcock and Larry Creed.
The photo on the bottom of the next page comes from the May 1916
issue of The American Thresherman, and advertises the
Thresher’s School of Modern Methods, which at that time was led by
none other than the legendary P.S. Rose, then associate editor of
The American Thresherman.
If you know of a school that is not listed here, please
contact us at: Steam Traction, 1503 S.W. 42nd St., Topeka,
KS 66609 e-mail: rbackus@ogdenpubs.com
Oklahoma Steam Threshing & Gas Engine
Assn.
Pawnee Steam School 2006
Republic, Mo.
March 24-26, 2006
Tuition is $25, two noon meals included. Registration and
prepayment required, enrollment limited. Emphasis on steam basics
and safety, repair and maintenance, trouble shooting boiler
construction, soft plugs, injectors, plumbing and boiler water
treatment. Will cover many other topics.
For more information, contact:
Charlie Stark
3848 S. Farm Road 93
Republic, MO 65738
(417) 732-7136
www.OklahomaThreshers.org
Heritage Park of North Iowa
6th Annual Steam School
Forest City, Iowa
May 20-21, 2006
Tuition is $15, which covers the cost of lunches and handouts.
This is a beginner’s class. Class emphasis is on types of boilers,
basic boiler operation, safety devices, proper boiler start up and
shut down procedures, use of injectors and pumps, forced draft
induction, firing a boiler under load, holding constant steam
pressure and how to handle emergency situations. Steam engine
topics will include basic operation of the steam engine, starting
and stopping the engine, how the valve gear works, how a steam
engine governor works and how to lubricate the engine and
drivetrain. Students will steam-up one or more steam engines. At
the conclusion of the class, a test modeled on the Minnesota Hobby
Engineer’s Test is administered to interested students.
For more information, contact:
Jerred Ruble, Director of Shows
Heritage Park of North Iowa Project
754 342nd St.
Hanlontown, IA 50444
(641) 797-2697
e-mail: ruble@wctatel.net
www.HeritageParkofNorthIowa.com
University of Rollag
Steam Traction Engineering Course
Steamer Hill, Rollag, Minn.
June 17-18, 2006
Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuition is
$50, textbooks included in tuition fee. Tuition deadline is Feb.
15, 2006, which includes books and some meals. Any student who is a
current active Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion member
will be awarded a scholarship by the Western Minnesota Steam
Threshers Reunion Board of Directors. There are no course
requirements or age limits, with the exception of individuals
wishing to acquire a Minnesota Steam Traction License, who must be
18 or older.
Emphasis on classroom instruction and hands-on training. Over 12
steam traction engines, two to three miniatures, three to four
stationary and a fullsize railroad locomotive will be available for
student operation and training. The course fulfills 16 of 25 hours
required for a Minnesota Traction Engineers exam, also known as the
“hobby” license. The national license ASOPE exam will be given on
Sunday at 2 p.m. Cost of the exam is $55. All attendees age 18 or
older are eligible to take this exam.
For more information, contact:
Tom Hall, Registrar
Box 999
Moorhead, MN 56561
(218) 233-1771
Carriage Hill Farm Metropark
Steam School
Dayton, Ohio
To be announced
The cost is $175, and covers all materials and lunches. Class
size is limited to 40 participants.
Accredited by the Ohio Historical Steam Board to provide the
training required to qualify for a Historical Boiler Operator
license. The Friday night sessions will start at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
Saturday and Sunday will start at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class will
cover all aspects of Ohio’s new historical boiler laws as well as
the proper and safe way to operate our boilers. There will be “hot”
engines both weekends with plenty of hands-on time. On the last
Sunday you will be given the Carriage Hill steam test, and if
successful, you will be given a certificate that the Ohio testing
facility will accept as proof of training. The State of Ohio Boiler
Inspectors will also be present to administer the state test to
those who are interested.
For further information and application form, contact:
Nick Krimm Carriage Hill Farm Metropark Steam
Group
7600 Shull Road
Huber Heights, OH 45424
e-mail: nkrimm@metroparks.org
Old Threshers Reunion
Steam School at Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
To be announced
Tuition is $30, which includes materials and two noon meals.
Emphasis on classroom and hands-on experience. First day consists
of class work with slides, videos and discussions. Second day
consists of hands-on operation.
For more information, contact:
Old Threshers Reunion
405 E. Threshers Road
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-8937
Rough & Tumble Engineers Historical
Assn.
Rough & Tumble Steam School
Kinzers, Pa.
To be announced.
Tuition is $50, which includes all materials. Enrollment limited
to Rough & Tumble members only, limited to first 22 applicants.
Limited openings, call for 2005. Emphasis on safety, maintenance,
operation and hands-on experience. Class time limited to half of
first day, with remaining time dedicated to practical, hands-on,
including cleaning, inspection, maintenance and operation.
For more information, contact:
John Geib, Instructor
3 Linden Drive
Hamburg, PA 19526
(610) 562-9532
e-mail: r_tsteamschool@comcast.net
Wisconsin Historical Steam Engine Assn.
Inc.
Steam School
Edgerton, Wis.
To be announced.
Rock River Thresheree Show Grounds. The cost is $40, includes
textbook, Case steam engine manual, the Steam Traction Engineers
checklist and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Subjects covered will
be steam theory, boiler construction, operation and maintenance,
steam engine components, piping, valves and accessories, prepping
an engine for steam up, responding to emergencies and water
treatment. We will have engines steamed up for hands-on training.
ASOPE test will be offered, but not mandatory for a fee of $55.
For more information, contact:
Wisconsin Historical Steam Engine
Assn. Steam School
Jeff Bloemers
W. 4597 County Road F
Waldo, WI 53093
(920) 564-6292
e-mail: jeffvic@bytehead.com
