1930' Chicago Pneumatic Power Plant Engine Start and Run

This engine is in Jerome Arizona at the Gold King Mine. Big Bertha has 10,154 Cubic Inches with 3 cylinders.

[@simplywonderful449]

My father in law ran a diesel generating plant in Iowa, and the plant had more than one Chicago Pneumatic engine and a couple of smaller ones. However, the CP engines were nearly three stories tall, and the first time I went to see him, he was on a catwalk on the engine with a small oil can lubing the valve train cylinder by cylinder. He babied those engines, and I enjoyed the place immensely, going to see him there after driving 500 miles to see my then-fiance. Her folks, both gone now, are the folks you dream of for in-laws, and Cliff and I always enjoyed discussing the work he did at the plant. Unfortunately, the plant was closed and scrapped out, but there were dozens of these around Iowa, installed during the "rural electrification program" around WWII era, and all were built almost exactly the same. We even found another one when in another Iowa town for a wedding!

[@geraldzettel2011]

I went thru Jerome a couple of years ago and did not know about this treasure I am going to go back for now

[@CraigShuman]

Plan a whole day if you like that stuff. This place is packed with amazing vehicles and equipment, most are in running condition to boot. I plan on going again. I may try to film it again with a better camera and making it easier to watch. I took this one just for me and to share it with my Dad and put it on KZbin so he could easily watch it. It's cool there are so many people like us that love this stuff.

[@jonnda]

I remember visiting this engine in the 90's. If you tip the guy he'll make it backfire and you can hear it echo off the hills.

[@lorenzo42p]

makes me want to go for a road trip

[@jonnda]

@@lorenzo42p Jarome is an interesting museum ghost town. If you're at all interested in the old west, history, and old mining technology, than give it a try.

[@peterwill9660]

I have seen big Bertha a few times in my life. What an incredible machine. 10154 cubic inches if I remember correctly. Hear big Bertha make thunder is what the sign said. Thanks for sharing

[@jeffhicks11]

20yrs ago I had finished chemo starting to feel better wife and I flew to AZ. picked up rental car ended up in Jerome and found gold king mine, the guy pulled me up there I was still pretty sick 170lbs, let me help him start big bertha, felt a lot better after that, wanted to thank the guy don't remember his name. but thanks!

[@CraigShuman]

That's great that you got to see it and they helped you out. They are very nice people.

[@fireball1322]

Amazing to see ya light off that old engine. I used to work in W&S dept in a city in NC, and helped start and helped work on some huge Fairbanks Morse diesels at times. One was almost as old as that one. And much larger. On the old engine, one piston weighed 400 lb. one con. rod weighed 500 lb . I got to bring home 4 of the pistons when we rebuilt it once Super Good Video man!

[@CraigShuman]

Wow, I would love to see one apart. I was an automotive tech for 30 years and love that stuff.

[@aaron71]

I'm so glad things like this are being saved. I've been to Jerome, I had no idea this was there!!

[@mikeab93]

That's what I miss about Arizona, old stuff gets saved, ghost towns too.

[@davidgold2634]

I worked there briefly about 12 years ago or more. I was able to run the sawmill and helped start Bertha. Neat place. Had a working blacksmith shop, lots of cool old stuff. Even the old mule was neat.

[@CraigShuman]

That's cool, I love all the great stuff there and always thought it would be a kick to help out there for a few days.

[@davidgrossman5104]

I’m an old Navy Engineman and this was music to my ears

[@CraigShuman]

I like everything mechanical so I bet you have some great stories. Thanks for your Service. Both my boys are currently Serving in the Navy as well. If you ever get to Arizona, its well worth the trip to see it live.

[@davidgrossman5104]

Craig Shuman Thank You Craig and thank your sons for their service , from a fellow sailor

[@fredwood1490]

I was watching some Victorian steam engines start up and was amazed by how nice and neat and clean everything was. THIS is what I remember machine houses and such were really like. Thank you!

[@CraigShuman]

Where was the steam engine? Its amazing how much attention to detail that used to be the norm.

[@mikewells158]

That was so freekin cool! Love to see history alive! Things like this built this great country!

[@specialed1942]

Craig, thanks for sharing your video. Big Bertha was one of the coolest things I had ever seen in AZ. The old man up in Jerome invited us in to his house to see his old Harley racing bike, it was truly a fun venture.

[@needleonthevinyl]

You know the bearings are good when you can spin 10 tons with that prybar

[@MrBugsier5]

or worn out totally... lol

[@4gbmeans4gb61]

@@MrBugsier5 shit back then things were built to a SPEC, nowadays everything is built DOWN to a price. Things are made to break nowadays and it's pathetic.

[@kylekenan2321]

It's called leverage

[@joshuaadler4259]

@@kylekenan2321 still 10 tons worth of metal

[@garyjohnson1392]

Listen to what the man says , a few different times...It's a "13,000 lb " Flywheel...Not 20,000 .

[@davidkauppi7169]

This is so awesome! People took so much time and effort to keep a part of history alive!! WOW, cool!

[@mr.scorpion8646]

I was there in 2014 and listen to it, a memory for a lifetime.

[@limrc1]

Should be called the big bad wolf instead of Bertha with all those huffing and puffing. Thanks for sharing this piece of engineering!

[@timmungenast]

Around 7:46 it has this crazy rhythm. Gawd, I love this video! thanks to everyone involved.

[@CraigShuman]

I never get tired of watching this. I'm going to have to check it out again soon.

[@altairhinz8643]

N

[@sonnyallen709]

Craig Shuman ñ

[@naphatsornngamchan5892]

Craig Shuman Hello I would like to take your engine for generate the electricity here in my area thank you

[@mikecruickshanks9615]

It'cool to see these guys getting kids involved.You need to think to do this shit, unlike zoning out on electronic devices.

[@dandyandy2046]

I try to visit the Mine whenever I'm near Jerome. Amazing collection!!!

[@CraigShuman]

Me too. I'm overdo to go again

[@mathewbailey8645]

There's an abandoned water treatment plant in my city that has a 600 hp Chicago Pneumatic 8 cyl diesel engine of enough size to put in a locomotive directly coupled to an Electrical Machinery 3 phase 480volt synchronous generator with a belt driven exciter on top.

[@dougankrum3328]

This appears to be a generator...the stator right there by the flywheel...

[@derek2088]

That's super cool! What city, may I ask?

[@mikeunt7021]

That would be really neat to check out.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

She sounds good as-is; but I would LOVE to hear this engine on-load with the generator! :)

[@tracylemme1375]

Need to hear it TALK!

[@Al828282]

I wish I had a neighbor like this guy.

[@CraigShuman]

Thanks for showing us the Big Bertha Mike!

[@randallsnell5767]

Reminds me of the 1920s air compressors driven by synchronous motors, in the old Long Bell compressor house in Longview, WA. Gone now. I got to see it run in the 1970s.

[@ianpaterson5000]

Interesting demonstration by a rare modest American.

[@blabaduplatinum1]

I videotaped this in. 07 when I was there is the old man still around? My buddy and I spent a good part of the day here. So much to see. I loved the old restored trucks in the lean toos. The saw mill is awesome too.

[@realvanman1]

Neat engine! Now need to get the generator put together and working!!

[@Teddy_Bass]

Nice to see little gems like this kept alive

[@Mopartoolman]

Good to see the young boy being introduced to this! They are the future and this will die without the next generation keeping it going!

[@rodsxactofilms3909]

+Mopartoolman unfortunately, no matter what, it's past the point of saving these for after the next 50 years, enviormentalists will eventually call for them being dismantled or made to no longer run as it will be deemed "too inefficient for even recreational use" as fuel supplies will get scarcer as less gets dug up due to lower demand caused by the world shifting to renewables

[@cpufreak101]

+RodsXactoFilms oh sorry commented with my uploading account on accident lol

[@mikmacarthur]

+RodsXactoFilms if it runs on propane I'm sure it'll run on hydrogen, no pollution at all and easily made.

[@cpufreak101]

mikmacarthur possibly

[@CondoreComputing]

@@mikmacarthur It could probably even run off alcohol, dont see that going away anytime soon.

[@davidsmcwilliams]

Shoot, now I want a video about the truck, too.

[@Truckguy2007]

I went there in 1995 for the first time! RIP, Don Robertson

[@CraigShuman]

It's an amazing place, Don was an interesting person to talk to. His family is maintaining and continuing his vision.

[@emilkarpo]

Interesting place. They also have a furniture shop that makes some great looking rustic pieces.

[@1flyingdutchman1]

This is so cool, KEEP IT RUNNING!!!

[@ACZxGalm2]

Like he said, getting there was story in of itself!

[@jonnda]

Ahhh I found her! I saw this thing in the early to mid 90's. He adjusted it a little poorly at one point to make it backfire ad echo off the hills. Kinda cool to see.

[@initialb5009]

it sounds like my mother after her first cigar in the morning lol

[@initialb5009]

timcat100 no, im not married.

[@manga12]

+Barry McGuigan if you moma is smoking cigars that fast you have other problems, but to me this sounded like a tin lizzie backfireing.

[@initialb5009]

manga12 she got problems now, .. she broke her arm last week, and I now have a broken leg,,, great fun for all.

[@initialb5009]

manga12 I have been trying to make her stop, she's quite stubborn.. mother knows best apparently.... we will see... she's 67 now,, I reckon another 5 years will do her.

[@manga12]

I hope you have her longer, I lost my mom in 09 to the complecations steming from a minor heart attack, could not get her heart rate stable, and eventully kidneys and liver shut down, and got an infection, she had been sick off and on from christmas day to valentines day when she had the heart attack, but she had lots of family heath problems in her bloodline, same age as her sister that passed two years or so before she did but her sister died of stomach cancer, and now about 10 years later one of my aunts daughters has colon cancer and she is not even quite 45 yet, but she is being able to take the chemo so we still have some hope, after all her friend had stage 4 last year they gave her weeks to 2 months and she is still here and in remission, the thing is my cousin with the cancer was always mostly healthy and was always about fitness even since very young, and never smoked, though her dad still does and her mom used but quite about 15 years before she died from cancer. on the other hand her sister smokes like a chimney, eats poorly and is very overweight much of it due to her knees being bad, but she is very unhealthy in what she eats as well. me well I have the occasional cigar or round with the hookah pipe 1 or two times a year, so not all that much, and I like to run and eat vegitarian when I can, but I like the energy drinks which are bad in 5 ways, hard on heart, high on acid which is hard on the teeth and stomich, high suger which is bad on the insulin levels, and they are chemical laiden, and high levels of either b6 or b12 can cause permanent nerve tremmors and shaking, so they are bad and I like my suger snakes as well. but yea cigars are not really ment to be smoked like cigs if you get my drift.

[@galacticovergrow]

I watched this and all I could think about was how much that guy looked and acted like Bill Murry's character in Caddy Shack

[@CraigShuman]

LOL

[@shaunedwards4893]

Its the hat and the 13000 flywheel..really steep...total conciousness on my death bed..so I got that going for me.

[@dennisraymond4339]

Yeah he did funny 😄.

[@garyjohnson1392]

Great stuff, Craig...Subbed up!!!

[@flaplaya]

If America is ever to be great again, we need to start making stuff again. You Hear Me Donald? Look at how great this machine is... Kids today are being taught how to scroll through their Snapchat and ask Google questions. I was born in '81 Detroit area and saw the transition away from heavy industry. I grew up with a tool in one hand and a part in the other. On work sites since diapers. Everyone wonders why the economy sucks. It's because we've exported all the heavy industry period... Glad to see that young lad showing an interest here. Also that giant electrical stator is just itching to be mated with that engine. I'd guess it to be somewhere in the ballpark of 3-5 Megawatts. Probably 4000 volts. Could light up a town with that setup.

[@flaplaya]

***** Let me guess.. Donald Trump supporter and an avid screen scroller? Did I make you mad? 68 lines tells me I did. Go ahead and throw more idiots in the White House. Get ready for the doozy of all doozies of Great Depressions and epic amounts of civil unrest.. These people are GREAT at stirring up mud. LOCK him up and build a WALL. Lower minimum wage and piss off China and Nuke Russia... Trust someone speaking 4th grade level grammar to the highest seat in any office? I say to you just go and watch "Back To The Future 2".. Trump was prophetically portrayed as "Biff".. World in shambles! Better look around right now at the last bit of good economy going around because once Biff is in there it's over with and I mean like Mushroom cloud OV.

[@flaplaya]

***** So then Hillary or Bernie>? You got awful offended over a modest joke with tons of sarcasm asking Donald to fix this so I figured one of those guys at the rallies punching people. For the record I am a Bernie Sanders supporter. Last case scenario will support Hillary Clinton but I'd rather see Bernie.. By the way, you sure know how to knock em dead with positivity man.

[@flaplaya]

***** That's very interesting to me sir.. Had to to reread it a few times to grasp the implications. Had you pegged as a Donald supporter and admit that I was wrong. You think the Clinton's are Plutonium too but as I remember it under their lead America was very stable and prosperous.

[@flaplaya]

Retracting from ground idiocy all the sudden.. When "W" took over the economy was BOOMING PERIOD CAPITALIZED AND EXTENUATED! You must be on the meth or something.. That's what it is, these guys give you meth and you tell history another way.. Clinton Era Rocked! W took over and allowed the Jihadists to blow up New York for FUCKING OIL! Stand strong with your daily habit of METH.

[@flaplaya]

***** And I was jus bornb under the Eisenhower Admin by the way and Clinton was just a pile of turds and if you weren't born before then you are a total choad and oh my gosh Bill Clinton was the worstest like president everest dude like no way that Bush was worse.. Idiocy 101

[@gr1nder07]

"it'll start on any cylinder but the boss said its best to do it on two so that's just what I always do" Because he knows the boss has fucked with that shit for years and if he has any problems and didn't start it on 2 he's on his own lol

[@CraigShuman]

LOL. True, but I think it has to do with they only have so much air to crank it over with and if it doesn't go he has to wait for the air tank to refill again.

[@marksides9757]

All it will take is one snap and pop (be it via the sun or a near orbit nuke), and we'll be digging these engines out along with old MF, AC, MM tractors, and pre70s vehicles to keep us mobile and alive. Major kudos to these folks for the video. CNC and CAD may make life easier, but this is when humanity designed and built.

[@blackseabrew]

OMG...somebody who knows what MM stands for. I have three 4-Stars. One is actually my Dad's. Two of them are gas and the other was is a rare LP model. Unfortunately the LP model was owned by a couple of hippies. They painted it with a paint brush. Ran it with oil full of water. But the thing still runs and pull hard. I came across my gas 4-Star by chance with probably less than 2000 hours on it.

[@oresteiaanetik]

We still design and build newer and better stuff everyday, come on, you're just biased because you prefer simpler machinery yourself. There were whole generations saying same thing about all the machines you just mentioned because it replaced tools they've used for generations they prefer.

[@CraigShuman]

One EMP strike and when the new engines won't start, this one will run just fine.

[@ChrisPBacon-jl7oc]

@@CraigShuman if you cant replace a starter when shit hits the fan you got issues lol.

[@bingola45]

I'm sure you wouldn't have to bar it round and listen for the magneto to tell which stroke the engine's on. You could tell by just looking at the rockers, or feeling for the tappet clearance.

[@rogerbrandt6678]

Neat story, thanks sir.

[@78StinkinLincoln]

Why would anyone thumbs down this video. Great job preserving this! Thanks

[@plhebel1]

cool place ya got there, Must be three generations of pack rats been collection all these years, love to take a look around,,, Your boss has got gumption to do what he did to get that flywheel and engine to the barn, not many people like that anymore. Worked for a large company for some years with power generation, I have a few stories to tell.

[@CraigShuman]

I think it was just one guy who collected everything. He just passed away this year, so I hope his family keeps it all intact. I don't work there, I just like to visit and see all the stuff that I missed each time. Would love to hear your stories.

[@RyanANewman]

If you just want to hear the engine run, skip to 7:00.

[@CONTACTLIGHTTOMMY]

I visited there around the mid 90s. I'm assuming it's the same place. I think there was an opposed piston Fairbanks Morse generator engine out of a submarine. Among other engines.

[@CraigShuman]

There could be. As you know there is enough cool stuff to see that it could keep us history and mechanical buffs busy for days. I'll go look for that this Summer

[@coshyno]

this thing better be preserved for futur generations to apreaciate

[@detroitbluesguy]

Thanks for saving it..my kinda people!

[@256ttucker]

I'd pay more than ten to see this in person

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

I wish I knew about this engine display. I guess I have to go back again.

[@TangoCharlieAlpha]

I'll bet maybe 10 guys in the world know how to operate that thing.

[@alhodge4051]

fantastic....love it...

[@thomasbeck9075]

Very nice power plant and old tractor

[@CraigShuman]

If you ever get a chance to go there, you'll be blown away at all the cool stuff that is on site.

[@allanwhite8422]

It is a diesel engine not Pneumatic as the title suggests, they are started on air (Pneumatic) like this one is. Thanks for the video and great work those who retrieved this gem.

[@TheHooters70]

It was made by Chicago Pneumatic the title suggests nothing.

[@blackbird8632]

Allan White it is a gas engine actualy. It has magneto's.

[@3262lansdown]

Yes it is a gas engine "natural gas" spark plugs and all it has a air starter motor but runs on propane for displaying in Gerome and the price is now $20 to start up in 2019 and worth a visit.

[@CraigShuman]

The great thing about running it on propane is no carbon build up. As many times that it gets started and only ran for a few minutes a time, the carbon would build up pretty quickly.

[@brokenwrench1]

the pony engine on the compressor is either a farmall F20 or F30 farm tractor i know the sound as i worked with to years for a IHC dealer as a mechanic

[@CraigShuman]

I didn't pay attention, heck you gave me another reason to check it out again.

[@fredfadungy1925]

Jerome is a fantastic place..

[@jamespickthall4205]

sounds nice

[@dennisraymond4339]

Nice vid sir.

[@scottpecora371]

First of all; thank you Craig for spending a lot more money than most people realise, including your wife to keep this piece of history going and out of the scrap yard. Do you move this to your property in one piece or distribution assembled. And if disassemble, what did you use to lift and mount a 13,000lb flywheel on to the crank. I assume by the signage this was with the Arizona Power Company originally. What town did it power? Again Thanks.

[@CraigShuman]

Scott Pecora watch the beginning and he tells the story with pictures when it's building pressure. It came from Bagdad AZ and hauled it on a military truck. I'm going back up to see it again in the Spring. I'll try to add the history in the description

[@constitutionalconservative2354]

I saw that motor run right there in 1989. Its just like I remember. The popping sound that it makes can be heard miles away in sedona

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

No it doesn't.

[@constitutionalconservative2354]

@@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347 well I guess you really know your trash talk. You've probly never been to Gold King Mine, and seen the oatmeal grader or the convention they do in MAY. you probly never walked the sidewalk of Jerome AZ and had a drink in a 100 year old bar, you probly never seen the jail that walked across the street either. thats because you might not be old enough to know what you are talking about

[@roberdude12345]

Do you think this will fit in my Honda? Mighty Car Mods

[@neil6212]

Great video! Any plans to make the generator end operational again? Or maybe just re-assemble it for visual?

[@CraigShuman]

I will ask them the next time I'm up there. The main character that put this museum together passed away last year. He was a pretty interesting man to talk to and was all about sharing his passion with others.

[@MrPants1970]

Brilliant

[@1marcelfilms]

Smoother than my crap moped

[@tahititoutou3802]

10,154 cubic inches = 166.8 litres!

[@fedeculpian]

Hola. en Uruguay, mas precisamente en Minas de Corral hay 2 de esos. de 3 y 2 cilindros. Fue en la primera central hidroelectrica de toda America. es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Represa_de_Cuñapirú

[@allanegleston4931]

some of the sounds , sound like me when i wake up.

[@CraigShuman]

I here that

[@Draxindustries1]

A big marine turbo from something like a MTU would suit that engine and easy to install..

[@HillbillyRednecking]

The kid is like yeah whatever and the dad is super excited lol

[@Rick1885]

Patrick Pikulski He doesn't have his Xbox to play.

[@CraigShuman]

The young ones don't really get the picture and the awe of it all, until they grow up and then they will have found memories. The key is to plant those seeds with the kids so these great machines never fade away.

[@wildbillfirehands]

I love that garage !! I could work in there all day !!! Except that it's East of Bagdad ! I'll stick with American soil thank you. Wait, the sign said Arizona Power Co. ??? OK, got it. Hello !!!

[@CraigShuman]

LOL, yep Bagdag AZ. Its at the former ghost town of Jerome. Ya gotta see it if your into mechanical stuff, it takes more than a day to see it all.

[@lorenzo42p]

very nice

[@bobeden5027]

the flywheel on SS Nevasa's diesel generator was 18 feet in diameter!

[@CraigShuman]

Wow

[@pmarkey5493]

good ole boys w good ole toys.

[@michaelbauers8800]

This, for unknown reasons, reminded me of John Boy of the Walton's getting hit by a belt and going blind ( which never made a lot of sense to me, but maybe it's possible.) Always wonder how dangerous these belts were really, with no protection if they break. Cool video though

[@CraigShuman]

I have wondered that myself. I bet there have been a few that have lost fingers or worse around those.

[@Nonotkidding]

Awesome

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

ive been to Jerome a couple times.

[@walterykarina]

awesome..

[@jerryumfress9030]

Looks like I see a synchronous motor, I've worked in plants that were built in the early a 1920s that had several of those

[@CraigShuman]

I bet you have some great stories. Do you have any videos of it?

[@jerryumfress9030]

@@CraigShuman I've got some pics if I can find them in the abyss of my garage! I worked for GE for many years, co Gen plants, nuclear, ect. I loved it

[@CraigShuman]

@@jerryumfress9030 Wow, that's awesome. I've always been fascinated by large machinery, they make me feel small. LOL

[@bbrown-ed6if]

Love it. 😁

[@Organgrinder1010]

For a moment I thought this was originally a part of the pneumatic system that ran for years under the streets of Chicago connecting post offices and many department stores. Was there any relationship with that system?

[@CraigShuman]

I don't know, it was the power plant engine at a mine in Arizona

[@maitai1133]

So you're saying it's 2/5th's of a mile long?

[@maxpayne2574]

I just wonder how much torque that thing has.

[@nmgt1048]

this engine sounds like an old steam locomotive at the 8 minute mark.

[@ashtonharvey5723]

Durable engine

[@cfrefrigeracao7320]

great

[@samanli-tw3id]

Sounds like a train, it even whistles like!

[@chrisrobinson8393]

If shit was still built like this today our tools would rust....heck yeah !!!

[@edwardhalverson8221]

Cool. What was the generator rated at? How many amps, and at what voltage? K.W.? ETC. ... Ed

[@CraigShuman]

I think it was mentioned on a sign near by. I'll ask the next time I go.

[@rdmccun]

Can you still go see this?

[@CraigShuman]

Yes

[@davef.2811]

If it was so hard to get it out from where it was, wonder if anyone remembers how they ever got it into where it was removed from.

[@CraigShuman]

He shows the story in the book in the video. They had to do some modifications on an old military truck and almost didn't make it from Bagdad Arizona.

[@ostlandr]

I wonder if they have/will get the generator hooked up and working?

[@CraigShuman]

Maybe someday, they had the generator parts near it. That would be cool

[@aeroflopper]

imagine it running away and that flywheel takes a trip...

[@CraigShuman]

Run away!

[@mikeunt7021]

That is when "location, location, location" becomes more vital than ever lol

[@laerteschuartz9154]

Cara que top

[@jefftherailroadenthusiast8889]

sounds like a steam locomotive

[@davidthompson4834]

How long does it take to build up and how much was it to get the new stuff?

[@CraigShuman]

The compressor that was hooked up to the tractor ran for about 10 minutes and we had one shot at starting it before starting over again. What new stuff?

[@marc639]

they should put back cranks in cars. good exercise..

[@rickd248]

Is it possible that is really a triple expansion steam engine being run on air since there is no boiler handy? I see Chicago Pneumatic on the side of the engine but somehow it seems a little strange to burn some kind of fuel to run an engine to operate a compressor to provide high pressure air for for a pneumatic engine to run a direct drive generator. But hey, what do I know? This is the one set up in Jerome isn't it? Is this by the saw mill?

[@mreckes9967]

+rickd248 After watching this I think you will find that the compressed air is just for starting this glorious beast.

[@rickd248]

+Mr Eckes Alright! Thank you. I never thought of that possibility.

[@pnotuner1]

Is this the older man's son ? He tells how they moved the engine by truck.