By Michelle Donaghey Correspondent
BREMEN — The Boilermaker Special is looking spiffy again thanks to some work by a shop in Bremen.
    “Of all the body shops available in Indiana, for a small business like Stewart’s to get that opportunity is pretty special,” said Sharon Bules, whose son, Brian, was in charge of the “largest mascot in the world” as Reamer Club Chairman in 2007.
“The club decides on the best place to get the train painted,” she added, noting that rehauls are done “about every five years or as needed.”

Last fall, the train got some body work done and a new paint job by Stewart’s Body Shop in Bremen. “The maintenance took a little longer than expected, but it was definitely worth it in the end. I am pleased to report that the Special is looking as good as ever,” noted Bules, chairman.    
As the college mascot, the Boilermaker Special is taken to all away football games, with the exception of Hawaii said Brian.
“Most people don’t realize it has been driven to all games- including bowls- with the exception of the Rose Bowl. They did haul it to California for that,” added the proud mom.
For those who are out of touch with Purdue, the Boilermaker Special looks like a steam engine which is on a truck chassis powered by a 7.3 liter V-8 engine.
“This is actually the fourth large train that Purdue has had. There have also been two small trains called X-tra Specials which are on a golf cart chassis and can be taken into buildings on campus including Mackey Arena for basketball games, said Sharon.
While it isn’t a big semi rig, just because someone wants to drive the Boilermaker Special doesn’t mean that they will be able to do it.    
“There are only about 40 people who have had the opportunity to drive this particular Boilermaker Special,” said Sharon Bules, the proud mother of Brandon Bules, PU junior who was in charge of the train in 2007 as BMS chairman.
“Several pieces, including the front quarter panels, had to be replaced,” said Sharon Bules of work done on the train in 2007 by Brain who made the panels at Ross Yoder’s factory, Equipment Services in Nappanee. “Then Chris Stewart of Stewart’s Body Shop in Bremen put them on the train. Chris also removed the old paint by power blasting if off. Afterward, new primer, paint and clear coat were applied. Finally, the front pistons were raised and reinforced. All of this was also done by Chris,” said Bules proudly.
While the train does go mostly to Purdue events, Bules would like the public to realize that the Boilermaker Special is also available for events.
“You can do so by contacting the Reamers and scheduling it. It does cost by the hour and mile,” she noted.