samedi 17 septembre 2016

Williams Grove Pennylvania Annual Steam Show

During the Labor Day Weekend, younger son, Don III, and family, including the two grandsons (now 16 and 21 and both long-time paper modelers, although now intermittently) visited the annual Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association show, which coincides with a huge tractor gathering and flea market. Although we have lived in Carlisle for 27 years, and I love steam engines, this is the first time that we were able to visit the event. We enjoyed watching the tractor pull contests and wandering among the thousands of tractors on display (including vintage Ford tractors like the one Don III operated as part of one of his many college summer jobs back in the 80s - see last image, with Grandson Christopher in the background).

There were more steam tractors than I had ever seen before. The engines were remarkably quiet, but the metal boilers mounted on steel-rimmed wheels made a lot of noise as they clanked and rumbled around the circuit. Now and then one of the monsters would trundle up to a working saw mill to have the long leather belt attached to the auxiliary drive wheel so that the steam tractor could drive the big circular saw.

There were also many stationary steam engines of various kinds, as well as an ex-Pennsylvania Railroad 0-6-0 switch engine (No. 643) that pulls a couple of open passenger cars back and forth on a mile-long track.

I did not have my camera with me, but Don III took a few snaps with his iPad and I show them below. I am not knowledgeable about steam tractors, so I cannot provide identifications.

For some reason, I cannot connect with the website of the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association, but if you Google that name, you may be able to get in.

Meanwhile, here are some videos that show the tractors, engines, and Old 643:

Williams Grove Fall Steam Show 2015:</SPAN>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWsgLpgEDzM

Steam in the Grove - Pennsylvania Railroad 643 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OV-WP4WFpw</SPAN>

Williams Grove Fall Steam Show 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5HtXLu4cY

Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Show 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lYSHnB1hu8

Williams Grove is about 20 minutes from our house. We are lucky to have three other railroad-related attractions about 45 minutes away at Strasburg, all of them first rate and well worth a visit if you are ever in south central Pennsylvania:

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: http://ift.tt/TLAAI6

Strasburg Railway: http://ift.tt/1GBgvta

National Toy Train Museum: http://nttmuseum.org/

Don

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