WyoTech Students Strut Their Stuff and Restore Antique Fire Engine

Students at WyoTech Laramie are up to their old tricks again! This time, students from the school's Collision Refinishing Technology - Street Rod and Custom Fabrication program are working overtime and blasting off layers of paint to restore a Nott Steam engine purchased by the city of Laramie in 1908. The engine has been sitting in storage for the last 20 years -just waiting for a talented group of six individuals to come along to restore its former grandeur.

The goal is to repaint the engine in maroon and red with gold and black floral designs and striping. The engine's original five-foot tall wooden wheels and the empty tongue bring back vivid memories of yester-year.

Such steam fire engines were built by only a handful of companies as early as the 1830's. The central element of this antique engine is a large coal-fired broiler that when hot, produced steam to work a pump that sucked water from a tank or hydrant through a hose onto the fire. The operation was quick back in the day, and could be made ready in just a few minutes.

Gary Egge, project manager for the Laramie Fire Department, said Laramie's was a 1907 model that was used into the 1920s. It was loaned to Cheyenne in 1942 for display, and then requested back in 1987. It was returned in 1990 and has been sitting in storage at the Albany County Fairgrounds since.

Travis Bird, a WyoTech student from Brighton, Colo., said he and the other half - dozen students involved in the project have been researching the engine on the Internet. So far they've learned that not many still exist and that information about those that do is in short supply.

Work on the engine involved peeling back the original layers. The next plan of attack is to spray-paint over the years of different colors. It's tough work, and once it's done it will look even better than it did the day on the first day it was commissioned for use.

If you're the type of guy or gal that enjoys metalworking, painting and detailing and the satisfaction of restoring a vehicle back to its original glory, why not check out the WyoTech Collision Refinishing Technology Program!

Bottom line is that the right training can prepare you to seek entry-level employment as a Collision Repair Shop Technician, Automotive Glass Installation Repairer or Specialty Shop Technician.

Nothing beats doing what you love and getting paid to do it! Why not contact WyoTech today and get the information first-hand on how WyoTech program training can help you ratchet-up your career possibilities.