After five years, the Owego Fire Department (OFD) steam fire engine is returning to Tioga County, N.Y. Members of the Owego Hose Team traveled to Maine to bring the pride of the OFD back home. It was built in 1866 by Amoskeag. They were in New Hampshire, and they built steam locomotives and big brass locomotives, said Owego Station 6 Chief Engineer Jim Mead. Then they built fire engines, which are beautiful brass things, and this is one of them. The engine was sent away for restoration over five years ago, and now the 1866 steam fire engine is considered the oldest operating engine in the United States. It went to Maine for a new boiler. Its operated by steam, stated Mead. It has its original wrought-iron boiler from 1866. The unit isnt just for display. It is capable of pumping 700 gallons of water per minute, which is roughly 300 gallons less than modern fire engines. Mead said he is excited to get the engine running again. Its been so long since Ive operated it. I remember it did quite well. Its not a toy; its an actual operating apparatus, and Im excited to see it run again. Less than 500 steam fire engines remain in the United States due in part to the need for scrap metal during WWII, making this a rare item. The Owego Hose Team took on the project in 2020, took the unit up to Hope, Maine, at Firefighters Restoration, said Owego Hose Team volunteer Patrick Gavin. Its operational again, and it is once again, we believe, the oldest operating steam engine in the country. Gavin said he is thrilled to have the unit back so they can begin phase three of the project. The first phase was to build this beautiful building to house it, continued Gavin. The second phase was to do the restoration on the unit, the third phase is to get it out into parades, to the fire masters and fire service. During the third phase, the unit will also serve as an educational tool for local students. We can get the unit involved in the shop classes and technology classes so high-schoolers can learn about steam technology and hydraulics and all of the associated engineering in the unit to get them involved and interested, mentioned Gavin. Projects such as this are no small financial task. The total cost of the project was around $500,000, but Gavin said the community came together to raise the entire amount. The restoration project did not involve public taxpayer money. On the side of the steamer, the motto is United we Conquer, and Owego really united to conquer this project, ended Gavin. The steam fire engine will be housed in the Steamer House Building on North Avenue. It, along with the 1939 Sanford Hose Truck, will be on display in the heart of downtown Owego, N.Y., for all to see. Everybody is encouraged to stop by and get a glimpse of history. To learn more, visit www.owegofire.org.