Northern Illinois Steam Power Club

05/16/2026

https://youtu.be/s8XVTObZ7mQ?si=gSojKMnViIbaFgK1

This video was shot on Thursday August 7, 2025. This is the parade route of a Port Huron Longfellow steam tractor. I did shoot the entire parade and did se...

05/03/2026

Our club had a phenomenal day yesterday at our first work day of the year. The day was spent performing spring cleaning on our beautiful showgrounds. We had an army of volunteers and great weather to clear leaves, pick up sticks, and split wood for steam engines. We thank our dedicated club members who volunteered their time to make the day so successful.

Our 69th show will be held August 13th-16th. See you all at the Taylor Marshall Farm!

04/14/2026

The steam club has a quantity of rough sawed lumber for sale. Mostly 5/4" thick but some thicker. Ash, oak and also some hickory and walnut. Most of this lumber has been drying since our last show or longer. This lumber will be available on our scheduled work day on May 2nd, and other times we have a club event. Contact Jon Gould @ (630) 217-1765 or [email protected] for more information.

04/01/2026

Over the last few years, our club has faced several challenges related to the coal used to power our steam-driven machinery. Rising costs, sourcing difficulties, and environmental concerns have all prompted us to take action.

In response to these ongoing pressures, the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club made the decision to convert Mary Ann, our 1925 Erie Type A steam shovel, back to a diesel-fired piece of equipment.

Our steam shovel team has already began testing a smudge-pot style burner, which will atomize #2 diesel fuel from the center of the firebox. This design is ideal for its compact, vertical boiler.

We plan for this conversion to be completed before our 2026 show, held August 13-16th of this year. All are welcome to behold Mary Ann’s conversion to diesel fuel.

03/18/2026

Remembering our Wisconsin friend Gary Overocker.

View Gary L. Overocker's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

01/16/2026

Remembering our friend Paul Christensen.

Paul Christensen, 66, of Genoa, IL died on January 4, 2026 at NW Medicine- Kishwaukee Hospital. He was born on June 15, 1959 in Chicago to Harold and Gloria Bennett Christensen. Paul lived a life built on hard work, steady hands, and a deep love for the land and his

11/25/2025

The love of tractors starts early! You might recognise some faces, or more likely names, of some well loved club members in this photo.

Kane County, Illinois, 1930's...

Caption
The Duchaj family plowing with a 1936 Oliver tractor. Pictured from left to right: Emily (Gaspar) Duchaj, John & Milan Duchaj (her sons), & Andrew Gaspar (Emily's Father)

Source
Illinois State Library

10/01/2025

Prairie State Railroad is having a Pumpkin Train event at their track at Plowman’s Park in Big Rock. They are looking for volunteers to add Halloween displays at their track. This event takes place on October 4th.

09/20/2025

On Tuesday 53 members of our club enjoyed a trip to the Case-IH plant in Racine WI. After meeting at the showgrounds we all boarded a chartered bus for the trip to Racine. Upon arriving at the plant, we spent some time viewing the Case-IH Experience Center. This museum like facility showcases a collection of new and vintage machinery and included a gift shop. A very nice lunch was then served, followed by a film highlighting the history of Case-IH. After getting briefed on the safety rules, we broke up into groups for a tour of the Magnum Series tractor assembly plant. Unfortunately photography was not allowed here, but we can tell you it was a very interesting experience seeing the assembly process from start to finish. After the tractors are complete each machine is driven to the test house, where each one is put through a rigorous process before they are allowed to be shipped. All together we had a very nice time visiting the factory and also some very nice conversation with our friends.

08/13/2025

Thank you.

Thank you to all of our visitors for making the trip out to the Taylor Marshall Farm and joining us. Whether it was your first time, or your 68th time, it is a privilege to share our passions with all of you year after year.

Thank you to our incredible volunteers who are so generous with their time, abilities, and energy to put together this steam show. Without all of you, all of this would cease to exist.

If you weren't able to make it out to the 2025 Sycamore Steam Show, here is a small peek into this years show. If you did make it out to the show, we'd love to see any pictures or video you took! Drop it in the comments below.