Make a note in your diary for Saturday, April 17, and get along to the museum to see if society members and the Echuca Vintage Machinery Group can get these veteran powerhouses to start first go.
EHS president Dot Hammond said if everything went according to plan, the engines would burst into life at 10 am.
And, providing they don’t seize up, they will run until 2 pm.
Ms Hammond said about the same time, custodians at the museum would be flicking on the switches to some other stationary engines in the collection.
With a rare chance to get revved up about seeing some working history, people can also marvel at the magic of local artists as they turn a blank canvas into a historical record.
“If there’s an art to starting these old engines, the museum is also the engine room for local artists,” Ms Hammond said.
“On the same day we turn it on with the oil engines, there will be artists hard at work on their easels recording local history.
“They are part of a project we are running with artists painting scenes around the museum — indoors and out — so visitors will get to see both.”
With entry to the Echuca Historical Society museum at $6 per person (and $2 per child), Ms Hammond said Saturday's event would be a two-for-one deal for history lovers.
“It is cheap at twice the price — we have plenty of fabulous local history on show you can check out at the same time,” she said.
The Echuca Historical Museum is at 1 Dickson St and is open from 10 am to 2 pm daily.
Further details are available by phoning 5480 1325 or emailing eh.soc@bigpond.com
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