46
D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 5
A
LL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE
HUNDREDS OF OLD STEAM LOCOMOTIVES ON
DISPLAY AT MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL SITES, AND CITY
PARKS. To most people, these relics look like a boiler atop big
wheels covered in an intricate web of pipes, rods, domes, and
more. While they are interesting to look at, it can be hard to see
these masses as anything more than cold, hard, lifeless steel.
But for people like Larry Ingold, a steam locomotive is a living,
breathing machine—the closest thing humans have ever made to
a machine that actually feels alive. That's why he's spent his en-
tire career working with them and why he's excited to lead a small
group of volunteers breathing new life into an old steam locomo-
tive on display at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
The steam locomotive dates back to 19th-century England, and
the way it works is relatively simple: Using fire, the locomotive
boils water to produce pressurized steam in a boiler, which is
pumped into cylinders and used to push rods. These rods then
turn large wheels, propelling the locomotive (and usually the
Full Steam Ahead
by JUSTIN FRANZ
A SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WORKS TO RESTORE
A VINTAGE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN MISSOULA THAT ONCE WORKED
IN LOGGING CAMPS AND EVEN STARRED IN A HOLLYWOOD FILM
