Driving
north on Pennsylvania state Route 36 in west-central
Pennsylvania toward Coolspring, there are few indications
of anything special just a few miles down the road.
A gentle rise gives way to a peak in the road, and dropping
into a lush valley carved by the Little Sandy Creek
and Lick Run the first hint of what's to come becomes
visible. Puffs of smoke rhythmically push up from the
valley floor, and as the road descends signs of mechanical
activity slowly come into view. This is Coolspring,
Pa., home to Coolspring Power Museum.
Some
5,000 old engine fans descend on Coolspring every June,
gathering for one of the great shows of the season.
Launched in 1976, the annual Coolspring Summer Expo
is a gas engine Mecca, an event drawing attendees and
exhibitors to experience what must be the most remarkable
collection of vintage engines in the world, bar none.
With 125 full-time inhabitants and a few dozen modest,
well-kept homes lining either side of the street, Coolspring
overruns with activity as trucks and trailers loaded
with engines pour into the Coolspring Power Museum grounds.
The
Coolspring Power Museum's 300 HP horizontally opposed
four-cylinder Miller.
Origins
.. align="left" valign="middle">Left:
Rex Messner's 12 HP Type A Olds portable, shop no.
D5258.
Above:
Doug Allen (left) and Craig Prucha spin the flywheels
on Craig's circa 1900 25 HP Swan. Craig just finished
a major restoration on the Swan, which had its
first showing this year.
Left:
Paul Penik's 6 HP Six Mule Team, serial no. 607518,
was one of a number of Associated engines on hand
this year.
Richard
Backus is editor of Gas Engine Magazine. Contact Coolspring
Power Museum at: P.O. Box 19, Coolspring, PA 15730,
(814) 849-6883, or on the Web at: www.coolspringpowermuseum.org
