SHELBURNE, Vt. -
A caravan of old Stanley Steamer cars rolled onto the museum grounds as part of the Eastern Regional Steam Car Tour. This year's week long tour was organized in part by Bill Cooke of Hyde Park.
"Here just for the day this is our first day of touring 00:30:59:25 tomorrow over to the cabot factory then down to rock of ages. Wednesday a day of rest and repair these cars do have a mind of their own so there is a lot of repair work," said Bill Cooke, a Stanley Steamer owner.
One car had to be pushed the final few feet, maybe this is where the term "running out of steam" comes from.
The Stanley Motor Carriage Company was an American manufacturer of steam engine vehicles, it operated from 1902 to 1924. The cars were called Stanley Steamers, several different models were produced.
"The stanley is like driving a giant tea kettle. In the front underneath the nose is a boiler and directly underneath the boiler is the burner which is the heat source I am burning a kerosene for fuel," said Cooke.
Lisa Cantor is one of the few women drivers.
"Its very mechanical to drive there is no electrical its all plumbing so it 's valves fuel pressure it's steam pressure so you are watching the car more than you are watching the road," said Cantor.
The cars are slow by today's standards, about 30 to 40 miles an hour. Which means sticking to back roads for the tour. They also need a source of water along the way.
"Been involved with steamers since I was 5 with my Dad and you learn very early to knock on a door if you see a hose hanging on the side of a house and we have never had anyone say no you can't use our hose we won't give you any water," said Cooke.
How far these cars can go, depends on the size of their water tanks so now, its time to fill her up.
Bills water tank holds 35 gallons of water, meaning he can travel 35 miles before he has to fill up again. These folks will be heading to Cambridge on Thursday, then wrapping up in St Johnsbury on Friday.
