Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Over Labor Day Weekend 2022, the Hesston Steam Museum of Hesston, Indiana put on their 66th annual Steam & Power Show, showcasing their vast collection of steam and diesel-powered industrial and agricultural machinery. On display were a plethora of tractors and traction engines, a threshing machine, a working sawmill, and railroad equipment on 7.5in, 15", and dual 2ft/3ft gauge tracks. This event was the first time in several years at three-foot gauge Shay no. 7 was operating and to celebrate its return it was doubleheaded with Porter 2-6-0 no.2 each afternoon. However, the real headliner of this year's show was the public debut of their newly built operational replica of Peter Cooper's "Tom Thumb." Built in 1829 as a technology demonstrator for the then horse-powered Baltimore & Ohio Railway, the original Tom Thumb is believed to have been the first steam locomotive ever built in North America. The replica, aside from being scaled down 5/8ths to fit the museum's narrow gauge track, was built as accurately as possible based on the single surviving drawing and the writings of Mr. Cooper. This was a great event at a wonderful museum with more to see & do than I had time for on this visit, and I can't wait to return in the future.
Over Labor Day Weekend 2022, the Hesston Steam Museum of Hesston, Indiana put on their 66th annual Steam & Power Show, showcasing their vast collection of steam and diesel-powered industrial and agricultural machinery. On display were a plethora of tractors and traction engines, a threshing machine, a working sawmill, and railroad equipment on 7.5in, 15", and dual 2ft/3ft gauge tracks. This event was the first time in several years at three-foot gauge Shay no. 7 was operating and to celebrate its return it was doubleheaded with Porter 2-6-0 no.2 each afternoon. However, the real headliner of this year's show was the public debut of their newly built operational replica of Peter Cooper's "Tom Thumb." Built in 1829 as a technology demonstrator for the then horse-powered Baltimore & Ohio Railway, the original Tom Thumb is believed to have been the first steam locomotive ever built in North America. The replica, aside from being scaled down 5/8ths to fit the museum's narrow gauge track, was built as accurately as possible based on the single surviving drawing and the writings of Mr. Cooper. This was a great event at a wonderful museum with more to see & do than I had time for on this visit, and I can't wait to return in the future.
