This was the seventh year for the event- and it shows. It has matured into a world-class display and teaching museum on a par equal to and in many ways better than similar festivals and museums around the country. There are some larger steam events, there are some industrial museums that are large enough and visited enough to warrant being "full time" operations; but the Soulé Steam Feed Works working / teaching musem and the Soulé Live Steam Festival combine together into one of the most unique and spectacular events of it's type in the country. Expanded this year to two full days - both days saw very heavy visitor traffic - with displays in constant motion and in many cases - working production. All of the larger "portable" steam enignes on display last year were back again this year - while a few of the exhibitors with smaller engines were not able to return this year. However - there were more "new" exhibitors this year - and the outdoor display area was filled to capacity - and spilled out onto 4th Street (which was closed and served as a common area for some displays and vendors - and the food court). The museum personnel has done a remarkable job - both in the steam demonstration room, and in the Soulé factory - having ever more machines running - and actually doing work. The 2008 festival was a big success- but the 2009 show easily surpassed it in every way: The number and quality of displays; number of people available to demonstrate and explain, and most importantly - the number of people attending the event.