Author Topic: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag  (Read 1463 times)

Offline propforward

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Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« on: September 06, 2021, 12:37:51 PM »
Hello Folks,

I got to spend a bit of time out at Rollag on Saturday. For those not familiar, Rollag is a permanent installation that has grown dramatically since 1940 (I think). It is the home of a great many engines of all types, and annually on the USA Labor Day holiday weekend is a 3 day extravaganza open to the public. The grounds are immense, and include a working sawmill, fully functioning machine shop, smithy and forge, steam locomotive running around the grounds perimeter, and more engines of all types than you can shake a stick at. There are sheds upon sheds of engines, mostly working, all cared for by enthusiasts all year. It's difficult to show the scale of the event, but I present a little taste of it here in pictures and poorly edited video:

Sawmill:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpIUcEvHXWc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpIUcEvHXWc</a>

Machine Shop:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSf2Hdn30w" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSf2Hdn30w</a>

A selection of engines:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Y66Pdpa5s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Y66Pdpa5s</a>

Some of the tractor parade:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9_ueR8UuEs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9_ueR8UuEs</a>

The model engineering shed:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKNbpsglkKQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKNbpsglkKQ</a>

And now for some still shots, starting with the sawmill:



















Stuart

Forging ahead regardless.

Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2021, 12:41:29 PM »
The machine shop - one of my favourite parts of the show. They cast up little aluminium anvils and things, and machine them throughout the day. These are obviously for sale as well.



























Stuart

Forging ahead regardless.

Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2021, 12:44:53 PM »
Engines! I only got to visit a few of the sheds - there were several others I just didn't get to. Maybe next year!























Stuart

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Offline crueby

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2021, 12:46:24 PM »
Wow - what a wonderful place! Thanks for all the pictures!

Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2021, 12:49:02 PM »


















Good to see a Brit in the mix!























Stuart

Forging ahead regardless.

Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2021, 12:55:00 PM »
No threshing show is complete without a tractor parade. Here are some of my favourites from the day.

We have had a serious drought this year, but the few days ahead of the show it rained, making it a bit swampy. There were engines steaming up all over the place.





















































Stuart

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Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2021, 12:56:11 PM »
















Stuart

Forging ahead regardless.

Offline propforward

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2021, 01:05:59 PM »
Last but by no means least, the model engineering shed. Some very nice models on display.

I don't have a thing for Lego any more - certainly used to as a youngster. Not sure what the specific reason for the Lego display was, but anything that has kids putting things together is OK by me. Plus I rather liked the B17 rendition.







Some very nice little bar stock engines on display:



This model wood lathe was very fancy:







A nice "Mary". I would like to make a beam engine, and when I do it will almost certainly be this one:











Interesting idea for the bigger PM Research engines - making a twin set up.

















PM Research were well represented. Here is a PMR #1, which was under steam when I got there. Very nice.























So there we are - another grand day out. On top of everything shown here are historical buildings, crafts and displays - something for everyone. Like I say I didn't see it all, but since I live not far away, it allows me to go back and look in detail at different aspects each year.
Stuart

Forging ahead regardless.

Offline Flyboy Jim

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2021, 02:44:47 PM »
What a great show! Thanks for taking the time to take pictures and post them here.

Jim
Sherline 4400 Lathe
Sherline 5400 Mill
"You can do small things on big machines, but you can do small things on small machines".

Offline kuhncw

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2021, 04:36:03 PM »
Thanks for posting such a great bunch of photos.

Chuck

Offline Kim

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2021, 04:38:44 PM »
Wow, does seem to be quite the show!  Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.
Kim

Offline Don1966

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2021, 07:08:42 PM »
Awesome thanks for posting it….. :Love:


 :cheers:
Don

Offline Admiral_dk

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #12 on: September 06, 2021, 07:12:48 PM »
Thank you for the effort Stuart  :cheers:

No point in asking if you enjoyed yourself  8)

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #13 on: September 07, 2021, 12:23:50 AM »
 :praise2:
 Thanks very much for taking the time & posting all these Stuart! What a BEAUTIFUL collection of machinery!
 I especially enjoyed seeing all the steam traction engines! I can almost smell the steam & smoke!

 John

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion 2021 - Rollag
« Reply #14 on: September 07, 2021, 01:23:04 AM »
Thank you for all the wonderful photos and videos, I wish that I could have gone.

Dave

 

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