Highballing Hwy 6

Rikki running the #15 and got her first chance to "highball" the Hwy 6 crossing. Practice makes perfect! Listen to the convo between her and her dad on advice on how to set the train up for the run.

[@ETSRRCo]

Its great to see any younger person getting involved in this stuff. She handles that locomotive like a pro! Going to make a great engineer.

[@Frisco1522]

I like that smile she got when she put it down in the corner and the engine started barking. Been there, done that and it's a great feeling. She does a good job!

[@henerymag]

Rikki is living out what was a dream to many a kid, including myself when I was one, when steam still was used. Her Dad is a good teacher. Well done to all of you.

[@lannyfullerj4127]

henerymag still like again don't downgrade woman ok

[@lannyfullerj4127]

henerymag the other guy text women who ever they are yes woman are cool and stop downgrading women dude or whom ever

[@lannyfullerj4127]

henerymag she is cool good job to her

[@dickgustafson1541]

henerymag ,

[@davecrupel2817]

Lanny Fullerj how the fuck is he downgrading women? He said "she is living the dream" Youre not the only person in the world who can say good things about women. Now buzz off.

[@ATSF1927]

I fired my first locomotive in 1945, this young lady did a wonderful job. My 84 year old eyes don't see as well as they use to, seeing where the johnson bar is would this be an Alco steamer.

[@calebweems9392]

That's cool

[@lukelennox8458]

Built in Sept of 1916 from Baldwin, shipped to Washington state for the Puget Sound and Cascade Ry, later the Cowlitz Chehalis and Cascade Ry. Retired in the 50s she was put on display near my house in Chehalis, then she was restored and returned to steam in '89 and has run in Chehalis and Centralia, Currently she is being repaired but will soon return.

[@jerrylarson723]

90 ton built by Baldwin in the mid thirty. This locomotive sat in the Chehalis park for years . I think this is the Old engineer s Granddaughter. He was in his eightys . back in 2005 .

[@michaelnerger1866]

Ssd

[@michaelnerger1866]

Ass

[@MrSd40jk]

Rikki is someone to look up to. Skill and gut's. A great kid.

[@DaveWVideo]

Yup, that young lady knows a thing or two about steam railroading. Been there and done that myself. Nothing sounds or feels better to a hoghead than when an engine is responding well. You can tell by the sounds it makes, the feel of the throttle, even the smells of the exhaust. When you have that engine working hard and you hear that nice even cadence of the barking exhaust, and everything is running smooth, you got a good hot clean fire and plenty of steam--there's no feeling like it.

[@ctfirebattchief]

Quiet competence! Done like a boss. The lady on the throttle had the engine talking to her. A nice piece of work!

[@norman7179]

She takes the job seriously and handles the locomotive well. Loooove the whistle, she does that like a pro!

[@lannyfullerj4127]

Norman Bates she was awesome dont knock women ok

[@norman7179]

Lanny, who's knocking women? I don't see anything derogatory about my post and I certainly wasn't knocking her. So why did you get the red ass?

[@jaredklock8754]

Lanny Fullerj seriously? No one is knocking down women.

[@sicem328]

Good job Rikki, you really look like a pro driving the steamer. Keep up the good work

[@drumday]

That's hard work! Gets it hummin' pretty good too. Nice.

[@gmaneis]

Just when you might think the art of steam engineering would be lost when all the old curmudegeons are gone, along come young people like Rikki, and what fun she appears to be having! Rockin' that crossing whistle, too, with a nice flair. Does my heart good to see this.

[@kevinreid3529]

Out standing job young lady!

[@WestCoastRails]

Good on you girl!! Im proud of you too, you put a big smile on my face.

[@fresnojason]

This is just awesome to see. I dream of this kind of stuff and love seeing women into this too. I run 1.5" stuff and my daughter now 4 cant wait till she is old enough to run them (in training). She is all about trains just like me and she loves to see other women/girls that run trains too. Rikki is an insperation to my daughter and me. You are just awesome.

[@MikeK2100]

What a gal and it reminds me of the song with the lyrics, "I hear that train a coming!"

[@bestdogwaldo]

I think of all the kids out there doing drugs, stealing, beating up innocent people and all the rest of the stuff we see on the news...and then there is Rikki. Congratulations to her for making something of her lifee, and to her parents for raising one danged awesome young woman!

[@wolfgrizzer]

Love the sound of steam whether it's going down the tracks or on wheels.

[@dosman01302]

Once again FANTASTIC!

[@Hendo56]

She pulls that whistle cord like a real pro! Great job, Rikki!

[@bbundridge]

Yep! Fired the 844.. I believe she also has fired the 3985.

[@Match2100]

At the start it looks like she's got it in mid gear, but it must just be notched right back. Love the bark as she lets it out and opens the regulator though!

[@KD0IDB]

As boy I always wanted to sit in that seat. My parents used to take me all over the Midwest to see steam engines. I remember seeing those seats while at museums and I always had the biggest wish to be an engineer in one of those engines. Good memories :-)

[@randywatkins2478]

congrats to the young lady at the throttle.

[@burkewhb]

This is a great video! The young girl does a marvelous job handling that complicated engine, but I can't believe she's only 12, she looks closer to 15 or 16 at least.

[@johnyoung9874]

She was 25 in this video .

[@royalamericans2000]

you go girl it dose my heart good to see this!!!!!!!!!!!

[@WestCoastRails]

Is Rikki still driving the trains? We'd like to drive down and ride the train but we want Rikki to operate it. :)

[@A77uros]

And boys with their cool cars will become jealous when they hear what she is driving. :-)

[@rikkiburchett6163]

Hey no worries! It was such a fantastic experience I like sharing that I did it! lol

[@bbundridge]

@MsC1953 There is always plenty of time and chances to do this. Gotta be 21 years old, don't mind putting in some time at your local tourist railroad and go from there. Rikki will have a flourished career in steam railroading at the rate she is progressing.

[@jgallaway81]

Man that stack talk sounds superb!

[@1940limited]

There may be others but she's the only woman I've seen operating a steam locomotive and not a particularly easy one, either. No power reverse gear on this model!

[@emdman1959]

Need more videos of Rikki running trains. She has accomplished what I have dreamed of doing since I was a kid (engineering a steamer ) I am however a locomotive engineer for CSX so a part of my dream has come true

[@monoshire]

Impressive young lady!!

[@LoganCarmichael]

I think I'm in love. Twice. Train and girl. Lol

[@Enfield2A]

Not surprised at her more mature presence - proficiency at handling that engine ingrains confidence, and it shows!

[@jimstevens1726]

Makes one appreciate a power reverser.

[@PRL2204]

Man, I love that sound every time she throws the reverser forward! What was the going to putting on the air, a show for the buffies?

[@SierraRailway]

biggdaddy2001 High Balling is what it is called when a train is running at a fast speed, generally the term used for steam locomotives. High balling for most steamers is 30-50 miles per hour. for some steam operations, the speed for high balling is restricted to about 20 MPH.

[@53over]

big smile on her face, as happy as a pig in the brown stuff!

[@John..Connor]

*Precious girl*

[@Upguy-tj3gv]

That sounded kinda weird

[@TherealDeltaEcho]

That is the best steamer video I ever saw.....I am pert near 3/4s of the way to a hunneret.......an my granpappy was a steam engineer (bless his soul) back in the 40's..........heed be just about rollen over in his grave with the biggest smile on his face if he ever saw that young blonde lady just a yanken that Johnson bar.....gad damm.......

[@michaelkay9275]

Cool, alright , love it enjoyed the videos, thank you

[@bbundridge]

@jeremy63391 There are a few. Mt. Rainier may have a few joining the team this year. Rikki has moved onward and now working for Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Alasoma, Colorado.

[@SP5004]

"High ball" is a reference to an OLD signal system, where there was a ball tied to a rope hug from a tall poll. A "low ball" meant "stop", a "high ball" meant "proceed." In later usage "Highball" became a slang meant to proceed at track speed. In late steam and in the modern era it means, as "SierraRailway" said, a loco rolling along at a good clip.

[@Steam2k]

Good ol' strong arm reverse...

[@makipsee]

would you happen to have the links of those videos? i would love to see that

[@janetplanet4595]

She is sooo cute!

[@Azwarrior94]

honestly I'd love to try my hands at the controls of a steam locomotive. Chances are any rail fan would also.

[@kimrok1]

She does a good job, bails off BEFORE the brake application, hooks up when the exhaust changes, blows the whistle signal 7 properly, she has a handle on it. I gave her shit in the other video because she didn't center the reverser when giving that redzone signal but when your learning things take a little time.

[@shaunchisholm11]

This is awesome!

[@alblakesley511]

My love runns deep for steam locamotives my after returning home from world 1 The next morning my grandpa went to work for Union Pacific & retired from them in 1979 he loved it got see different parts of the country in which we live

[@jawadhaider5902]

Very nice video

[@bbundridge]

All engines on the West Coast are oil burners, no stokers here =) The #15 is super easy to fire though. Really a great engine. Looking forward to experiencing the #25 in a few years!

[@beniac_maniac4359]

Man even Rikki can do it. Now I wish I can be in that position

[@navy7700]

Interesting placement of the Johnson bar (engineer's left, in front of the boiler backhead it appears to me).. Is the linkage to the reversing gear internal (i.e. between drivers)?

[@gustavosalazar2017]

Muy,, bonito.. sigue..así no cambies..calycol

[@TIEPILOT0815]

Great video!!! Very, very nice engineer! ;) It must be great to be an engineer, she smile.

[@LeeJack3939]

So cool! I want to do this....

[@TonyFleetwood]

that is freakin awesome

[@55dpc]

Anyone In SB know about a walk thru? I would really enjoy the cabin and many other work related shings that could make this such an interesting experience.

[@bbundridge]

This is the Chehalis and Centralia Railroad, in Chehalis, Washington. About 90 miles South of Seattle, Washington and 70 miles North of Portland, Oregon. You can check out steamtrainride/com

[@barronzm]

I give her credit. no power reverse.

[@will107]

Just another day at the office. Hell of a lot bigger then the engine I work on.

[@stingraystud]

she is awesome :-)

[@Theoriginaltkg2902]

They just about all had automatic stokers by the end, this looks pretty much like a straight stick yard engine or an older passenger engine, like a ten wheeler maybe.

[@tammybrewer4869]

A couple of questions for Rikki. Traditionaly an engineer had to be fireman for several years before they could qualify and a engineer. Did you have to do this? How long did you fire locomotives before becomming an engineer? How long have a been doing this?

[@dobermanpac1064]

Looks like Betty-Jo Bradley....on the Cannon Ball

[@apacherr81]

Rikki is working at the Tennessee valley railroad museum now

[@seagraver]

Taking it back to the ole company notch!

[@GDM700]

I would love to have the chance...

[@MartyLJ57]

This gal is lucky. Who wouldn't want to be in that seat.

[@ccsteamer]

Good job 😎👍

[@GDM700]

Wicked!!

[@rockngpa5094]

She’s badass!!!! She works harder than most men working today ...

[@RadioTranceMadridjesusdj96]

very good video!!!!

[@jameswatson1939]

I have done both Brian.

[@SMS77FULL]

I love u

[@steamhillbillys6443]

where is this at? ill have to visit this place

[@emdman1959]

Just sad that there has not been anymore posting of here running trains :(

[@jameswatson1939]

She never fired on UP steam. UP only allow their people to fire the 844 and the 3985. As an engineer on the UP you have to come up in the ranks to be on the steam team to do that you need high and I mean high seniority. If she was able to fire on the UP than they would allow other steam excursion gruops on their rails. try me UP is`nt that nice. I was lucky to get a chance to run the 844. I will say this it was better than running any other locomotive I have ever operated. I have ran many.

[@robkrasinski6217]

Yes, UP is the only class 1 still with its own steam program, but they want to control it all, so they do not allow outside steam locomotives on their rails (like SP 4449) and their crew probably has to be from the UP.

[@greglong2784]

Is Rikki still operating the steam. Any more videos of her.

[@bbundridge]

She works for TVRM now but does come up occasionally and run. I work for BNSF so our schedules always missing each other.

[@CatHeadKnows53]

@MsC1953 I only wish that people didn't need to comment on how "pretty" or "cute" she is...do they write that about males in that seat? Good for her - on her talent, curiosity and smarts!

[@Theoriginaltkg2902]

It do get in your blood! Feeling the wind in your face, the smell of hot oil and an engine talking back at you. is heady stuff.

[@john72ss]

so where is this? hwy 16?

[@moosiem60]

what stat is this in and or rail road

[@fonziehairston3866]

How about the old 97

[@Thom518]

Incredible; That is a girl !

[@4jung4]

how old is she?

[@critchley3819]

The big lever that looks like a park brake on a model A has me wondering is it a forward & reverse ? if anyone knows could you let me in on it.

[@Btraffers]

That is know as the reverse (aka the Johnson bar, aka the cutoff) it limits the amount of steam allowed into the cylinders every piston stroke. when you start off you have the Johnson bar pushed all the way forwards to allow as much steam as possible into the cylinders. As you get going faster you slowly wind the Johnson bar back to allow less and less steam into the cylinders to improve efficiency.

[@Theoriginaltkg2902]

Yeah it's kind of the same thing as a manual timing. Throttle controls the volumn of steam flowing into the steam chest, reverse controls how you use it to accelerate or adjust your speed efficiently.

[@critchley3819]

freeworldofskiing I can understand what you mean with efficiency but not if this Johnson bar has anything to do with reverse, I always thought that reverse was achieved by letting steam into the other side of the cylinder, but I have no idea I am only lately getting interested in this, thanks for your reply,

[@critchley3819]

Tom Gray I am starting to get the idea, thanks..

[@Btraffers]

brian critchley here. this gif of a walshearts valve gear helps a lot. The johnson bar is directly connected to the upside down V shape block which raises and lowers the radius rod. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Updated_Walschaert_gear_reversing_with_timings.gif

[@rogerhector3821]

jealous

[@timgreen4137]

Can anyone tell me what she is doing with the brake controls, just before she opens the throttle a bit more? And then again, after. Is she setting up for a potential emergency stop at the crossing?

[@sharkheadism]

Looks like she's using the automatic brake to set air on the train cars and bailing off the independent brake.

[@timgreen4137]

sharkheadism thanks. Someone else told me something similar. He said she was stretching out the train before she applied more throttle, so the passengers didn't get jostled too much.

[@bbundridge]

25

[@aznmozez2214]

Listen to that engine make music.

[@jeremy63391]

i never seen teen girls that drive the steam trains before this is my first time seening teen girl drive the train

[@SierraRailway]

Okay, anyone who knows anything about the political world knows that you must be at least 18 years of age to operate any piece of industrial equipment! In order to operate a locomotive, you must have a valid drivers license, and have taken and passed the General Code of Operating Rules test to qualify as an engineer or fireman. Rikki is in her early 20's at this point.

[@sharkheadism]

Wrong.

[@kenp3L]

Misleading title. She is not, in fact, highballing.

[@blackiechong4344]

Rikki lets get together and make some steam together

[@jockellis]

Need to get an engineering degree in fluid dynamics now. Ponytail looks right at home in the cab.

[@TheSlayer811]

Это что за прелесть?)

[@bbundridge]

@MsC1953 You'd be surprised the comments some of the guys get from the ladies as well. Can be just as bad or worse than what's been on here.