The Hesston Steam Museum is a museum operated by the Laporte County Historical Steam Society in Hesston, Indiana. The museum occupies 155 acres and is the home of four different gauge railroads along with numerous other pieces of steam powered and vintage farm equipment.
History[]
The desire of a few local steam buffs to perpetuate the use of steam power necessitated the purchase of suitable land for an annual reunion. Twenty two acres (the present main show grounds) were purchased and hundreds of thorn apple trees cleared. A dam was built in Mud Creek to form Duck Lake as a source of water for the engines. The group, then called La Porte County Threshermen, held their first show and reunion in 1957. Traction engines were the main feature, and provided most of the power. A sawmill was added in 1959, the electric plant in 1961, and the Browning crane in 1962. In 1964, at the suggestion of Bruce Achor, a steam locomotive was purchased from Elliott Donnelley of Lake Forest, IL, who took an interest in the accomplishments at Hesston. During 1965–1968, with the generous financial assistance of Mr. Donnelley, the remainder of the 155-acre site was purchased and a unique dual gauge (2 ft (610 mm) and 3 ft (914 mm)) railroad was constructed.
The Fire[]
The engine house after the fire, Circa 1985
On May 26th, 1985, the engine house caught on fire. The source of the fire is unknown, but it believed to be from an ember from one of the engine's firebox. Most of the large scale equipment was lost, nine cars, the Henschel, and a diesel locomotive, along with multiple other tools and small parts, were lost. Also damaged were the Shay No. 7, the Porter 2-6-0 No. 2, and an Ex-Darjeeling and Himalayan 0-4-0t locomotive. After an inspection, trip funds were borrowed and new equipment was purchased. The equipment arrived on April 14, 1987, Including a CSK 0-4-0t, 2 0-4-0wt's, and an O&K 0-8-0. The brand-new, yet 47 years old, CSK was immediately placed in the shop for cleaning and inspection. It was fired up for the first time ever in August 1987, and now serves as the regular locomotive for weekend operation.
Equipment[]
Locomotives[]
| Number | Images | Heritage | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 242 | 
|
Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western | 2-4-2 | Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works | 1968 | Overhaul
(Being Converted to Oil) |
|
| 99-3361 | 
|
Mecklenburg Pommersche Schmalspurbahn Railway | 0-8-0 | Orenstein & Koppel | 1938 | Stored | |
| 125 | 
|
Adolf Meyer AG | 0-4-0T | Ceskomoravska Kolben-Danek | 1940 | Operational | |
| 1 | 
|
Indianapolis Power & Light Co. | 0-4-0F | H.K. Porter | 1950 | Stored | Non-Operational. Running gear and frame only. |
| 7 | 
|
New Mexico Lumber Co. | Shay locomotive | Lima Locomotive Works | 1929 | Operational | |
| 2 | 
|
United Fruit Company | 2-6-0 | H.K. Porter | 1911 | Operational | |
| 17 | 
|
United Fruit Company | 2-6-0 | H.K. Porter | 1920 | In Pieces, Awaiting Restoration | Needs a new boiler as of 2024 |
| 1 | 
|
Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western | 2-8-0 | Arnold Jung | 1918 | Stored | Originally a Feldbahn Brigade Locomotive built by Arnold Jung |
|
2-2-0 | Rick Weber | 2022 | Operational | |||
| 15 | 
|
Flying Dutchman Railroad/Carpenter Steel | Plymouth | 1958 | Operational | ||
| 1 | 
|
Sullivan Machinery | Whitcomb Locomotive Works | 19?? | Stored | ||
| 2 | 
|
Flying Dutchman Railroad/Carpenter Steel | Plymouth | 1957 | Operational | ||
| 3 | 
|
Flying Dutchman Railroad/Inland Steel | Plymouth | 1958 | Stored | Burned in the 1985 Fire
For Sale at $2k as of October 2024 | |
| 4 | 
|
Illinois Brick Company | Plymouth | 1953 | Operational | ||
| 999 | 
|
Brookfield, Salt Creek & Western | Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works | 1966 | Operational | ||
|
Speeder | Operational | |||||
| 3 | 
|
Stet & Query Central
(History Unknown before S&QC, but worked at parks) |
4-4-0 | Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Company | 1922 | Overhaul | Rebuilt in December of 1974 By Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works |
| 1 | 
|
Kiddieville Amusement Park/Stet & Query Central | 4-6-4 | Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Company | 1950 | Operational | |
| 3001 | 
|
Kiddieland Amusement Park/Riverview Amusement Park of Chicago | 4-8-4 | Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Company | 1949 | Restoration | |
|
Kiddieland Amusement Park/Riverview Amusement Park of Chicago | 4-6-4 | Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Company | 1941 | Operational | ||
| 1950 |  |
Policeman's Benevolent Park | 4-4-4 | Wagner and Sons Miniature Train Company | 1950 | Restoration | Not Shirley |
| 393 | 
|
Operational | |||||
| 9600 | 
|
Operational | |||||
| 701a | 
|
Operational | |||||
| 97 | 
|
4-6-0 | Operational |
The former 0-4-0wt's being transported
Former Locomotives:[]
- Red 0-4-0wt steam locomotive - Planned steam park in Olympia, Washington (Presumably still in storage)
- Green 0-4-0wt steam locomotive - Planned steam park in Olympia, Washington (Presumably still in storage)
- Ex-Darjeeling and Himalayan B Class 0-4-0t No. 19B (778) - Statfold Barn Railway
- USAX 1054 & USAX 1045 - Sold by Museum after putting South Shore Line Caboose 345 (Now for Sale) on display
Other Exhibits[]
In addition to the three different railroads at the museum, there are numerous other pieces of steam powered and vintage farm equipment.
Saw Mill[]
The Hesston Saw Mill was built in 1900 by the Hill-Curtis Machinery Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan and is typical of the mills that dotted the countryside in the 1890s. The mill features a 60-inch insert tooth blade, and is driven by a horizontal single-cylinder Uniflow steam engine manufactured by Skinner Engine Company of Erie, Pennsylvania.
The Power Plant[]
The power plant was the first to provide electric power to the LaPorte County, Indiana courthouse. The Allis-Chalmers engine originally ran the Sanders Saw mill in Elkhart, Indiana, having replaced the smaller Smith Mayers and Schneer engine next to it at the same location.
HSM Steamworks Logo
The Steamworks Indoor Gallery[]
The volunteers are working to bring our guests a traditional museum space to compliment the living history campus. The Steamworks will feature interactive exhibits and will develop as funds and volunteers are available.
Trivia[]
- The museum features four different gauges of railroads operating on three different routes.
- In September 2022, the museum announced the completion of a half-scale working model of the Tom Thumb locomotive, built by Rick Weber. It was on display at the museum's 66th Steam and Power Show.
- Operation of the railroad began in 1969.
- In 1999, two steam engines were sold to a steam park in Olympia Washington.