An old Russell steam engine is reborn thanks to one dedicated man
By Dave Mast
July 29, 2016
1512
How often do people get to see a genuine rebirth of an old, forgotten relic that is miraculously brought back to life? The chance to witness that very thing will present itself at the upcoming Holmes County Steam Show in Mt. Hope Aug. 4-6.
This years show will feature Zach Johnsons incredible 30 HP Russell #15451, a mammoth engine built 75 years ago that was left for scrap in a field and given new life by Johnson, a Perrysville, Ohio, native who actually crafted much of the engine in Canton.
The story actually began back in 1954 when the engine was advertised for sale for 1 1/2 cents per pound in Columbia City, Indiana. The engine had sat dormant for two decades, and Johnsons great-grandfather was set to pay the price to lug it home. Unfortunately, the farmer would not accept a check, only cash, and the deal was not struck. The humongous iron workhorse was sold instead to a man in Plymouth, Indiana, but it was never used there either, sitting for a half-decade.
Then in 2005 Johnson got the itch to go searching for the Russell engine. He did some research, and although he couldnt narrow down its exact location, he was given the name of a tractor auction site that supposedly had a large Advance engine. He and a friend went to investigate, and while looking for the Advance, they accidentally stumbled on an old, aging Russell. The serial number was a perfect match. It was the very same one his great-grandfather had wanted to purchase.
Johnson bought the Russell in 2005 and set about on a time-consuming but passionate journey of restoring the engine to its former glory. Already in the process of restoring a different engine, the Russell took a back seat until November of 2009. With a large show showcasing Russell engines looming, he attacked the restoration process, and while he was in a hurry to finish it for the upcoming show, he did not cut any corners. He wanted to restore the machine to its original form. A newly built engine now powers the Russell, a chore that took a great deal of time and muscle to complete.
When I got it, the engine was completely stuck, said Johnson in an interview with Brenda Stant of Engineers & Engines Magazine in a 2009 interview. All shafts and machine surfaces had to be either replaced or remachined due to setting out in the weather for so long and not greased, oiled or moved. The boiler needed repair because of it sitting outside. The inside was smooth and thick, but with wet leaves and water sitting in the brackets for seven to 10 years, you get pitting. Squirrels had also filled the boiler with walnuts.
The job seemed unending to Johnson, the repairs and costs an ongoing chore. Still, he labored on, determined to repair the engine.
With the help of family and friends Johnson stayed the course. By June of 2009 he had accomplished his goal of getting the Russell restored for the big show in Waseon, Ohio.
We finished painting an hour before the semi showed up to haul the engine to Waseon, said Johnson in the interview. The pinstriping was finished while at the showgrounds.
An aged, dilapidated old engine had come to life, reborn through the elbow grease and dedication of a man who had been told of his great-grandfathers connection to it so many ears ago.
I am very honored to get the engine done in honor of my great-grandpa, Johnson said.
Since that time Johnson has shown the engine at many shows and takes special joy in knowing that the labor of love that became his passion is now adored by many other people who can appreciate the era of the steam engines as well as the incredible work that went into repairing and restoring the giant Russell.
I learned a lot from this project and the men who helped me, said Johnson in his interview with Stant. I learned the importance of doing a job right, even if it takes extra time to do it, and not give up on a job when it seems too tough or something goes wrong. Just keep a level mind-set and keep on the right track to doing a good job of which you can be proud.
Johnsons Russell engine will be on display at the upcoming Holmes County Steam Show, where he will be on hand to share more about the incredible journey his prized engine took to go from a rusting afterthought to the center of attention.
Information for this story and quotes for this story and photos were provided by Engineers & Engines Magazine from an interview with journalist Brenda Stant in 2009.
