All Aboard for 55 Years: Denton’s Threshers’ Reunion Focuses on the Future of Locomotive 9
Steam, Stories, and Southern Grit: Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion Rolls into 55th Year with Eyes on the Future—and the Tracks
The summer tradition that put Denton on the map is turning 55 this year. From July 1–5, 2025, the Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion returns to Denton FarmPark with its signature blend of working history, family-friendly fun, and a big dose of Southern pride.
But this isn’t just an anniversary — it’s a reunion with purpose.
More than just a gathering of antique engines and folks in overalls, the Reunion has always been about preserving America’s rural past and putting it on full display for new generations. And this year, one project stands as the heart of that mission: the restoration of Handy Dandy Railroad’s beloved Locomotive #9.
Built in 1942 by the H.K. Porter Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, #9 first worked the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore before being drafted into U.S. Navy service in Norfolk. After the war, her path meandered through the Southeast — Richmond, Greenville, and eventually Burnsville, NC — before landing in Denton in 1979. That’s when the late Brown Loflin, founder of the park, bought her and gave her a new home and purpose.
She was restored, converted from oil to coal, and debuted at the 1980 Reunion. For nearly four decades, #9 carried families around the 1.5-mile track during the festival, cowboy shootouts and all, before she was sidelined in 2019 by a boiler issue discovered during a routine inspection.
“She hasn’t run since 2019,” organizers shared, “and she won’t again until we can restore her safely.”
That restoration is now underway. Phase 1 began on January 19, 2024, with the recovery of original design drawings and a meticulous disassembly of the engine. “We’ve been carefully taking #9 apart and labeling everything as we place it on the shelves,” organizers said. “She’s undergoing full inspection to determine the extent of the repairs needed.”
Those repairs come with a steep price tag — at least $500,000. So far, $2,700 has been raised, but supporters are hopeful. “The restoration timeline can only go as quickly as the funds will allow. We could have her back in one year, or it might take five,” they added.
Visitors to this year’s Reunion will get a close-up look at the project, and donations can be made at the train station or through the park’s website. Organizers are calling the effort “Let’s Put #9 Back on the Line.”
That sentiment will ride alongside everything the Reunion has come to stand for over the past five decades: preserving, celebrating, and sharing.
Throughout the week, guests can explore restored historic buildings, watch live demonstrations of steam-powered equipment, shop handmade crafts, ride a helicopter over the grounds, and catch multiple tractor, horse, mower, and pedal-pull competitions. The beloved Parade of Power rolls through the center of the park daily at 4:00 PM, and the fireworks finale on July 5 will light up the night sky — followed by the annual Night Train Ride (minus the steam, for now).
While much of the week will focus on the joy of tradition, it’s hard to ignore the symbolism in that one quiet locomotive, waiting to breathe again.
“She’s not just a train,” one childhood goer said on social media. “She’s a part of us. A part of this place.”
And with a little help from the community, Locomotive #9 will ride again — steaming forward into a new era of memory-making at the very event that brought her back to life in the first place.
The Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion takes place July 1–5, 2025 at Denton FarmPark (1072 Cranford Rd, Denton, NC). Gates open at 8 a.m. daily.
To learn more about the event or contribute to the #9 restoration project, visit www.dentonfarmpark.com.
