real live operating steam

[espeefoamer]

Hmmm. Kalmbach. Are they anywhere near Milwaukee?

[rrnut282]

Gee, like, I dunno, maybe someone at Kalmbach??

[gacuster]

Sorry, but I live quite a ways from Milwaukee and have limited computer access (library) and know-how.  Maybe someone who lives in Milwaukee with more computer savvy would be interested in pursuing this. 

[jockellis]

Sounds like the operator is a real-life Mike Mulligan. I hope you notify the television stations of the event's importance and get them to shoot some pixels. That way they would have it on their websites and you could provide infor or links and we'd get to see it. Sounds exciting. Will you do it?

[gacuster]

This is somewhat off topic, but anyone living in the Milwaukee area wishing to see an old steam derrick operating can find one in the harbor/river area over the next 6-8 weeks.  Luedtke Engineering Co. just finished their dredging operations in the Manitowoc River and left today for their next job in Milwaukee.  Their derrick has a black cab and boom with the tip painted orange and it is mounted on a barge.  It was built in 1929 and originally burned coal but now burns oil and draws water from wherever it is moored.  It sounds like a locomotive when it is working.  The operator, a burly fellow in overalls, is fond of his steam powered beast and doesn't want anything to do with diesels.