A steam turbine system, comprising: a rotor; a high pressure section positioned about the rotor; a high pressure admission conduit extending from a steam source to an inlet of the high pressure section; a high pressure bypass conduit extending from the high pressure admission conduit to an intermediate stage of the high pressure section; an overload valve positioned on the high pressure bypass conduit; a plurality of high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158) extending from the high pressure section, wherein each of the high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158) is configured to direct a high pressure extraction flow of steam; a high pressure control valve (156, 162) positioned on each of the high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158); an intermediate pressure section positioned about the rotor; a plurality of intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176) extending from the intermediate pressure section, wherein each of the intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176) is configured to direct an intermediate pressure extraction flow of steam; an intermediate pressure control valve (168, 174, 180) positioned on each of the intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176); and a controller in communication with the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180), wherein the controller is operable to selectively adjust respective positions of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) to balance thrust acting on the rotor; wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the position of one of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) based at least in part on the respective positions of a remainder of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) and a position of the overload valve. a rotor; a high pressure section positioned about the rotor; a high pressure admission conduit extending from a steam source to an inlet of the high pressure section; a high pressure bypass conduit extending from the high pressure admission conduit to an intermediate stage of the high pressure section; an overload valve positioned on the high pressure bypass conduit; a plurality of high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158) extending from the high pressure section, wherein each of the high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158) is configured to direct a high pressure extraction flow of steam; a high pressure control valve (156, 162) positioned on each of the high pressure extraction conduits (152, 158); an intermediate pressure section positioned about the rotor; a plurality of intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176) extending from the intermediate pressure section, wherein each of the intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176) is configured to direct an intermediate pressure extraction flow of steam; an intermediate pressure control valve (168, 174, 180) positioned on each of the intermediate pressure extraction conduits (164, 170, 176); and a controller in communication with the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180), wherein the controller is operable to selectively adjust respective positions of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) to balance thrust acting on the rotor; wherein the controller is configured to selectively adjust the position of one of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) based at least in part on the respective positions of a remainder of the high pressure control valves (156, 162) and the intermediate pressure control valves (168, 174, 180) and a position of the overload valve.