Hesston Steam Museum

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 ===
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)	
* Dubbed "Blue Goose"
* Restored in 2002
* Named "James R. Donnelley"
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 	frameless	 	4-6-0 	 	 	Operational 	
=== 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.
=== 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.
==Gallery==
* Images
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