Of all the possible addictions, maybe one of the most pleasant is an affinity for the sound of a small hard-working steam engine, chugging along without much fuss, chugity chugity chugity chugity ...
Years ago our county fair had an exhibit that consisted of a small square of ground about 20 yards by 20 yards full of little stationary steam engines chugging away. Such a busy little sound. They weren't hooked up to anything, though obviously they could have been.
Just the sound of 20 or so happy (ooops, no anthropomorphizing here) little chuggers. Walk around and between them, such a neat exhibit.
Naturally I've never seen it since. Haven't been back to the fair much and when I was, the engines weren't.
Been scouting the internet but none of the sites seem to be quite what that exhibit was. These were working little dudes, not models.
So while I continue wandering around looking for small stationary steam engines, any of you have any experience with or fondness for them? I would think maybe some of you survivalist ranchers might still have one or two doing chores for you.
My ultimate weird goal is maybe to buy one of the smallest stationary steam engines that is safe, easy to operate, mostly maintenance free, and with a hypnotic little chug chug that reminds everyone of the engine that could, put it out in the garden, and run it occasionally for ambience.
Mind you I'm in the usual U.S. suburb on 1/4 acre so this engine has to be enchanting for the neighbors too. The engines I remember sounded might be in the special category called hit and miss, making them more charmingly eccentric.
