Georgetown Loop Railroad: Cab Ride on the No. 40 Steam Locomotive!

[@samuraidriver4x4]

Good to see younger folks operating the locomotive, the old timers of the future. Thanks for sharing the ride along Keith.

[@mauricekeithjohnson2598]

40 has it's OWN heart and soul ! NEVER GIVE UP !

[@CRUZER1800]

Hi Keith.... Several hours ago I ran into an old video of yours from 9 yrs ago titled "Repairing a Steam Whistle for the Steam Powered Sawmill". As I remember, that was about the time I started watching your channel and still do. Your videos were SO good!! Anyway that got me started watching a lot of your old videos. I especially liked the Shop Talk and Viewers Mail videos. You always had good stories to tell about your experiences or the tools themselves. Needless to say... I was entertained for several hours. Thank You, Kieth for all the years of sharing with us your knowledge and expertise and to help brighten the sometimes otherwise dark days..... Russ

[@oleran4569]

"and the sons of Pullman porters, and the sons of engineers...ride their father's magic carpets...made of steel" (A Guthrie). True in many instances and nicely displayed here.

[@walterplummer3808]

Good morning Keith. Beautiful trains and scenery. What a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

[@mikesargent8709]

Beautiful train and scenery. Thanks for sharing!

[@jc1505]

What a great video , I think this video is award winning! The sound , and feel , is as if I was there . Great job, Keith !

[@mattomon1045]

Keith you are in my neighborhood cool. I have worked on the 40 at the Colorado RailRoad Museum in Golden thanks

[@CraigLYoung]

Keith, sometime you're going to have to visit Cass, West Virginia to ride the Shay locomotive to the top of the mountain. Best time is in the fall when the mountains are alive in color.

[@DAKOTANSHELBY]

I visited Cass Railroad with my family when I was a kid in the 70s. I can appreciate the Shays more today.

[@Hoaxer51]

I’m from northern Ohio and a good friend of mine and his wife drive down to West Virginia every year a ride that Shay engine. It’s something both he and his wife enjoy doing, he sends me pictures of the scenery when he does his yearly trip. Maybe I’ll go with them one of these years, but I better hurry if I’m going to, I’m not getting any younger! Lol

[@tomt9543]

An absolutely not to be missed experience! As a teenager in the ‘70’s, Cass seemed fascinating to me though I’d never been. As a 63 year old, I’ve been 3 times and it’s still fascinating to me! They do a trip once or twice a week to a distant location that I believe is called Old Spruce. It’s an all day trip, but so well worth it! That location is so high in elevation that even in the heat of summer, you’ll regret it if you didn’t throw a hoodie in your bag! They have a bunch of restored logging locomotives including Shay, Climax and Heisler, all in operation!

[@iTeerRex]

Beautiful train in the beautiful Colorado rockies, running on water and sawdust. Awesome 👍

[@surlyogre1476]

25:30... is that what it was? I thought it might be ground-up corn cobs.

[@iTeerRex]

@@surlyogre1476I’m not sure, you maybe right.

[@surlyogre1476]

FWIW, Someone else here in the comment section says that it is sand, meant to be drawn through the draft to clean out the flue.@@iTeerRex

[@seymoarsalvage]

They run on fuel oil (bunker C). Thats sand you see being feed into the firebox to clean the boiler tubes. Only about once a day do they do that

[@seksak5176]

Well done and a great naration thanks. And yeah, that driver is quite the stone face. Not one smile on the whole trip.

[@montymc450]

Spunky old girl. Thanks Keith

[@danielcobbins8861]

Also in Colorado, is the Cripple Creek & Victor Railroad. It is a two foot gauge line. I got to ride behind one of their steamers, some years ago, and to me it was a great experience. I think they have repaired and extended the line. When I travelled on it, it was only a two mile stretch that was open.

[@rexmyers991]

I had the opportunity to ride the Durango RR up to Silverton years ago. GREAT video! Thanks, Keith.

[@richardmerrill4036]

My son and his family live in Silverthorne. About ten years ago we rode this line. Engine was a sidewinder. Fascinating machine. And great sound too!

[@kurtdietrich3533]

I just love the sounds of a steam engine - the generator, the compressor, the injectors. fantastic.

[@johncloar1692]

Thank Keith Nice trip thanks for taking us along.

[@MickHealey]

Great video Keith. That was a real treat today. It's a shame the locomotive engineer didn't speak to us. A bit shy I guess. The history of this train is amazing, and was well told.

[@seymoarsalvage]

The fireman gave a history lesson. The engineer was pretty busy...

[@DirtyRobot]

It was worth watching to see the steam coming out of Keith's ear at the end.

[@tedmiles2110]

The Georgetown Loop is the lesser known surviving parts of thee Colorado narrow gauge lines. I am glad to see it getting some attention. TM narrow gauge fan

[@waynephillips2777]

That looks like a great opportunity for you, and in turn for us. Thank you Keith!

[@Uncleroger1225]

Thanks Keith, my wife and I were engine crew on the 1225 Polar Express for several years and so enjoyed the cab video immensely . Thanks

[@pilgrimm23]

BEAUTIFUL gages on that enngine. That is by far the best seat in the train. Well done Kieth!

[@charlieromeo7663]

There’s just something about a steam whistle and hearing it’s echo bouncing through the gorge. Very cool.

[@seymoarsalvage]

At 20:18, what is the gauge to the left of the screen? Red backlit, looks like a automotive gauge

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have rode behind Georgetown Loop 40 at the Georgetown Loop Railroad back in July 1st 2022.

[@jwaterous224]

An amazing train story about that locomotive and the durability and individuality of its personality. A great ride and video to enjoy! Thanks Keith!

[@alanzelanski7288]

My wife and I rode the loop back in 89. Had a great time watching your video of the ride.

[@toolbox-gua]

This video turned out to feel emotional for me. Now I want to visit that particular railroad ride. Hope to make it one day from my hometown Guatemala. Thank you for sharing.

[@chriscraven9572]

Stunning scenery. UK viewer, What are the rules/requirements for the bell ringing on US locos.

[@shadrachmalooly9394]

What a wonderful tale of the two engines. Great to see them together. Thanks for sharing.

[@coniferman1313]

I live in the foothills west of Denver have ridden the Georgetown loop. I had no idea what was going on up front. Thanks for the video.

[@michaelkoch2109]

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing! Best regards from Dresden! 👍😍😊😎

[@oldschool1993]

When I was a kid in early 50's, I lived in Montana and the Great Northern passed through our town, and every now and then we would still see a steam locomotive come through. The last time I rode a steam train was in China in 1981. In those days nearly all the local trains were still steam.

[@chesterdroors1605]

I remember riding that train back in the 80s.

[@StevenEverett7]

Thanks for the video, Keith. I really enjoyed riding along with you. There was some really beautiful scenery there. I'm curious, have you ever ridden on the cog railway going up Mount Washington in New Hampshire. That's a real experience!

[@artswanson5301]

You lucky stiff. I live just down the hill from that RR. I love riding that run.

[@panelman]

HEY Keith You are in my neck of the woods just a few more miles come up to Leadville and ride are train we have the old 641 out front of the station , just ask and the folks in George town should have a pamlet on it

[@peteengard9966]

Great to see a younger generation passionate about preserving the steam locomotives. Thank you.

[@paulsilva3346]

You tease.! My first thought was you were talking about the great Jamestown Railroad in Jamestown California. The movie capital of America

[@railroad9000]

Great video! One of the railroads I want to ride but have not made it there yet!

[@SVImpavidus]

Thank you for sharing history some younger folks may never have seen unless you did so on KZbin . Ant & Cid SV Impavidus.

[@breb77]

I can confirm the view's from the Georgetown narrow gage rail road. It was a fun ride and looks like you enjoyed like weather.

[@gerilarryogle970]

Thanks for taking us along on your fun excursion. Very cool! Larry

[@trespire]

Cab over boiler design, that's different from most European engines. North American continent has such beautiful vistas.

[@ElectraFlarefire]

And yet EU has cab over trucks way more than the US. :)

[@seymoarsalvage]

Known as a "deckless" cab. Most common on the narrow gauge

[@trespire]

@@ElectraFlarefire True !

[@paulkinzer7661]

My dad was a fireman on some of the last working steam engines for the Milwaukee Road in the late 1950s-early 1960s. I doubt any of his workhorses -- used by then only in yard work, though they were the engines that pulled passenger trains everywhere earlier in their lives -- were anything like as shiny as these beauties!

[@DelTapparo]

Great to ride the Loop again. Even though I'm in Colorado, I haven't been there in years. However, I did get a cab ride on the No. 12 Shay back in 2003. Going over that trestle, looking down from the cab is awesome !

[@lesgaal4017]

Great video Keith steam powered locomotives just wonderful, the smell,sound and their ability to talk to the engineer and the sheer power of steam have been hooked on it for over 50 years. Australia.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Very much enjoyed the ride and history.👍

[@michaeljones6256]

In the Winnipeg area we have the Prairie Dog Central Railway where they run a 4-4-0 steam locomotive built in 1882 on standard gauge 4ft.81/2". Awesome to see these historic machines at work.

[@cynicbeliever40]

Thank you Keith!

[@machintelligence]

Years ago, when I rode the Georgetown Loop they were running Shay locomotives.

[@mrp-in-co]

Yes, me too! And those locomotives are located at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden Co. now. I feel a little sad when I visit the museum and see them just sitting there dormant in the yard but at least we can still visit and see them.

[@Skylineview713]

I was there a few years ago and rode that line. It was a ton of fun especially across the trestle.

[@ClanChapman1rRS]

Thanks for the ride-along Keith; I have always wanted to do the Georgetown loop!

[@Peter89133]

Great video! Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[@nobuckle40]

That was really cool! Thanks for the ride Keith.

[@albertjagt5713]

Wow! That is quite a whistle on that train! Great video!

[@WillyBemis]

Great stuff Keith! Thank you!

[@nashguy207]

Thanks Keith. Really enjoyed the video!

[@marvinschleicher5542]

Thanks for bringing me along, that’s a fun fact info and very interesting!

[@abbert1955]

Wondering what the fire and sparks was coming out from beneath the engine as it passed by ?

[@bh.boilers]

Thanks Keith, an excellent addition to the "Vintage Machinery " channel. Did you get to drive it? Ray

[@alangknowles]

Nice to have the history from the fireman, but give him a better mic. Next time get the engine drivers and guards input too. Or perhaps they were too busy. Are you going into the engine sheds to find out about the recent rebuild?

[@katelights]

he had a mic on, but the levels are off all through this video.

[@alangknowles]

​@@katelightsNice to hear the engine too, though.

[@youpattube1]

A very enjoyable adventure. It is nice to see that they had a fair number of passengers. That fellows story about central america is quite intetesting, and he has a knack for telling it. You may have said, but why do they back down ? And what is the fuel ?

[@royreynolds108]

The train backs from the upper station of Silver Plume down to the lower station of Devils Gate because the line is laid in a continuous or straigt line even though there are curves in the line. There is no way to turn the locos or train. There are no turntables, wyes, or balloon tracks. This is very similar to a number of European tourist lines. The fuel is fuel oil; and used to be heavy bunker C which is a cut above asphault. Diesel and fuel oil are very similar to handle and burn, although diesel is a better grade of fuel. Burning oil is safer than coal or wood as there are no cinders or ashes to start trackside fires.

[@youpattube1]

@@royreynolds108 Ah yes. Now that you've explained it, it is obvious. A real forehead slapper. As far as the fuel goes, that also makes sense. In the video the stoker was using a scoop to shovel some grain like material. Was it just some convenient medium soaked in fuel oil ?

[@smaggies]

Great history that I do love. A big Thanks to Keith :) The only thought is the danger of the engineers hanging off the sides, I would think a device to keep them from falling off...

[@davidwatsonii9469]

COOL STORY, NICE TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF A PIECE

[@jensschroder8214]

Coal is becoming expensive in Europe. Cheap coal used to come from Russia, but today coal comes from Australia or China. Now we are considering whether wooden pallets are an alternative. However, the firebox has to be modified and the heater has to shovel twice as much. Therefore, automatic filling is being considered. The good thing is that wooden pallets do not produce soot and burn very cleanly.

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

Love wood fired locomotives

[@jimrankin2583]

Pellets! Pallets are the things that freight is stacked on. Frequently made of wood too, but much harder to use for firing a locomotive.

[@DAKOTANSHELBY]

So that locomotive is oil fueled, but what was the material being scooped into the boiler and its purpose? Thanks for the ride along.

[@rickswanberg4995]

He was "sanding the flues". Sand is sucked into the firebox and thru the flues to clean them. Done when the engine is working hard so there is lots of draft.

[@surlyogre1476]

@@rickswanberg4995 thank you for the clarification. I was wondering too.

[@richardsurber8226]

Certainly is a beautiful video Keith. Great audio. A little bit difficult to see how the engine was turned around, maybe I'll figure it out the next time I watch. We here in California have an operational loop outside of Bakersfield. going up to Mojave. I've heard that Tehachapi means long grade. Don't know you'll find it in Webster's

[@andrewfraser4347]

Life’s good !

[@ron827]

Great job of recording the ride.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Thanks for sharing

[@jaybailey3518]

Absolutely wonderful !!

[@98grand5point9]

I've ridden the Georgetown Loop. For those that don't know the highway in the background is I-70.

[@msheaver]

I would LOVE to see @Hyce do a review of this wonderful video and explain some of things shown, especially why they put that white granular stuff into the firebox!

[@laketrump3796]

It is common sand. It is fed in to the hole in the fireddoor when the engine is working hard. The draft pulls it through the boiler flues to scour our soot accumulations which then blow out the stack. The purpose is to keep the boiler making steam properly.

[@MikeBramm]

I love the old steamers.

[@JosBergervoet]

A steam locomotive... nice, also nice would be to see the STOKER ENGINE finished! 😇

[@shadetreemechanicracing22]

Steam is my favorite to model, especially 40's era.

[@jamesnorman415]

Jealous might not the correct word, how about envious. Great video wishing I had been there with you. 😊

[@chrisrhodes5464]

I have to say it but that engineer that was driving the train is the best looking engineer I have ever seen and her co engineer is knows his history of the locomotives

[@lwilton]

She is a dead ringer for someone I knew 50 years ago, who also would have been delighted to run that engine. The "co engineer" is actually the fireman. The engineer is the driver, and the fireman tends to the boiler, making sure it is always doing exactly what the engineer is going to want it to do. The engineer and fireman work as a pretty close team.

[@billricker6058]

I don’t know who the gentleman was, but he was an excellent historian. Very interesting, but life is not fair when a friend can ride in an engine and you can not.

[@jasonneedham6734]

...and does Keith care. Not one bit. I am an Aussie and did the Durango to Silverton..?? in 2018. I can die now, happy as two pigs in.😊

[@enginecrzy]

✌👍 What is the powder @ 25:23? Doc's Presto logs???

[@johnmorris3744]

This thing’ll do 88 😂 It’s sand. they let it get sucked into the fire tubes to scour the soot out of them, to maintain a good draft on the fire.

[@bcbloc02]

Initially I thought maybe the rails were a bit wet why the greasy take off but I see by the number of cars why it was! That is a long consist for that little loco.

[@tomcren59]

Beautiful train and Ride! Just curious on how they are fired? Surely the guy wasn't fireing that engine with that small hand scoop.

[@lwilton]

I believe that engine was oil fired. The tender would have an oil tank where a coal engine would have the coal bunker. There is also a water tank in the tender, in fact it takes up most of the space. The fireman was "sanding the flues". A steam loco has a fire in the back, and the hot exhaust gasses pass thru a bunch of tubes in the boiler ahead of the fire, and go out the stack in front. If you don't get the air/fuel mix exactly right, you can get a fair amount of carbon from the fire. This carbon tends to stick to the inside of the flue pipes, and is a heat insulator. So carbon buildup makes the engine less efficient. But if it hasn't had too long to build up, it is very easy to remove. The fireman was putting scoops of just plain sand in thru the inspection port on the back of the firebox. You could see the draft sucking the sand off the scoop. This sand acts just like sandpaper, minus the paper. As it goes thru the flues at fairly high velocity it knocks off the carbon buildup in the flues. If you are outside a loco you can often tell when this is done because there will be a lot of black smoke coming out of the stack for a few seconds. That is all the carbon being exhausted out of the flues.

[@paulcopeland9035]

The scoop has sand in it. The sand cleans the soot when the engine is working hard.

[@Sowhat-u6f]

Very neat. Beautiful. Thanks! What was being scooped into the firebox?

[@paulcopeland9035]

Sand. Cleans the soot out when the engine is working hard.

[@barry7391]

I didn't think the Engineer would ever stop talking! It's a wonder anyone else got a word in . A bucket list add on. Nice! Thanks Keith.

[@gregr267]

Wonderful!!!

[@miken3260]

Were you at the narrow gauge convention? One thing the young man had wrong is that you can still build a riveted code boiler, it’s just much easier and cheaper to weld one together. And I think that I heard that #9 was too small to handle the size of trains that they run there.

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Wonderful experience Keith! Also, just a note to let you know your audio is very muffled and hard to understand.

[@paulcopeland9035]

Well, there was a giant steam engine in the video that kind of took up the audio space!!

[@beboboymann3823]

Awesome!!

[@aw738]

Did he say only 93 years old? The official steam locomotive of West Virginia, Shay #5 at Cass is 118 years old. It has been in continuous service at Cass since it was delivered to Cass in 1905.

[@benpress8884]

I noticed the fireman putting what looked like sand into the firebox. What is the purpose of that? Thanks Keith. Love to see more vids like this.

[@mikemakuh5319]

Wow you were in Silver Plume four hours ago and I missed you!Too bad, didn't know they had a girl for an engineer either.

[@royreynolds108]

The story of moving the 40 and 111 from Guatemala sounds interesting but I know the gauge change was at the Mexican-Guatemalan border. Mexico has had a number of lines that were 3-foot gauge or even 2-foot gauge but not connecting to Guatemala. The Guatemalan Railroad was laid to 3 foot gauge but with standard gauge clearances to make a gauge change much easier which never happened. A standard gauge freight, or passenger, car can be moved by rail from Fairbanks, Alaska in the north to the most southern place in Mexico by the use of a rail car ferry between Ankorage and a connection in British Columbia or Washington state to make a connection with the North American Railroad system operated in Canada, USA, and Mexico.

[@InverJaze]

That was fun. Every woman wants to be the engineer on the steam train.

[@glennmoreland6457]

Interesting video

[@RobertKohut]

Nice to see some young people operating the train.... 🙂

[@chrisarmstrong8198]

Do steam engines have engine braking, like internal combustion engines, for downhill runs ?

[@bradjohnson9671]

What happened to the Shay locomotive they used to run?

[@horatiohornblower868]

Steam engines and esp. steam locomotives are the most living machines that were ever made.