You may be wondering what a Steam Mechanic is, well I hope the picture above helps explain it. I understand steam powered equipment, and even though there are mechanics who can fix a great variety of things. Not many really understand the incredible power and danger of steam. Fortunately most steam machines of today are provided with an overrated pressure relief valve, and operate at pressures far below their actual capacity. But people are still killed by steam machines. Often it is the machine that only gets used once a year or less at County Fairs or Thresher Conventions.
The usual cause is age, simply put, they were not built to last a hundred years and yet many have. The other major factor is the operator. Either nearly as old as the machine, or the legacy operator, taught by dad or grandad, and generally something gets lost in the translation. Little things like the importance of maintaining a safe water level or not building the fire larger than necessary, just to see the "pop off valve" work. I watched a fellow shovel till he was a puddle of sweat, seemingly just to get the pressure relief valve to keep roaring, Unfortunately, earlier I watched him dumping water from the boiler, until a passerby, asked if the water pouring out on the steel wheel, was "supposed to be doing that?" I was on my way over to advise him of his situation. Fortunately he had recently filled the boiler. He must have turned the wrong valve to close the line. Just the kind of thing that leads to disaster. I don't think he was a" legacy operator." Had that air of "I bought this, so I know more than those of you who can't afford one." Hope someone takes him "under their wing" before his luck runs out.
Unfortunately there is no control over who operates the steamers, I believe there should be a minimal licensing requirement, just because of the power of these machines, but often I have seen a teenager cruising around the fair grounds on a ten ton machine, a kid that isn't old enough to drive a car yet. I have heard of some fairs requiring a current "certification document" for the boilers. I have started to keep my distance from some of them when I see the way, and by whom, they are operated.
According to the "STEAM ENGINE GUIDE" by Professor P.S. ROSE (1906) A standard "steam traction engine operating at 150 # pressure has the energy capacity to propel a one pound ball 7500 miles straight up." Obviously this ball would not return to the earth anytime soon as it would be lauched into outer space." If we applied the same amount of energy to the entire weight of the engine, it would be propelled 1735 feet into the air, or about a third of a mile."
"Some men through ignorance, and others through long experience, acquire a certain contempt for the power of steam. They do not hesitate to run any sort of an engine or carry any pressure that suits their fancy. The guage may be wrong or the pop valve may be wrong or the water be low, but these men have no fear because they do not realize the risk they are taking. Such men and those that work with them, are in constant danger, for steam is no respector of persons. It is a good servant or a merciless destroyer, depending on how it is handled."
I really love to see the old machines, and hear them run and show their truly awesome power, driving some of the attachments and tools designed to be their chosen "loads" . Such as the Saw Mill, above and below.
There are few who could run this mill as smoothly as these fellows do every year . And even fewer willing to try, I'd guess, after watching them for a while you can see how so many farmers of past generations ended up being called "Lefty" or "Stumpy". And how logging and such, got it's reputation for being a dangerous profession.
Audio clip of Saw Mill Running.
