Full Steam Ahead!
By Sharon Warfield
Each year, the small town of Berryville, Virginia, plays host to the Pageant of Steam Show which is getting bigger and better all the time. This event started on a hot Sunday afternoon in the summer of 1959. Fred Stickley, Elmer Mowery and Ralph Lewin got together and had their own little steam show. From this meager beginning it has grown to attract nine steam engines, a saw mill, thrashers, many gas engines and thousands of people. There are all kinds of demonstrations with this early equipment including antique tractor pulls.
For several years the members of the Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine Association have contacted Billy Thompson concerning the exhibition of his 1921 Huber at the Berryville show. After much thought and careful consideration, he was delighted to inform the members that we would participate in this year's Pageant of Steam Show. We knew this would be quite a job. Not only would we participate, but Billy Thompson decided we would drive the monstrous Huber to the fairground. What a job that was!
This 1921 Huber which Billy purchased about eight years ago in Newark, Ohio, rests lazily in front of our antique automobile restoration shop. After years of hard work, it is now a great attraction for youngsters who love climbing on it.
When Billy Thompson first purchased this Huber, one of the most asked questions was "What in the world are you going to do with a big steam engine?" Billy answered quite simply, "Well I may use it some day to get the mail!"
The 1921 Huber at White Post Restorations, in White Post, VA 22663
In order to fire up this massive piece of equipment, it had to be inspected and approved by the State of Virginia. After many weeks of waiting, the inspector finally arrived. He inspected the Huber with a fine tooth comb. When all seemed to be okay the boiler was filled with water to the proper level and we then built a fire in the firebox. Since the Huber had not been under steam for sometime, we fired it gently so as not to bring the steam up too fast. This all took place in front of the shop. With smoke pouring out of the stack and many antique cars around, the nostalgia of days gone by was thick. At long last, enough pressure was reached to enable us to turn the engine and all our anxieties were relieved. It was approved for 150 psi. We now knew for sure that the Huber was safe to operate.
The next job on the agenda was new paint. Not only did it receive a new coat of paint, but all the lettering and detailing had to be redone. Now, not only was the Huber operational, but, it once again looked like a brand new piece of equipment. Somehow the new paint gave this lazy looking Huber an essence of energy. It would soon be ready to roll again!
Billy now had other concerns. The Huber would be traveling at the speed of a turtle which would certainly be a hazard to the modern fast moving vehicles. We would also need more wood and water for the trip than could be stored on the steam engine. Within a few days, the quick thinking fast acting Billy Thompson had it all planned.
He made arrangements with the local Sheriff's Department for a police escort in the rear to slow down approaching traffic. To keep within the era of the Huber, he would use two 1912 International Hi-Wheelers and a 1929 model A pick-up to haul the wood. There would be two water stops along the way.
Finally, after weeks of waiting and planning, it was time to prepare the Huber for the trip. On Thursday evening water was put in the boiler and a fire was built once again in the firebox. The fire burned slowly all night and Friday morning she was ready to roll.
This was the first driving trip for the Huber since Billy purchased it. Our engineer, Larry Jones, and Leslie Good, our boyscout fireman, were ready to go. Billy sat on the back with some friends. Well, Billy always said he bought the Huber to get the mail and at exactly 8:45 a.m. he ordered the steam engine to the Post Office. Slowly, but surely, we finally received the day's mail.
Well, now for the trip to Berryville. There were many spectators and newspaper reporters. The excitement was soaring along with the steam in the engine. Several toots on the steam whistle and she was off at a snail's pace of 3 miles per hour. The slow moving monster was followed by the vintage trucks loaded to the hilts with wood. Bringing up the rear was our police escort.
The trip was moving slowly and the big furnace was inhaling the firewood and coal. In order to keep from stopping every time we needed firewood, the wood haulers would occasionally pull up beside the steam engine and hand the wood over to the fireman. After an hour and a half of slow, hot travel, the caravan arrived at Boyce Volunteer Fire Department. There we were met by anxiously awaiting enthusiastic firemen, water hose in hand, ready to give us the water we needed. At this point, after the long drive on the back of the hot steam engine, the engineer and fireman were as dry as the boiler. With the boiler full and the men refreshed with cold lemonade, we again began our journey.
The momentum of the crowd was certainly growing. There was a lot of picture taking. Everyone was trying to capture on film this piece of history in action. People were on porches and lawns waving and shouting as we slowly moved by.
It was another long, hot stretch between Boyce and Trips Auto Sales which was to be our next water stop. Once at Trips, we were again greeted by more crowds. The water hose was ready to give us another refill and after another hour of slow travel the engineer and fireman were just as ready as the engine for something wet.
Well, we knew it had to happen. A traffic jam! Berryville was at a stand still as the Huber crawled through this busy little town. No one seemed to mind as all eyes were on the steam engine. What a sight in downtown Berryville.
The time was 2:30 p.m. when the notorious caravan finally arrived at the fairground. The excitement of the spectators was overwhelming. The Huber made it! She would now be able to sit and rest a few days under the beautiful old oaks at the fairground. Once again she would be a big attraction to both young and old.
Billy was asked if the Huber would be driven back to White Post. His reply, "I think we will take advantage of the modern transporter".
This short eleven mile trip took 5 hours, 100 pounds of coal, cord of wood and 200 gallons of water. It also involved a lot of hard work for all who helped.
The Huber is now, once again, resting lazily in a reserved spot at the front of our shop. Occasionally the children climb on and play, but, there is not a day that goes by that someone does not walk up to take a good close look. Maybe next year we will once again venture out with the Huber to the Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine Association Show in Berryville.
We give our sincere thanks to all the members of the Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine Association for always having such a nice steam show in Berryville. It gives all the many visitors a chance to relive a part of the past.