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2001 Mt Pleasant Iowa Old Threshers ReunionIn 2001 my family and I drove across the United States. One of our planned stops was the Mt Pleasant Old Threshers Reunion in the state of Iowa. I had heard mixed messages about this show ranging from the best steam show in the USA through to the worst show ever. I can atest that whoever thinks this show is bad was probably clinically dead when they went there. Lets start at the beginning. There is a camp ground which holds about 1,000 RV's, tents, etc. Through the camp ground runs a tramway (trolley for you 'merikans :) system which takes campers up to the rally grounds. Within the rally grounds are a number of static displays and many many operating steam displays. The trams run every few minutes driven by volunteers ranging from a man in his nineties to a guy in his twenties. Included within the campground is a church, shop, and several toilet/shower facilities.At the front gates there is a shed with many stationary steam engines all running from a central steam supply. Next to the building are food and crafts vendors. Also in this area is a steam driven carousel from the 1800s. A Drag Line shovel was operating behind the carousel making a big hole. Behind the Drag Line was a Sears sawmill being driven by a Advance Rumley traction engine. Next to greet my eyes was a shay locomotive hauling a train around the standard guage railroad which runs within the complex. There are usually two trains running around the grounds during the day. The ride takes about 15 minutes full circle. Some rides include being "attacked" by "robbers" who put on a great show. Arrayed within the railroad circle was the central parade ring encircled by at least 200 traction engines, steam rollers, road locomotives and scale models of just about everything. Nearly all of the traction engines were in steam and many were driving around looking for passengers. One particular man Marion Nicolson was kind enough to allow my sons (Alex 7 and Matthew 5) and I a hand at driving his Russell around the grounds. All three boys (have I ever claimed to be anything else?) really enjoyed this experience. This was my first drive of a traction engine. This was shortly followed up by a cab ride and drive of the Shay locomotive. Further into the grounds (but wait, there is more!) were tractors, stationary internal combustion engines and a huge swap meet / market. Suffice to say, this show is one of the biggest best organised (mostly) steam events that I have ever been to. The people who run the show are mostly local volunteers and you could not ask for a friendlier more helpful team. The show provides Sweet Sixteens who are around the grounds to help people out wherever necessary with minding kids briefly or helping out when you have more than one kid on a ride. The Sweet Sixteens really say a lot for their town and region - these girls go out of their way to help everyone they can. Everyone I spoke to was glad to give information, or if they did not know, find someone who did. This has to be the friendliest show where I've attended cold (ie. I did not know anyone there - well actually I did, but I did not know that until later :). Enough drivel from me... on with the photos - follow the links below. |
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Last modified Sunday, 20-Jul-2003 15:28:00 BST |
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