A Passion for Steam
Miller’s restoration of a rare 110 Case steam engine is something few in world can boast
By Dave Mast
When J.D. Miller decides to dive into a project, he doesn’t mess around... he does it big.
The New Bedford native has always had a passion for steam engines. Recently, he saw the culmination of a dream take place when he finished the restoration of one of the world’s rarest steam engines — a 110 Case, which is as majestic as it is beautiful.
The late-1912 model was built in Racine, Wis., then shipped to Alberta, Canada to a dealer. It was later purchased by three brothers, who owned it for decades. They eventually sold it to a local family, who kept it until Miller bought it 10 years ago, after seeing it advertised in a Canadian antique magazine.
The 110 had been used primarily for its belt power, and had done a small amount of plowing over the years, with all of the owners keeping it in fairly good condition.
Despite its care, time had worn it down, and when Miller purchased the colossal machine, it was in need of plenty of repairs.
“The original was still usable, but cosmetically, it was not where I wanted it to be,” said Miller.
He set about fully restoring the antique, completely rebuilding the back of it. According to Miller, they tore it down and built it back up, taking painstaking time to catalog each part. Old parts were repainted in their original colors, but all of the actual steam engine parts were cleaned and reused. All of the nine-foot-long flue pipes, going the length of the fire box through the smokestack, are new. Fifty-four large new pads adorn each giant wheel. Local artist Mahlon Troyer added some flair by painting gold details on the kelly green paint.
“I told Mahlon what I wanted, and he did a fantastic job, just like I wanted,” said Miller, of the artist’s efforts to recreate the original.
The result of Miller’s passionate purchase and restoration project is now complete, and the 110 will be on display at the annual Doughty Valley Steam Days. Only about 15 of these giant machines are left in the nation (of which less than 10 are complete and capable of operating), making Miller the owner of a truly rare and unique piece of history.
The massive beast, which stands 13 feet high and weighs 43,000 pounds when it is fully loaded and operational, will dwarf other machines at the show. While the 110 may top out at a cruising speed of less than what an average man can walk, the power it generates is astronomical.
“That’s one of the great things about working with steam engines,” said Miller. “They are so powerful. I also enjoy the fact that we are working with something that has been a part of America’s past.”
Tom Diehl, who has been around steam engines for quite some time, and has worked on plenty of them, said that this is one of the most prestigious engines he has had the honor of being a part of.
“This is one of the most enjoyable and fascinating restoration projects I’ve ever worked on,” said Diehl. “This will easily be one of the greatest draws we have ever had here at the steam show. It’s an awesome project, and it is such a beautiful machine. You really have to stand beside it and see it to truly appreciate it.”
Over the past decade, Miller has put time into the restoration process whenever possible. It has been a labor of love for him, and he has had several different people working on the engine from time to time.
Miller’s passion for steam engines has grown, as he has worked on a number of steam engines. However, none have rivaled the titanic 110 in sheer beauty and stature.
But while many might think that Miller would be looking forward to the day his machine gets out in the public eye, the laid-back owner said he will take it all in stride as the day comes for the state inspector to come and assess his work, and for the first time the public gets to see it fully functional.
“I’m not the type of guy who gets too riled up and excited about anything,” said Miller, with a soft chuckle. “In all honesty, I have had as much fun going through the process of restoring it as I will have actually operating it. A big part in the process of restoring a machine like this is just being around something you have a passion for.”
While Miller may be taking it all in stride, those who have helped to complete the restoration are not hiding their emotions.
“He might be calm about getting this thing fired up, but the rest of us are extremely excited to see it in action, let me tell you,” said Diehl, adding, “People around the nation know J.D., and what he has done is well-known. We’ve got a lot of people from around the world keeping an eye on this project, and we want it to be perfect for the Doughty Valley Steam Days. It’s that big of a deal because it is so rare.”
