{"id":38930,"date":"2013-08-15T02:00:05","date_gmt":"2013-08-15T09:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=38930"},"modified":"2015-06-27T12:39:41","modified_gmt":"2015-06-27T19:39:41","slug":"gallery-the-57th-annual-sycamore-illinois-threshing-bee-huge-engines-cool-tractors-bangshifty-stuff-galore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/general-news\/event-coverage\/gallery-the-57th-annual-sycamore-illinois-threshing-bee-huge-engines-cool-tractors-bangshifty-stuff-galore\/","title":{"rendered":"Gallery: The 57th Annual Sycamore, Illinois Threshing Bee – Huge Engines, Cool Tractors, BangShifty Stuff Galore!"},"content":{"rendered":"
(Words and Photos by Greg Rourke) – This year was the 57th annual Threshing Bee put on by the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club. It’s held on the Taylor Marshall Farm north of Sycamore, Illinois. The show features all sorts of steam tractors, farm implements, antique tractors and stationary engines. \u00a0The club owns a huge Vilter steam engine that ran a refrigeration plant from 1920 until the early 70’s. It’s 250 horsepower and weighs 40 tons. It’s still fully operational, and quite a sight to see. The giant flywheel is recessed into the floor, and there is all sorts of gear going in every direction on this thing. OSHA would have a fit.<\/p>\n
An operational Erie Shovel was moving a pile of dirt back and forth. It was a two person operation, one guy monitoring the fire and steam pressure, one guy at the controls. With a wooden body and tin roof it must get pretty hot inside. It was surprisingly quiet, all you heard was the clanking of the business end and the hiss of steam.\u00a0At noon they blew every steam whistle in the joint, the sound was deafening.<\/p>\n
A parade ran through the grounds in the afternoon, with every piece of operational steam heading it up. One of only two remaining first series John Deere tractors made a lap. Lots of antique tractors followed, both gas and diesel, restored and original. \u00a0Stationary engines included a bunch of hit and miss engines. They were running all sorts of stuff, including a washing machine, corn shellers, and a custom built can crusher. It seemed a bit overkill but the kids seemed to like it.\u00a0One thing that concerns me is the lack of young people involved. Most everyone there was in their 60’s and older, and looking like they’ve worked their asses off every single day. Their are steam clubs running events like this all over, I suggest you catch one while you still can.<\/p>\n
HIT THE LINK BELOW TO SEE ALL OF GREG’S COOL PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT!<\/strong><\/p>\n GALLERY:
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