I DROVE A 1900's STEAM LOCOMOTIVE!

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ALEC'S INSTAGRAM: / alecsteele
JAMIE'S INSTAGRAM: / jamie.popple
PATREON: / alecsteele
My name is Alec Steele. I am a blacksmith, amateur machinist and all-round maker of all-things metal. We make videos about making interesting things, learning about craft and appreciating the joy of creativity. Great to have you here following along!
MUSIC:
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[@itsrichards]

A fun follow up project could be making a steam powered train whistle that could mount on the steam hammer!

[@jeffspaulding9834]

I think he said he's planning to use compressed air for the steam hammer. I dunno if whistles for air need to be designed differently than steam whistles. I'm curious how the oiling will work for that since steam oil is very different than the oil you use for compressed air (as seen in this video), but I'm sure Alec will get it figured out.

[@CalebCarterFilm]

Yes yes yes!

[@Hybris51129]

@@jeffspaulding9834 A train KZbinr by the name of Hyce went super deep into the physics of a train whistle. In a nutshell because steam especially superheated steam is much less dense than regular air it produces a sound that can't be at least easily replicated by room temperature air. His video on whistles really is something to behold.

[@speeDBump1949]

And invite the young man in the video to come to your shop and learn/help, Black Smithing.

[@FACTBOT_5000]

A damascus whistle.

[@aaronpreston47]

I love these little field trips about British industry, it feels like Fred Dibnah going on about his steam tractors. Brilliant.

[@danielfasching8702]

Yes more please Alec!

[@ruditaler6130]

yeah, it's highly symphatic! Greetings from the continental Europe! 😉

[@danielkemp4860]

Alec Steel talking to Alec Steam 🤯

[@dweezil6969]

That's got to be worth 5 Internet points.🎉

[@taharokz]

Ben looks exactly like what I imagine train driver Alec would look like

[@varjen018]

Like brothers to be honest.

[@dweezil6969]

Cousins at least.

[@malloystiggles5087]

he looks like a barbaloot the bears from the lorax

[@tom9571]

I can't wait for the series where you build your own steam train!

[@johnheckles8239]

Out of Damascus! 😂

[@sjv6598]

Have a look for blondihacks. She’s building one from scratch.

[@DryW4t3r]

imagine how many episodes that would take

[@markfergerson2145]

Blondiehacks is doing that right now. She started with the boiler, then built the tender, and has just built the frame for the loco. It’s been a long series on her channel to get that far and will only get longer. Our man Alec knows he’s not a machinist but he definitely should give it a go.

[@OperationDarkside]

@@johnheckles8239 and diamond inlays around the smoke stack.

[@kennethmays8059]

I liked that guy (the tour guide). As an American he is the typical British guy I think of. Very Inteligent and knowledgeable about his interest but just a touch of cheeky humor delivered so matter a factly you can never really tell if he's serious or not.

[@JokerInk-CustomBuilds]

"Go on, you know you want to!" -After tooting the whistle was epic! lol

[@joshuagibson2520]

Naaah. He is a redcoat. I'm sure he is a nice fella, but...

[@KnowArt]

winning the sponsorship transition competition

[@junatah5903]

Was decent but the logo on the top left ga e away the punchline before he even finished it. XD

[@cyntax_error]

Maybe we need a Squarespace Segway-off between Alec and Matt Jones (mountain biker); there are some crackers on both sides

[@MediocreHexPeddler]

Rectangular-squarish object: Exists Alec: It's free real estate.

[@MarcMercier1971]

I dunno... Baumgartner Restorations is smooth as silk. He's talking and sliiiiiiides right into the ad.

[@houserootie]

Ben is a great communicator. He not only obviously very knowledgeable, but he's also pretty great at telling Alec (and us) about all this stuff. Fantastic video

[@andybogart2503]

That dude was so knowledgeable and skillful - how cool that he got the chance to shine in a video like this. Well done!

[@MikelangeloPhoto]

that MIGHT be the best segue for Squarespace I have EVER heard... I did NOT see it coming... dangit...

[@1tzBattery]

you should watch Scott Brown Carpentry

[@lotsofgreendrums]

Baumgartner Restoration has had some great ones as well

[@jacobknapp2710]

nothing like seeing twin brother having a great time making a youtube vid.

[@butzmn7190]

What a chill guy the train man is. Passionate volunteer with years of experience. And a very calm presence.

[@rgsrrofnc]

So glad you are learning about steam. Need to know so you can get that power hammer done. He definitely fires the locomotive differently than I ever fired a locomotive, from 1/8th full size to full size (about 3 times larger than that locomotive.) And we'd shovel 5 tons of coal on the larger K-class locomotives. Injectors work by converting a pressure head to a velocity head. The proper oil can makes all the difference. Also, keep the oil can on the backhead to thin the oil so it pours easier. Invest in some gloves!

[@pileofstuff]

it would be excellent if Alec could use the steam hammer (and some of his other tools and abilities) to do some repair or remaufacturing jobs for the museum.

[@ment001]

You can see why Ben has been volunteering for 11 years, not only does he get to be around something he's clearly passionate about, but he also gets to see peoples inner child burst out with pure happiness :) Good on you Ben and of course Alec and Jamie for the great Vid.

[@MainlyHuman]

"How does an injector work?" "How long have you got?"

[@jameshodgson1609]

Just got to accept, they work by magic !

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

Having operated an oil-fired steam locomotive, the amount of power in your hands is incredible. Just a tiny bit of steam can mean the difference between a smooth start, and spinning the wheels. As for the ability to coast, that's when you realize just how efficient trains are when you can coast for way longer than you think you should be able to. Operating one is an incredible experience if anyone gets the chance, do it!

[@BlazeMiskulin]

Growing up, my parents used to take me to the Badger Steam Engine Show in Baraboo, WI, every year. It wasn't trains, it was threshers--which were, to be honest, just smaller steam engines repurposed for agricultural use. I was alwas so amazed. When I was about 10 or 12, Santa brought me a steam engine of my own. Based on what I've seen of modern versions, I'm guessing it's a Wilesco. I still fire it up once or twice a year--just sitting on top of my desk doing nothing except running (and spitting water everywhere--the gaskets on the ram aren't very good). SO MUCH FUN!

[@robertharris1748]

I got a Mamod (British steam toys) when I was the same age in the early 80s! It was an old one from maybe the 50s or 60s my mother picked up at auction. Still have it. And I now live in Denver!

[@JohnPribula]

Alec needs to do more colabs with people keeping these skills alive so much knowledge needs to be passed on.

[@tankerboysabot]

Being a modern freight train conductor and one who appreciates old steam locos as well as Alec Steele/forging and the things he gets into I am loving this particular bit of content.

[@DasGanon]

I love big steam trains. Union Pacific has an open house at the roundhouse and Steam Workshop in Cheyenne every year, and last year they had Big Boy 4014 and all of the guys who reworked it to get it running (and converted to oil instead of Coal). Absolutely love it. Ceiling of the Steam Shop says "Buy War Bonds" too 11 US Tons of coal *an hour* when really cranking it. Absolutely insane.

[@callsignapollo_]

What's even crazier is the 4000 clasas isn't even the biggest in any particular statistic. Sure, it may be the most produced of the large locos, but there were some classes with only 2 or 3 engines that were larger, or had bigger boilers, more tractive effort, etc. Unfortunately, not many of those made it to preservation like the big boys did. And to imagine something even bigger than the big boy just feels insane.

[@michaelanderson2166]

I’m a boiler inspector and sometimes have to certify repairs done to locomotives that vineyards use for “fancy” tours. They are a blast each time.

[@BuddhaAfterDark]

watching this after watching the first 7 episodes of the power hammer rebuild, after being away for a while is pure joy. thank you Alec :D

[@The_NW_EngineYT]

There is honestly very little that is funnier than hearing someone new to steam locos just being surprised at such simple things about it.

[@tommymanuel8687]

It's fun to watch smart and passionate people talk about their craft.

[@br4d101]

It’s great you’re using local companies in Norfolk and showing what they do! Great to keep the community spirit alive that a lot of people would have forgot that we actually have here in this little county!

[@slithery9291]

Absolutely love that museum. I used to live in Reepham for 10+ years and walk through the grounds every day on my way to work (the far platform is a public right of way).

[@MrWadeant]

Its great to see you work with these small dedicated groups of people around Britannia keeping the old ways alive!!!!

[@erikcourtney1834]

Alec going to make his steam hammer run on steam.. please do. Even if it is only for a few videos and then go to compressed air. It’s so worth it. Just be safe. As a boilermaker… they’re no joke. Pressurized cylinders = a bomb.

[@blubb7711]

It’s amazing how dirty the air had to be back in the day. Now days people freak out if you drive a euro 4 diesel with AGR, KAT and DPF.

[@drumitri]

That was awesome!!! My dad used to take me to see and ride miniature steam trains when I was little. It's incredible how strong they are!! Thanks for sharing that!! Took me back a good 4 decades...❤

[@johnjohn-ed9qt]

Nice to see this. Looks like a lot of fun.This is about the size of one of the locomotives I qualified on. Largest was about 2 ton/hour of high quality bituminous, 3-1/2 tons of the lower quality, with a lot of hooking clinker. Anything much larger would use a stoker for coal. Glad you had fun

[@Hathos96]

I’ve never been into trains, but watching Alec drive the train, I’m thinking to myself “I want to drive a train”

[@joshuambean]

Love this. We have a similar program here in Ontario Canada. There's an amazing arts festival called Steel Rails that used to take place on the trains. There'd be music, art installations, dance parties, beer, and more on all the train cars and you'd go on a little trip through the country side and back during the festival. It was the greatest thing ever.

[@user-no9fj2cn5v]

Just found your channel recently and I love everything about it. Everyone's personality is so great and charming. Found your channel while looking into blacksmithing because I just started getting into it. Thanks for everything. 😊

[@Night_Rose_94]

Wow! What a video! Very interesting and fun to watch. The guide is amazing and Alec's want to learn is infectious.

[@afallencheetah6610]

Did anyone else see the steam crane and immediately remember reading Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel as a kid?

[@saginawdan]

Thanks for the Mike Mulligan reminder...brings me back 60 plus years to my childhood.👍

[@b2bogster]

This is a great video! I love how your doing all sort of thing related to what you do. I've been watching your videos since the beginning. What a great journey you are on. Thank you for sharing. Keep up the great work!

[@esteva03]

God I wanna be this chill. Loved the video. Didn't even noticed the running time. GREAT content! 🙌🙌🙌

[@joshb2492]

Thankyou for bringing this to us !!! Never thought I needed to know how a steam train works, but I loved every minute of it !

[@patrickbourne3819]

Absolutely love this video! Love when ever you do anything historical, always get a good idea of what the technology was like to make and use. Keep it up I am so looking forward to the next steam hammer video!

[@jurriaandejongh8677]

I love steam power, it has something truly primal and magical to it. I can't imagine how awestruck you would have been seeing one of those big monsters arrive at the station. Thank you for sharing this Alec!

[@juniorglasgow9542]

A great friend of mine runs a steam locomotive at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho. So cool!!!

[@guymontag2948]

You definitely found the right guy. That was incredibly informative and a beautiful engine.

[@tinovanderzwan-km7ou]

near to where I lived in my childhood, there were 2 tracks built for V2 rocket transportation during WW2 long abandoned next to the modern rails the manual rail switches still worked and we often played with them as children or we would dig for big coal pieces for fossils some of the coal pieces were as big as me at age 10 they were supposed to be broken up by slave labor but never did due to the end of the war some had whole trunks of fossilized fern tree stems from the carboniferous era. I donated that to what now is the Naturalis Museum in Leiden in the Netherlands.

[@P-J-W-777]

I’ve always found steam trains to be a marvel of engineering. They talked about how long it took to get the trains ready to roll. What they didn’t say is there would be crews working different shifts getting the trains ready to roll out the next day. One thing about steam trains is that the power output is amazing. If I’m not mistaking steam trains were still being used years ago when moving heavy loads through the mountains.

[@Draftsman17]

now we need a collaboration with LMM working on his Ruston rebuilding project.

[@matthewgotts1]

There was a brief view of the LMM shed at one point in the video!

[@MarcMercier1971]

19:18 Jay Leno has a 1925 Doble E-20 car. Thing is a monster. I think it was the high point of steam cars at the time. I bet if we made a steam-powered car today with current tech... would be a sight to behold. There's a video of a guy firing/lubing/running a big ol' locomotive... no talking IIRC. Was interesting, but learned little. I followed the Big Boy 4014 restoration from the start and didn't glean much of the operational parts. I really liked this video, was explained pretty clear.

[@asinineintentions7773]

I love the "Wai-.. There's a thing on the track!" "You what?" "There's a thing on the track!" "What thing?"

[@CameraNomadic]

Squarespace transition was superb! Well done Old Bean.

[@Jarastlad]

used to be a train driver, must have been quite the experience for someone who's never driven a train ! Glad you enjoyed it Alec, can't wait to see the power hammer project !

[@randallrun]

It seems like the two of you could easily end up being best friends. Wonderful video, and once again it’s endearing how excited, happy and passionate, you are about things like this. Thank you!

[@JerseyLeft]

Appreciate this type of content Alec! Hope making more of these blacksmithing adjacent job videos proves fruitful.

[@samjdalton]

What a fantastic video! Such an engaging look at the world of steam!

[@Ukylie]

I have to acknowledge that seamless transition into the Squarespace ad. Bravo good Sir.

[@AutoBrawn]

I've always wanted to ride on a steam train. Now I wanna drive one too! Awesome stuff!

[@jamesempson1365]

My favorite thing about you Alex, even above the terrible puns and jokes and the fabulous crafting and restorations is your knowledge that trying something out you may never do again gives you so much value through experience. I may not have as many different things under my belt but I have spent a lot of time with a lot of different machinary and tooling. At least to me experience is everything of value. Love this bloody Chanel

[@jamesempson1365]

Alec dumb auto correct

[@lautarobarrera9649]

tremendous video, I really liked everything you explained and showed! thanks!!!

[@Kris_at_WhiteOaksFarm]

Wow, just WoW! fascinating, informative, educational and magical. What a great adventure you took us on. Oiling a steam engine, and bringing it to pressure and running down the track and back! Wow! Beautiful. Thank you!

[@LtHawk77]

I'm glad you got to have fun in a profession that I do as a passion job. Its a labor of love to keep these old steamers going, and the knowledge base is immense throughout the world on them still. I am looking forward to seeing how you use this knowledge gained for the steam power hammer restoration.

[@jasonagle7912]

Proper representation of steam power, well done. You should visit Huckleberry railroad in Michigan, US. We have a working steam engine from the 1800s.

[@lemonheadoo7]

My home town is home to a 221 ton 2-8-4 steam locomotive that makes frequent trips. It is an impressive sight to see so much weight start moving so quickly using hot water and a little engineering magic, and it's the only train in town I get excited to wait at a crossing signal for.

[@lenzwe7775]

So fun to see them commiserate about stuck pistons and clickers 😊

[@mkase4697]

Top notch vid as always. BTW, that valve gear is called a Stephenson Link or Stephenson Valve Gear in case you're interested.

[@patchinthebox]

I love watching people nerd out about stuff they're really passionate about.

[@Santos-oc2no]

Amazing video! Always with something interesting and beautiful!!! For sure you should make a steam whistle for your powerhammer!!!!

[@MrBenstero]

That was awesome Alec, great opportunity you got there.

[@andromidius]

Steam Engines are so cool. The amount of work put into building and running those things is hard to imagine. One thing I can imagine though is how difficult it to would be for someone like me to crew one. Those things were designed for an age when the average person was considerably smaller. I'd struggle to even get into the cabin, let alone be able to move around in it! So the crews of these machines would have to be relatively small but also incredibly strong and hardy.

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Absolute cracking vid Alec, I love steam engines

[@imccrae]

Absolutely loved this episode ! Must have been a thrill

[@jamesbrandon8520]

I’m a boiler maker by trade for refineries and the biggest that I ever worked on was 550,000 pounds and running pressure was 2250 psi

[@marcinkowalczyk647]

LOVE THIS ! STEAM TRAINS ARE AWESOME ! [you should totally make a small steam train Alec! :D]

[@timmoss8510]

Ivan is very passionate and knowledgeable, great to see younger people keeping this stuff alive.

[@Kalipp0]

Tons of respect for the dude absolutely knowing his stuff!

[@killingtimeitself]

steam tech truly is one of the more incredible things we have ever done. The sheer amount of engineering and work put into them, and the amount of power they put out is something to behold.

[@CowboyCree63]

Most people don't realize just how much steam is STILL used every single day in our lives, most power plants are steam powered turbine generators.

[@killingtimeitself]

@@CowboyCree63 I mean yeah, obviously. But a steam based power plant just isn't the same as one of these old cast iron steam engines that was designed with the explicit purpose of being a workhorse. Sure steam turbines are neat, but they hold NOTHING to the complexities and intricacies of these older steam locos, and even larger stationary engines. Ironically, they used large steam engines designed for rolling steel (you heard that correctly) to manufacture some of the first nuclear power plants in the world.

[@chriscarpenter4415]

That was so cool. Thank you for sharing this

[@markbrennan8392]

What a fantastic day that must have been with the both of you as passionate as you are about the steam workings. I think it's such a beautiful and fascinating field and even the steampunk era and thought behind things to provide power where needed. Thanks for sharing Alec, that was a cool visit 😃

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

This was COOL! When that sucker starts moving, it's actually a little scary. Scary powerful!

[@MrGosvi]

I really loved this video, is just as awesome as interesting, keep up the good work :)

[@isaacgraff8288]

The acceleration is insane, especially figuring how heavy that must be.

[@ariumbra7808]

What a wonderful video full of passion and learning. Keep up the great work both of you!

[@MrLargonaut]

That commercial transition was so smooth that I watchd the commercial twice for you.

[@PontifexPrimus]

I love that, it is so incredibly fascinating to see how refined the technology needs to be for anything to work. I can understand the basic principles ("steam make piston go out, steam make piston go back"), but I never in a billion years would be able to figure out the linkages required to control the valves, or even translate the back-and-forth movement to a smooth round turning motion.

[@DavidMCheney]

Fascinating! Thanks Alec et al

[@dafallngames9068]

my grandad use to run th minni railway at rhyl in whales before he passed have good memories of going down on holiday and helping him

[@jackhemsworth7515]

The amazing thing about steam trains, is they'll cause themselves wheelspin with 100 tonnes on the back. they have that much push power it is insane.

[@Synchro-Mesh]

One of the railways I volunteer at! A lovely place too!

[@tinyfluffs]

I got to go to Whitwell & Reepham a few years ago. Absolutely loved it there. They got some wonderful kettles :D

[@Bigbangsam115]

Another great video on British industry! Ben was a great guide. Hopefully you learnt a thing or two that will help with the hammer repair!

[@Gogsnik]

I think that was the best explanation of how a steam engine works I've ever seen.

[@ZevVeli]

I remember years ago when I was working in the employee break area of a theme park that had steam trains about an hour outside of Norfolk (Virginia) where one of the operators told me that he had always wanted to be a train engineer, but there was no future in it, so he did something else and started working as an operator at the park after his retirement. Good to know that train enthusiasts on the other side of the pond are the same.

[@brucematthews6417]

Absolutely BRILLIANT! And good on you for showcasing this place to help spread the word for them.

[@Rymunin]

used to volunteer many years ago (early 90's) at my then local steam railway place, it got closed down by rising rent that couldnt be met :( the landowner wanted to drive the place out so he could build houses on the site.. didnt realise they were all listed buildings, so to this day, still no houses there.

[@fexdammit]

Ben was truly the star here..... clever, well spoken and funny.... all in a flat cap. Many thanks from New Zealand..... well this bit anyway!

[@sarinredfield]

Alec that was an awesome fieldtrip you took us on!

[@AlexPortRacing]

Learnt so much about how a steam engine works in this vid.

[@andrewjanas2440]

I didn’t realise I was smiling all the way through that!!

[@bobholt5081]

Gotta say I seriously enjoyed this

[@abrahamnarvaez1730]

Tom Scott is retiring but Alec will continue the spirit of showing people amazing things hidden under their nose

[@dannygonzalez0861]

You should try and meet Keith Appleton. He is a mini steam genius and I think you two would make a fantastic video

[@kleseus]

I really enjoy these UK engines, the saddle tank engines are marvelous and the diesel shunters are great aswell.