http://www.steamtug.org/

Website set up to promote upcoming events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the SS Baltimore, a steam tugboat belonging to the Baltimore Museum of Industry. This tug sat on a river bottom for three years before restoration; I had the privilege of riding on its last steaming in 2000 (I was in the right place at just the right moment).

Some of the website/events' organizers are working with me on the possibility of a major steam-related maritime celebration in Baltimore Harbor this October. We are tentatively discussing a major whistle/horn blow, along with visiting tugboats and steam vessels (possibly to include Liberty Ship John W. Brown, a Baltimore resident, and the ex-Lehigh Valley RR tug Cornell (still for sale, now in Havre de Grace). The major events are scheduled for October 20-22, 2006.

It occurs to me that, if properly organized and planned, we could also turn this into a de facto steam technology gathering--where, for example, we could host Martyn Bane, Linn Moedinger, and/or other steam technicians who can then discuss the various challenges and options before them in matters such as smoke abatement, new technologies, restoration alternatives, etc. as we have been discussing elsewhere in this forum. This would extend not only to rail and marine preservationists, but also steam tractors, fire engines, Stanley Steamers, and the like. (Several of the people involved with the SS Baltimore are "boomers" that have drifted between the Fire Museum of Md., the B&O Museum, the Wilmington & Western, the John W. Brown, and/or other similar projects.) I would like to think that if the interest is there, we could form a parallel conference or symposium of sorts where many of us with professional interests in steam who would just love to see the SS Baltimore anyway can use this as an excuse to justify some time away from, say, Cass, Strasburg, TVRM, or wherever. We would do this away from the tug's limelight, but in the same general areas--I can find hotel or meeting space in such places as the B&O Museum, the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, or the Baltimore Museum of Industry if motivated by a good response. Heck, we could even just take over the upstairs or banquet room of any of several bars in the area I deal with regularly. I'm thinking gathering on Wednesday, Thursday and/or Friday, leaving us free to participate/help out on Saturday/Sunday.

What does everybody think? Let's compare notes, electronic pocket computers, Outlook schedules, etc. and see who might be available, and what topics we might want to cover.

I would suggest organizing this an academic conference/seminar, as this would help to bring in both additional interest and advance funding. Johns Hopkins would actually be a good partner as their history department has a strong history of technology component.

I could definately justify the trip if I had a paper or presentation accepted.

Tom Cornillie

Very interesting idea, given the relatively large amount of relevant infrastructure near Baltimore. If it could be made intensely practical, with hands on stuff in the shops, etc, and exposure to how other than railroad steam is made and maintained, certainly would be excellent, and a lot could be learned in crossover.

100% for if its worth it - maybe I should have had voting on my thread for Sacramento.

dave