10 Big Old Fairbanks Morse Engines Sound That Will Shake Your Soul

[@nigelman9506]

Fairbanks Morse engines are like musical instruments, they sound alive, I could put this on loop and fall asleep

[@scopex2749]

Im a lifelong engineer over 45 years, my wife cannot understand how I can fall asleep listening to these big engines - I told her its 'Machine Music'!

[@tomthumb5445]

I nap every day to a WWII Bomber playing on my laptop. Only way I can get a good sleep.

[@bobbobson1605]

@@tomthumb5445 B-17s droning is almost indescribably pleasant. In real life I actually had something similar, I slept a few hours at a truck stop parked about 50 feet from many dozens of diesel trucks idling, and because there were so many, it was just one giant, relaxing hum... and i almost overslept.

[@rverro8478]

My Grandfather's ship was upgraded to a Fairbanks-Morse 3 or 4 banger. I never sailed on that ship but, my father did and, the only description I had about the engine was, the regular thumping/humming sound so, here I am, listening to what the ship engine room sounded like. Similar to the one @ 12:43 or @ 15:09. Thanks for sharing.

[@haroldwilkes598]

Sitting in my living room chair grinning like I've got a roomful of puppies...I love these old engines.

[@diffened]

Watching these old machines run and listening to them just makes me smile. So glad that there are people who are able and willing to keep them running and I hope it will always be that way. They are a big part of industrial history and are just really cool.

[@winstonsmith313]

@@diffened Thanks for the “make me smile” comment. I didn’t realize until I read this that I, too, had a little-boy-on-Christmas-morning smile on my face.

[@rolandsiepmann8301]

@@winstonsmith313 me too 😃

[@OJB42]

I'm an IT guy and I like subtle, elegant engineering, but this old stuff is just so awesome, you've got o love it!

[@DavidMoore69-zq8nv]

Being married 29 years to the girl next door and 1 day she came home and hugged me and I understand now , she had set at the river front park and listened to a twin screw tow boat powered by 2 , 16v645's and said it sounded like it was breathing in and out . Tells me if I had it as bad for her as I do diesel engines and steam engines she'd never have to worry , Love that womern .

[@kennethkossan5547]

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a very long time. I have tagged my uncles and cousins all who will appreciate the hard work and dedication. Keeps to keep engines like these up and running just remarkable. Absolutely amazing to see. Sometimes you see this stuff in black-and-white film that you never get to hear it because it's silent. This is really something and you can imagine a giant belt being on that wheel, turning some huge loom, it's really neat to think about.

[@John-oe5nb]

You can keep your electronic ignition and computer run sensors. I can listen to these engines all day long.

[@2StrokeDriptroit]

Nothing beats a 2 stroke. These big engines are built like small 2 stroke petrol engines with no valves in tge cylinder (s), crankcase pressure scavenging, individual reed valves to the crankcases, and transfer passages to the cylinder intake ports. Super simple, the way a diesel SHOULD be! Great engines! 😋

[@lennyvalentin6485]

Depends on what you mean by "beats". Forced air 2-stroke marine diesels kick the snot out of these old clunkers in both performance and efficiency (which these things basically don't have at all - ten, twenty liters displacement or more per cylinder, a few dozen horses output... Holy crap, if all our engines ran like these wheezing smoking monsters everyone on the planet would be dead already.) And an electric motor beat these in performance AND simplicity. 1 moving part, 80+ percent efficiency, high torque at 0 RPM - you really can't beat that.

[@GMLAB5007]

Already have it as background music in my lab!! And I’m not kidding!😂

[@Tom-jy3jd]

Those old dude’s in coveralls are a dying breed

[@Biggestfoot10209]

Sadly that’s a true statement.

[@wideyxyz2271]

Nice to see the old "safety sandals" in use!

[@rickbockman7537]

THOSE SMOKE RINGS 😊😊😊😊❤

[@richlevenson6605]

Ah - beauty is truly in the eyes and ears of the beholder!

[@mountaininfidel2060]

A Symphony of Iron and steel.

[@dennisk5818]

These are just beautiful machines from a time when quality and engineering meant something. Ah, the smell of diesel exhaust in the morning.

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

Smell s like prosperity!

[@wmffmw]

@@dennisk5818 I am a retired Engineer with a 54 year long carrier. The attitude of Engineers has not changed. Management by MBA without experience Engineering is the problem.

[@dennisk5818]

@@wmffmw I worked in the engineering department and the thin line of making it work and making it work within a given budget. I often maintained that engineers need to have art/design classes. I can do both since I'm balanced left and right brain. Being able to understand the creative form in a design, I believe, is often missed by engineers.

[@wmffmw]

@@dennisk5818 I can't disagree but there are alternatives. I am a self taught engineer qualified by experience. My creations run from simple circuits to complex machines. Creativity and performance are interest driven. It also helps to have a 192 IQ a large dose of self confidence and the ability to communicate. Sometimes creativity manifests because of necessity. In 1981 technology I need you to build 30 wire wrap circuit boards. 5 each of 6 unique prototype circuits with an average of 500 or so components each. You have wire wrap tools and materials and 6 untrained assembly workers and one week, including engineering time and training. I created a set of wiring and assembly instructions from schematics that worked like a connect the dots game. Simplified component placement diagrams with sample boards and training instructions over a weekend, trained on Monday and delivered 30 Digitally controlled analog audio boards on Friday. Bonuses were awarded on Monday for the top two performers I selected. The president of the company wanted to give them $25.00 Savings Bonds. I said no and refused to deliver if the women doing the real work didn't get a full weeks pay in cash, no deductions or taxes. Balls help too.

[@caryd67]

My uncle had a fishing boat with an old Fairbanks engine. He showed me the original advertisement for the engine, and all it said was “Jesus, the light of the world”

[@kevinrice7635]

Agreed 👍

[@mrbillmacneill]

was that actually an Easthope...? made in Vancouver BC. That quote of yours appeared in the Marine section of the Vancouver Sun every Friday and Saturday edition - paid for by the Easthope family..

[@caryd67]

@@mrbillmacneill Ohhhhh yes, you are totally correct. It was in fact an Easthope. My mistake.

[@subohmcircus]

In a post apocalypse age these wil become very valuable.

[@HLBrugman]

As long as they can do a job they where designed for. But I dont think they can anymore.

[@juhajuntunen2557]

Once I read that running engines wear like (rpm)^2 double speed and wear quadruples. If old Fairbanks run like 300 RPM, it would last century (or several!) compared to engine running 3000 RPM (10^2 =100 times faster to die)

[@nerkonator]

Beautiful sound good old maschines.

[@ExtremeMachinesZone]

I absolutely loved this compilation of Fairbanks Morse engines! The sound quality really captures the essence of these powerful machines. It’s fascinating how the sounds can evoke such strong feelings and memories, especially for those of us who appreciate industrial history. However, I wonder if the loudness of these engines is a detriment to their legacy. Are we glorifying the noise without considering the impact on the environment and communities nearby? It’s a double-edged sword-while the sound is exhilarating, it also reminds us of the heavy machinery that shaped our industrial landscape. What do others think about the balance between nostalgia and environmental responsibility?

[@TheWaterbug101]

Dravo Shipyard at Pittsburgh, PA used to install pairs of military surplus Fairbanks Morse 2,200 HP engines on their river boats that had dual over and under crankshafts with two opposing pistons per cylinder. They were of lower RPM with good efficiency for that purpose.

[@Dormidont882]

Работал на тепловозе с такими дизелями .

[@SurnaturalM]

These engine look alive, breathing fire.

[@raydunakin]

That 1936 engine makes some pretty nice smoke rings.

[@technofusionhd]

I think so too!

[@baptisteramiro1918]

The 4 cylinder 32D one ? Absolutely ! In my opinion the best sounding Fairbanks Morse engine there is !

[@richardstoteler1951]

They are pieces of art

[@blendpinexus1416]

these old engines are just awesome. are they efficient? hell no, they're thermal efficiencies are somewhere below 40% usually. but they just work all day long with no problems and usually don't care about how nasty the fuel is. wish i had a small single cylinder one of these.

[@smiley19912]

That big twin at around 9 min, is the engine that rotates the earths core.

[@leon419]

For those asking about the amount of smoke these give off, these are most if not all, hit and miss diesels, naturally aspirated, no forced air induction, you are going to get alot of soot and roll some coal from inefficient burn.

[@fryloc359]

True, but these spend most of their lives running at load, so very little miss.

[@Aquila-sz8pl]

Why are the negative comments at the beginning? These machines are fantastic.

[@Dormidont882]

Работал на тепловозе ТЭ3 . Там стояли копии судовых дизелей фирмы Fairbanks Morse . Очень надёжна конструкция !

[@abyjohnson6701]

I can listwn to this and sleep peacefully 😊

[@technofusionhd]

😴

[@johnschneider3082]

Wow these old engines are amazing and for their age they make “ in most cases “ less smoke than the majority of Russian T 72 tanks. And Yes their sound is almost hypnotic.

[@jonsteadisno1]

I can smell the exhaust and feel the vibration through my phone. Marvellous. 😊

[@billsoinski9136]

I was raised in Western Colorado and the city of Delta had at least a half a dozen two-stroke Fairbanks one of them was a nine cylinder they used to be the power to the city. I have no idea if they're still there but if they are would one of you or a few of you please see if you can get your hands on them. They were in fantastic shape and they may still be in the building.

[@dippyanddakota]

Toured the Fairbanks Morse in Wisconsin in 1980.

[@Jp19557]

@@dippyanddakota Beloit?

[@Jp19557]

Beloit?

[@dmytroiatskyi5644]

Great Techno tracks out there!

[@fricknjeep]

lots of nice engines thanks

[@user-db2fb1db1m]

Beautiful Engineering masterpiece Amazing

[@technofusionhd]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@bobbobson1605]

Hard to even make onomatopoeia for some of these, they've got some pretty unique sounds.

[@susanmiree5482]

Omg i love these! Thank you for sharing these wonderful machines with us!

[@technofusionhd]

Glad you like them!

[@cslloyd1]

Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.

[@jan-olofharnvall8760]

They sing so so nice 🥰

[@SteveVidra]

Just beautiful machines !!

[@technofusionhd]

Yes they are!

[@congerthomas1812]

I've ran 2 a 6cylinder and a 20 with 2.5ft bore,100hp electric turbo.

[@largolarry]

my high school had a Corliss steam engine that we used for Thermodynamic Lab

[@erikziak1249]

Three cylinders have the best sound.

[@proberts34]

Very impressive. One of the more impressive things to me is that it took a 24,000 lb. engine to generate 75 hp, and it ran so much. 🙂

[@fryloc359]

It might only be 75 hp, but it's probably 5000ft-lbs of torque

[@diffened]

@@fryloc359 Or more. I watched a video of one that made 600 HP but was over 30,000 ft lbs. of torque. Torque is the work it can do, HP is how fast it can do it, or something sort of rough like that.

[@Kraken4201]

@@diffened if I remember, torque in the rotations force, and hp is rotational velocity.

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

I wonder what it would have been like to listen to one of these mighty engines on a daily basis for a decade or more only to have fall silent and no longer provide jobs. Would everyone been relieved and grateful for the "improvement" in the environment, or would they have missed the noise of prosperity?

[@MichaelMattison]

This and radials 👍

[@abyjohnson6701]

Ah the music this machines make😮😮

[@tomthumb5445]

Engine number 5 in the clip is the sound you will hear in heaven everyday.

[@sayler2b]

Great! Would be awesome to hear these actually working and putting out torque instead of just idling and reving.

[@bruced1429]

put one of those FairBanks Morse engine in your mastercraft wake boat and see how is does, enough torque to flip the boat over witha 6 foot prop.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Wow!

[@Nomnomnom1234-o2k]

I be vibing to the first engine

[@mountaininfidel2060]

A symphony of Iron and Steel.

[@jamesowen4938]

I like the FM engines on the FM Diesel locomotives.

[@sergeponchaut7430]

Sorry, je ne parle que le Français, mais je crie Vive l'Amérique, seul pays où le mot "liberté" a encore un sens ! Surtout ne devenez pas comme ici une soi disant démocratie où plus personne n'a son mot à dire ! Bon Dieu pourquoi ne suis-je pas Américain ? Bravo, continuez, Serge !

[@mcjdubpower]

Gud mechanical techno vid 😊🎉

[@boe4448]

It would be interesting to know some specs and history of these beautiful monster power plants. Thanks, Boe

[@davidbryngelson938]

I don't want to be in the room when one of those runs away! 😅

[@jakewilson4679]

Every man with a beard MUST fold thier arms and nod when one of these is started. 😂

[@joegeiman2964]

Steam punk after steam! And before it was stylish LOL

[@TonyLoechte]

Hear how well it started with a peacock jammed in each cylinder 😂❤

[@shakuvendell]

I'm just glad I'm not the only one who heard peacocks.

[@proberts34]

I don't know what that means, but I assume it's good. So thumbs up. 🙂

[@markskaggs9421]

Like to see a F&M 5 1/4 from a 70's submarine

[@MeaHeaR]

ÕMĞ there Soo Cuté its like thay each got personalities und aré talking 😃😃😂😁😁😁😀💓💓

[@fryloc359]

I wonder how different they sound when they are running under full load?

[@richardnelson317]

I love the big Fairbanks Morse hit and miss engines like the one at 3:10 and one at 4:40 in the video.

[@yakacm]

The way those massive exhaust pipes are aggressively spitting in the face of those leaves and the trees, is like a perfect metaphor for how man thinks of nature, and how we treat it. Take that nature, muahahaha.

[@billcoleman7316]

Great video but it would be nice to know what these machines were made to do.

[@westallgaeuereisenbahnen]

13:00 itˋs surprising how quiet they are compared to a modern engine…i knew they are quiet but thatˋs nearly noiseless…no screaming turbos…and on some the exhaust seems to be very clean you canˋt see any smoke

[@HLBrugman]

Because those are not firing.

[@Mesa_Mike]

Add a stamp mill for enhanced sound.

[@rebekahfrench5747]

Be Still going strong in another 100 years.. when everything else is dead...😂😂 they would sound better if loaded but..

[@juhajuntunen2557]

0:47 was like old warship shoot broadside...

[@Paulsquires-f6f]

Imagine these engines turning a generator make all the electricity you want

[@ted_jerome]

Where were these engines displayed and run? I’d love to see them in person.

[@neilanyon4792]

Looking at the position of the exhaust ports, I guess these engines use loop scavenging. Where are the blowers for the scavenge air, or do they use crankcase pressure like 2-stroke spark ignition engines?

[@mossieeduanmostert9508]

Like the Mod.Y the most

[@KG5RK]

Where are the OPPOSED Piston engines? THEY also have a sound of their own.

[@routeman680]

I have never seen engines with separate cylinders like this rather than under one or two heads. The exhausts are like naval guns firing! If Greta Thunberg saw this she would have a fit.

[@Paulsquires-f6f]

Could you make a diesel locomotive powered by these engines ?

[@rdtripler5604]

They seem to love throwing smoke rings....

[@michaeltroster9059]

Noisy beasts.

[@jimihendrix991]

... these brutes produce so much torque they could pull Jupiter out of its orbit...

[@HLBrugman]

No, they don't. Those engines where made with low rpm as was needed in that time. The comparable engines of nowadays are in size a tenth and they pollute far less. Nice to see those old engines and we should take care of them but only when they produce something like energy and not just run for the fun of it.

[@markskaggs9421]

Like to see any F/M Submarine genarators The 8 an1/8 or 5 an1/4 , 2 stroke too.

[@theot4077]

Add: -- 18min -- 29sec

[@geraldschilli8870]

They just don’t make cool stuff like this anymore. Hell, they don’t know how.

[@edwhifferdill8063]

Where are these located? I would love to see in person

[@dannaumann9758]

I’m just wondering……..how much HP? These things are HUGE! O doubt a stationary engine.

[@Nikola.Benjak]

Are this engines air cooled?

[@charleshunziker7416]

My closed caption calls it music

[@drover338]

To bad you cant show people the engines with a full load on them. Thats the cool part.

[@Fire21ccfd]

Despite there being no fins on the cylinders, I assume these were all air cooled engines.

[@theairstig9164]

@@Fire21ccfd liquid

[@dwightcarlson7136]

Where are these located?

[@MdAktarurjaman-yu8dw]

The big engine where it used?

[@MegaGeorge1948]

Boy! Talk about the "carbon footprint"!

[@lescobrandon8841]

Is this Lynden?

[@ricardovelasco3976]

I assume they used these engines as electricity generators.

[@blackpowder4016]

@@ricardovelasco3976 They were versatile. Most would power overhead shafts for multiple machines in mills and factories like the water mills they replaced. Small ones were used as pumps or generators. Because of their low rpm and hit and miss operation they would mainly be used as DC generators to charge batteries that provided steady current. They were also used as boat engines.

[@cwmbc]

I cant hear the engine sound as the exhaust noise drowns them out.

[@FixNewsPlease]

Hobby carbon production.