Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any steam guys out there?

Posted by Allen (yep, me again) on May 27, 2001 at 19:02:16 from (207.44.55.251):

In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any steam guys out there? posted by Charlie on May 27, 2001 at 15:50:08:

I think if some of the skills are lost it will be because of the different perceptions between generations. The old guys want the young folks to learn the same way they did. i.e. You should learn sawmilling by starting as an off bearer, or slab stacker, learn threshing by starting as tally boy, or bundle carrier, etc. Meanwhile, the younger people are impatient, and they find such (necessary) jobs demeaning (the terms flunky, stepinfetchit, drudge, and dogsbody come to mind), and so they often quit before they even begin.

Running a steam engine is no different. People who haven't done it often don't realise how much there is to learn BEFORE you are ready to be turned loose...if only because steam isn't like a gas tractor that you can simply turn off and walk away from if you get bored, or into trouble. The basics are rather easy to learn, much of the job is simply babysitting. However, some things like reading the fire at a glance, matching the feedwater and fire to the work at hand, or belting up on the first try will take YEARS to master... If those old fellers make it look easy, its because they already paid their dues a LONG time ago. Too bad there isn't more effort to match those with the desire to learn with those with an engine that are willing and able to teach.

I think another big reason that the steam owners are grey and grizzled is that most young people who ARE interested don't have the financial wherewithal to play the game. With the average price of admission in the high 4, low 5 figures (for a good small to medium sized traction engine) its become a rich (or very dedicated) man's hobby.

BTW: If any of you gentlemen can, I highly recommend attending a steam school (I think the best known is run by the Pawnee club), even if you never use the knowlege again, it will give you a greater appreciation of what your grandfathers actually did when they first brought mechanization to the farm. BUT be warned, once the "steam bug" bites your old JD or Farmall just might start to feel a bit neglected.
Happy steamin'

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