My father and I attended the 100 Years of Progress show in Carthage and the Threshers Reunion in Denton several times. Both always had quite a few steam tractors and sometimes other steam powered equipment. Denton had a steam shovel running and Carthage had a Stanley Steamer automobile you could ride in for a small fee.
Had the privilege of talking to some of the folks that owned and ran the steam tractors while they were firing them up in the morning for activities in the afternoon. Quite a lot of knowledge, work, skill, and money to keeping one of those operational and running it safely. Machines are impressive and so are the people that keep them moving.
Closest I got to driving one, not close at all, was one of the owners invited my father to the driver’s station. They were both retired engineers talking engineer stuff while I was trying to figure out when the Caterpillar parade started and the tractor guys were at the point of mostly just waiting for the water to get hot. I got to go with him mostly because getting up there was a challenge for him. At least with the one we were on, couldn’t see much of anything with all that stuff right in front of you. I don’t know how they maneuver those things any way other than a straight line unless they have a spotter directing them.
Edit: We saw it running in the plowing demonstration later that afternoon. 2016 in Carthage. I had forgotten it had been that long ago until I went looking for a picture.
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