Rough and Tumble Steam School 

The 2025 Steam  School  May 17 and 18, 2025 is full.  The next available school is 2026 with October sign up.   

Rough and Tumble Steam School is a National recognized school with a unique hands on experience for Students with multiple steam equipment to operate. Students learn operation, safety, and maintenance, rain or shine.

Steam School registration for takes place at the "Time of Harvest" show in October for the following year. We take the first 24 students to sign up.   School normally fills in 55 minutes or less so be at the saw mill early Friday to sign up. Registration starts at 8:00 am. Minimum age at time of school is 14. 

Steam School takes place on Saturday and Sunday after Spring Steam Up. Students have the chance to operate 6 different steam traction engines and our two steam trains, "Little Toot" and the "Shay" and more. Our two day Steam School will be held Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18 2025.  

Steam School tuition is $100, which includes school materials. Enrollment is limited to Rough & Tumble members.  New members must join prior to school to operate equipment on the R&T grounds.  The school is limited to the first 24 applicants, age 14 and over and school fills quickly. Applications are available and accepted beginning at the 2024 “Time of Harvest” show October 11th at 8:00 am at the sawmill.

Emphasis is placed on safety, maintenance, operation, and the hands-on experience. Class time is limited to half of the first day, with remaining time and Day 2 dedicated to practical, hands-on operation, including cleaning, inspection, maintenance, and operation of numerous steam traction engines.  Operating and conditions permitting, students also may operate 2 railroad engines (The Shay and Little Toot) as well as custom engines and a large variety of steam traction equipment.  This gives students the widest experience available to operate steam equipment, unique to Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association in Pennsylvania.  Please look at our web site of previous Steam Schools at http://www.roughandtumble.org/  in our photo section.