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Czech steam in Indiana https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9965	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Jim Robinson [ Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Czech steam in Indiana
In addition to 60's / 70's era steam tourist line photos on Mr. Saul Nadler's webpages, there are some more-current views such as the nice below-linked photo (taken by a Mr. Mike Chrisman) of a Czech narrow gauge 0-4-0T in Indiana. The engine is owned and operated by the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society at Hesston, IN. It's a 60cm gauge sidetank lok built in 1940 by the Skoda Works of Czechoslovakia. It was part of an order of loks built for the German army, but this one was (supposedly) hidden when the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia. Eventually it wound up on the Mecklenberg-Pommersche Railway, but it was never operated there. Around 1970-72 it came to the US when it (along with several other engines) was acquired by Dr. George Mohen of California. Dr. Mohen had planned a tourist operation using this engine (and the others), but nothing ever became of those plans. Dr. Mohen never operated the engine. In 1987 he sold this lok (along with an Orenstein & Koppel "Feldbahn" 0-8-0) to the LaPorte County group, which had suffered a major fire with the loss of some equipment and serious damage to other equipment. After some minor work, this lok was fired up in August 1987 for the first time at Hesston AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS BUILT 47 YEARS EARLIER!! Now that summer is arriving, it's a good time to remind RyPN Interchange readers that it's "prime season" for all of the antique steam (and internal combustion) machinery shows that are held at many locations across the country. A good number of these shows, such as the above-mentioned LaPorte County show at Hesston, host some kind of railroad operation. Operations range from early 1960's era Crown Metal Works 15- inch gauge live-steam 4-4-0 "park trains" to full blown standard gauge operations with a mile or more of track. Motive power range from tiny narrow gauge Plymouth industrial "critters" to standard gauge 0-6-0 steam engines. Some, like Hesston, offer European engines. Some, like the Old Threshers Show (Midwest Central RR) at Mount Pleasant, Iowa offer authentic first-class restorations worthy of any museum. The other parts of these shows (and the many others without railroad operations) offer interesting operating exhibits of all kinds of steam and early "IC" powered engines and machines. The various demonstrations make great video subjects. If you love steam whistles (of all kinds, including locomotive), most of these shows have a "Noon Whistle" when all whistles (usually dozens and dozens of them!) are sounded at the same time to signal the lunch break. You have to hear it to believe it! Chances are real good that there is one or more of these shows within a reasonable drive of just about everyone. I guarantee you will not get bored--just get covered with soot and dust!! Regards, Jim Robinson Czech 0-4-0T at Hesston, IN

Author:	Tom von Trott [ Sat Jun 12, 2004 11:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Czech steam in Indiana
Neat pic, thanks. Just curious, I'm with the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association which is near Harrisburg, PA. We have a standard gauge Ex-PRR 0-6-0 B4a #643 (www.williamsgrovesteam.org/643). I'd imagine we are one of the larger locos running at a "thresher" or "steam show". I was just curious about others out there, I'd love to see pictures and hear about some others. 643 has not run since 2001 (we are in the process of brining her back to service, mainly needs a firebox, and other relativly minor boiler work, hoping for 2005 or 2006 back in steam, but all of course depends on funds). PS (I also run the main website for the group, which I've been painfully slow to update, I apologize. The 643 site is somewhat more up to date.) Tom von Trott > In addition to 60's / 70's era steam tourist > line photos on Mr. Saul Nadler's webpages, > there are some more-current views such as > the nice below-linked photo (taken by a Mr. > Mike Chrisman) of a Czech narrow gauge > 0-4-0T in Indiana. > The engine is owned and operated by the > LaPorte County Historical Steam Society at > Hesston, IN. It's a 60cm gauge sidetank lok > built in 1940 by the Skoda Works of > Czechoslovakia. It was part of an order of > loks built for the German army, but this one > was (supposedly) hidden when the Germans > invaded Czechoslovakia. Eventually it wound > up on the Mecklenberg-Pommersche Railway, > but it was never operated there. Around > 1970-72 it came to the US when it (along > with several other engines) was acquired by > Dr. George Mohen of California. Dr. Mohen > had planned a tourist operation using this > engine (and the others), but nothing ever > became of those plans. Dr. Mohen never > operated the engine. In 1987 he sold this > lok (along with an Orenstein & Koppel > "Feldbahn" 0-8-0) to the LaPorte > County group, which had suffered a major > fire with the loss of some equipment and > serious damage to other equipment. After > some minor work, this lok was fired up in > August 1987 for the first time at Hesston > AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS BUILT 47 > YEARS EARLIER!! > Now that summer is arriving, it's a good > time to remind RyPN Interchange readers that > it's "prime season" for all of the > antique steam (and internal combustion) > machinery shows that are held at many > locations across the country. A good number > of these shows, such as the above-mentioned > LaPorte County show at Hesston, host some > kind of railroad operation. Operations range > from early 1960's era Crown Metal Works 15- > inch gauge live-steam 4-4-0 "park > trains" to full blown standard gauge > operations with a mile or more of track. > Motive power range from tiny narrow gauge > Plymouth industrial "critters" to > standard gauge 0-6-0 steam engines. Some, > like Hesston, offer European engines. Some, > like the Old Threshers Show (Midwest Central > RR) at Mount Pleasant, Iowa offer authentic > first-class restorations worthy of any > museum. The other parts of these shows (and > the many others without railroad operations) > offer interesting operating exhibits of all > kinds of steam and early "IC" > powered engines and machines. The various > demonstrations make great video subjects. If > you love steam whistles (of all kinds, > including locomotive), most of these shows > have a "Noon Whistle" when all > whistles (usually dozens and dozens of > them!) are sounded at the same time to > signal the lunch break. You have to hear it > to believe it! Chances are real good that > there is one or more of these shows within a > reasonable drive of just about everyone. I > guarantee you will not get bored--just get > covered with soot and dust!! > Regards, > Jim Robinson http://williamsgrovesteam.org prr643@hotmail.com

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