Here’s Where To Go To Learn About Steam Power
If you want to learn how to operate steam engines, the University of Rollag Steam School (URSS) is the place to be. It’s the oldest and arguably the best of the 25 steam schools around the country. Getting in is the hard part. Slots for the school open on Thursday evening of Labor Day Weekend for members only. Starting Friday anyone can apply and by Saturday evening slots are often filled and for good reason. The numbers tell the story.
“We are in our 40th year,” says Tom Hall, co-founder and long-time instructor. “We started it to educate our members, thinking it would take two or three years. Since then, we’ve had upwards of 2,200 graduates from 44 states, six Canadian provinces and two students from the U.K.”
“Each year we have around 70 students, a dozen instructors, including the only certified female instructor in the country,” adds Hall. “It takes around 200 members/volunteers to put on the two-day course.”
While the numbers are impressive, it’s what happens at the school that gets men, women and children (as young as 10) lining up to attend. The school is held on Father’s Day weekend each year, at Steamers Hill, home of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.
Steamers Hill is the perfect place for the steam school. It’s the year-round home to around 60 steam-powered traction engines from 1/3 scale to full size, as well as three steam locomotives and numerous stationary engines, from miniature to full-size. It’s also home to five operating cranes, including the largest steam shovel ever made. A number of these engines, including one with a cutaway boiler, are used by the instructors during class.
The 16-hr. course covers key points to safely operate a steam engine and the history and inner workings of steam engines. Sunday afternoon the students move outside for hands-on operation.
This is where the 200 volunteers come in. They fire up the boilers on a wide variety of steam engines, from small stationary machines up to and including quarter-scale and full-size railroad locomotives. This year the school will also feature a fully operational sawmill running from Friday through Sunday.
“About 1/3 of each year’s students attend simply to learn about steam engines and to operate some,” says Hall. “About 2/3 hope to get licensed. Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio and Manitoba all give credit for our course toward apprenticeship hours they require.”
Hall and other instructors from the school have helped establish a dozen other steam schools around the country. “We have shared curriculum and the mechanics of what we do,” says Hall. “We’ve had lots of state boiler inspectors take the course. Their traditional training is in steam power plants, and they often don’t understand steam engines.”
The goal of the URSS, as well as other steam schools, is to avoid a boiler explosion such as took place in Ohio in 2001. It took the lives of five people and spread steam and shrapnel as far as 100 yards. Dozens suffered burns and other injuries. An investigator estimated around 28 million pounds of energy were released, including more than a million pounds that lifted the 20-ton Case 110 tractor 10 to 15 ft. in the air.
“Prior to that there was no inspection of steam engines or licensing of operators,” says Hall. “Operating a steam engine is like flying a plane. You have to be able to multi-task. We have a lot of complete beginners and others who have run steam engines for years but want to learn more.”
Tuition for the school is $70 ($35 for youth under 16 and WMSTR members). Tuition includes three books, free camping on-site, and two noon meals.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, WMSTR Secretary, P.O. Box 9337, Fargo, N.D. 58106 (ph 701-212-2034; secretary@rollag.com; www.rollag.com).
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Here’s Where To Go To Learn About Steam Power ENGINES If you want to learn how to operate steam engines the University of Rollag Steam School URSS is the place to be It’s the oldest and arguably the best of the 25 steam schools around the country Getting in is the hard part Slots for the school open on Thursday evening of Labor Day Weekend for members only Starting Friday anyone can apply and by Saturday evening slots are often filled and for good reason The numbers tell the story “We are in our 40th year ” says Tom Hall co-founder and long-time instructor “We started it to educate our members thinking it would take two or three years Since then we’ve had upwards of 2 200 graduates from 44 states six Canadian provinces and two students from the U K ” “Each year we have around 70 students a dozen instructors including the only certified female instructor in the country ” adds Hall “It takes around 200 members/volunteers to put on the two-day course ” While the numbers are impressive it’s what happens at the school that gets men women and children as young as 10 lining up to attend The school is held on Father’s Day weekend each year at Steamers Hill home of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion Steamers Hill is the perfect place for the steam school It’s the year-round home to around 60 steam-powered traction engines from 1/3 scale to full size as well as three steam locomotives and numerous stationary engines from miniature to full-size It’s also home to five operating cranes including the largest steam shovel ever made A number of these engines including one with a cutaway boiler are used by the instructors during class The 16-hr course covers key points to safely operate a steam engine and the history and inner workings of steam engines Sunday afternoon the students move outside for hands-on operation This is where the 200 volunteers come in They fire up the boilers on a wide variety of steam engines from small stationary machines up to and including quarter-scale and full-size railroad locomotives This year the school will also feature a fully operational sawmill running from Friday through Sunday “About 1/3 of each year’s students attend simply to learn about steam engines and to operate some ” says Hall “About 2/3 hope to get licensed Minnesota North Dakota Ohio and Manitoba all give credit for our course toward apprenticeship hours they require ” Hall and other instructors from the school have helped establish a dozen other steam schools around the country “We have shared curriculum and the mechanics of what we do ” says Hall “We’ve had lots of state boiler inspectors take the course Their traditional training is in steam power plants and they often don’t understand steam engines ” The goal of the URSS as well as other steam schools is to avoid a boiler explosion such as took place in Ohio in 2001 It took the lives of five people and spread steam and shrapnel as far as 100 yards Dozens suffered burns and other injuries An investigator estimated around 28 million pounds of energy were released including more than a million pounds that lifted the 20-ton Case 110 tractor 10 to 15 ft in the air “Prior to that there was no inspection of steam engines or licensing of operators ” says Hall “Operating a steam engine is like flying a plane You have to be able to multi-task We have a lot of complete beginners and others who have run steam engines for years but want to learn more ” Tuition for the school is $70 $35 for youth under 16 and WMSTR members Tuition includes three books free camping on-site and two noon meals Contact: FARM SHOW Followup WMSTR Secretary P O Box 9337 Fargo N D 58106 ph 701-212-2034; secretary@rollag com; www rollag com
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