The 2009 National Summer Steam Up was the 13th year for this event and had 135 steamers attend.  This was the largest attendance in the nine years that Steam Events LLC has been putting on the steam up.  Attendees came from Canada and 13 states. In addition to the steamers an additional 100 plus people came as guests. These are spouses, children and anyone interested in seeing what the steam up is like.    

This year the Steam Events team provides 3 large tracks with 7 loops. Two loops were dual gauge 45 and 32 mm and 5 were 45 mm. In addition, there was another smaller track with 2 additional 45 mm loops. Therefore, everyone had enough track time.   

Continuing National Summer Steam Up traditions were the annual shay up which is a lot of laughs.  Saturday night featured a BBQ out on the patio. The weather was perfect and everyone stayed to talk and enjoy the fellowship after dinner. We followed the BBQ with our door prize drawing.   

2009 was the National Summer Steam Up’s 8th year at the Lions Gate Hotel. The venue fits everyone’s needs with a large, well lit, air conditioned room in which to run the trains. In the same building we have the dealer room and a room for the seminars. The building is free standing and not directly connected to the hotel so we do not bother anyone and no one bothers us.   

The 14th National Summer Steam Up will be held from Wed. July 14, starting at 6 pm until Sunday July 18 at noon at the Lions Gate Hotel.  We hope you will make plans to attend.  For additional information visit our website - www.summersteamup.com

 -   Sonny Wizelman, Steam Events, LLC.