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 contact 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 on the top of the page comes from The American
Thresherman, and advertised 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
Somerset Steam and Gas Engine Assn.
10th Annual Somerset Steam School
Somerset, Va.
April 14-15, 2007
Fairfield View Dairy Farm. The cost is $75, registration is
required. Includes all materials and two lunches.
For more information, contact:
Bill Roberts
14375 Blue Ridge Turnpike
P.O. Box 492
Somerset, VA 22972
(540) 672-2495
e-mail: bridget@gct21.net
www.somersetsteamandgas.org
Midwest Old Threshers
Old Threshers Reunion Steam School
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
April 28-29, 2007
Registration required. 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:
Terry McWilliams
Public Relations and Marketing
405 E. Threshers Road
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-8937
e-mail: info@oldthreshers.org
www.oldthreshers.com
Oklahoma Steam Threshing & Gas Engine
Assn.
Pawnee Steam School 2007
Portland, Ind.
March 24-25, 2007
Tuition is $40, 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:
Al Confer
(765) 369-2656
John Girard Jr.
(260) 623-2001; (260) 466-5101
www.OklahomaThreshers.org
Heritage Park of North Iowa
7th Annual Steam School
Forest City, Iowa
May 19-20, 2007
Tuition is $20, which covers the cost of lunches and handouts
for both days. 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 drive train. Under supervision of instructors, students will
steam-up and be provided the opportunity to get some hands-on
experience operating several steam traction 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
The Central States Threshermen
Steam School
Pontiac, Ill.
May 19-20, 2007
Threshermen’s Park, two miles north of Interstate 55 on Route 2.
Classes begin at 8 a.m.
For more information, contact:
David Schott
620 S. Vermillion St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 842-3129
e-mail: dj2shot@verizon.net
www.threshermensreunion.org
Rough & Tumble Engineers Historical
Assn.
Rough & Tumble Steam School
Kinzers, Pa.
May 19 and June 2, 2007
Tuition is $60, which includes all materials. Enrollment limited
to Rough & Tumble members only, limited to first 22 applicants,
available at the Time of Harvest. 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 Johnson
P.O. Box 1068
Exton, PA 19341
(717) 442-4249
e-mail: steamschool@comcast.net
University of Rollag
Steam Traction Engineering Course
Steamer Hill, Rollag, Minn.
June 16-17, 2007
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, 2007, which includes books and some meals. The Western
Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion Board of Directors will award any
student who is a current, active Western Minnesota Steam Threshers
Reunion member a scholarship. 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 full-size 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
Wisconsin Historical Steam Engine Assn.
Inc.
Steam School
Edgerton, Wis.
Sept. 28-30, 2007
Rock River Thresheree Show Grounds. Registration is required
with a limit of 50 students. The cost is $50, includes textbook,
Case steam engine manual, the Steam Traction Engineers checklist
and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Class starts on Friday evening.
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: jbsteam@bytehead.com
