Steam SCHOOLS

An important and essential component of the steam engine hobby in the U.S. experienced significant disruption in 2020, when steam schools across the country were cancelled by the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In the new year, organizers are optimistic that the events will go forward as planned.

In some cases, the 2021 classes were filled by late summer 2020. “Our 2020 class, which we postponed to 2021, was already overbooked,” says John Johnson, spokesman for the Rough & Tumble Engineers Historical Assn. Steam School, early last October. “All those students want to take the 2021 class, so our steam school is full and we have a waiting list.”

Prospective students are