How To Fire a Full-Size Coal-Burning Steam Locomotive [4K]

[@JeffBerrier]

I opted to write subtitles instead of narrate this video so that those who wish to view the video with only the natural sounds of the steam locomotive may do so without any background music or voices playing over them. Many people watch my videos just for the actual video clips and not for the information; I figured adding the subtitles is a less intrusive way to achieve a happy medium, as well as to provide the spelling of railroad terms that some may wish to do further research on. As always, thank you for watching and more to come soon. -Jeff Berrier

[@maaltagabriel]

Jeff, what's the matter with the left side of the tracks and left hand curves?

[@brianrvd]

@@maaltagabriel when the engine goes around a left hand curve the engineer on the right hand side of the cab can't see the tracks, so the fireman watches for anything unexpected.

[@sumirunihon]

That was probably the best choice

[@kleetus92]

@Avinash 909 They are, but realize that when you see one side of the locomotive, you're only seeing half of the action. Each piston is double acting, meaning it can push and pull. the piston on the other side is keyed almost 90 degrees different than the other. The reason it isn't exactly 90 is so you can never stop at a point and get stuck between operating cycles. Watch the side rods again, you'll hear a chuff at 12 3 6 9 oclock, then it repeats. 12 and 6 are the contribution from the other side.

[@mr.manson1195]

Is the locomotive able to burn richer lower sulfur coal ? Or would it damage it.

[@martinlintzgy1361]

No music, no talking... Just the sound of the heartbeat and breathing of the magnificent machine.. Thank you.

[@winnaar2263]

I hate music.

[@aterriblecsgogamer6831]

@@winnaar2263 You sound sad.

[@winnaar2263]

@@aterriblecsgogamer6831 you sound like a geek with no life lol

[@MrMarinus18]

I wonder how mean oil powered steam turbine locomotives there are. I do know it's possible as they are widely used in ships still today.

[@GlazeonthewickeR]

@@winnaar2263lol no you don’t

[@adjustablehammer3749]

That little fire car has got to be the funniest little thing going along behind the train 😂👍

[@johncombs2990]

It's called a speeder. Railroads used them for years to run inspection and maintenance crews up and down the tracks. They have all but disappeared in recent years in favor of High-Rollers. These are regular trucks and suvs fitted with retractable flanged wheels front and rear. Speeders are still around. People buy them surplus and get together to run them along abandoned or little used tracks(with the R.R.s permission).

[@pdeaphilippinedrugenforcem555]

Looks so cute

[@SgtKilgore406]

@@johncombs2990 Interesting, my father used to work for BNSF and they always referred to those vehicles as high rails. Never heard the term high rollers.

[@johncombs2990]

@@SgtKilgore406 You're probably right. I knew it was high something.

[@rehman5534]

Explaining that job to your Date and still manage to impress her is a talent! 🤣

[@BoleDaPole]

Thanks for the tips. Just got one of these and having trouble figuring it all out.

[@barrywever9984]

Underrated

[@clancytaylor7714]

Very underratted

[@CriticoolHit]

Disgusting shape-shifter. I'll see you off this station!

[@MrDubs]

Just checking in with you, how has it been since your first purchase? I had to RMA mine, but I think it just got damaged in delivery.

[@claudiocarbone2225]

LMAOO underrated

[@gregsmith1719]

Great video! No banjos! No music! No talking! Just natural sounds! And great information! Keep it up!

[@turbowolf302]

awwww, that tiny little choo-choo following the big one around is easily the cutest thing ever. It's like a puppy dog.

[@brohoop]

THANKS SO MUCH!! 40 yrs of worshipping steam locomotives and never knew any of this! You’re a wonderful educator and very much appreciated!! Going to watch all your videos! CAN’T WAIT!!

[@thesourceofthenile]

It's amazing how much work and resources goes into making these things move.

[@spartanboss4189]

and it´s absolutely worth it!

[@marklopez5659]

How is one built?

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@joaquinbrignoni5769]

Termodinámica

[@mrtoast244]

Thx for the tutorial, will keep in mind next time I'm driving a Rio Grande Western K-36 class locomotive

[@Frederick-111]

By any chance do you know any tutorial on how to build it? I need it for work

[@harambe9461]

@@Frederick-111lol

[@richcrowell9476]

A GREAT VID. NO BULLSHIT MUSIC. JUST THE SOUNDS OF A MACHINE WORKING. PERFECT!!!

[@kylemccourt663]

This video would be amazing regardless, but the fact that it is filmed with the beauty of magnificent Colorado as the backdrop, warms my heart on so many levels. I need to experience this train!!!!

[@peterszar]

Excellent video, it took me a few rewinds to read the subtitles , but it was a pleasure to hear the engine's sounds rather than goofy annoying music, and a narrator.

[@BlackWolfLeon]

0:52 Wait...hold on... Mummies? A heavy metal machine running on ancient king corpses....That's pretty brutal.

[@PowerTrain611]

I'm gonna write a heavy metal song about that.

[@BlackWolfLeon]

Please do.

[@aaronbays4]

Sounds like a perfect Metalocalypse episode lol. Dethklok is traveling through Eygpt and Northern Africa when the Dethtrain runs out of coal. So they are forced to burn all their possessions on the train to get to the next gig, including the mummies they bought from some shady ass weirdo who was really working for The Tribunal. You know typical storyline, they break down in the middle of nowhere, its 11 billion degrees outside, chaos ensues when they burn the mummies, a giant mummy kills the crowd and ruins their show in Tunisia or something along those lines lol.

[@BlackWolfLeon]

There actually is a Dethklok song. Murdertrain a comin'.

[@astronichols1900]

Dethklok fans watching steam engine videos? Glad to know I'm not alone :p

[@John_L]

Good to have you posting videos again Jeff. As an electronics engineer I find that your videos give a fascinating insight into another engineer's (completely different) world! All engineering is good - without engineers we wouldn't have any of the things we all take for granted.

[@usedbrickie9166]

We called it in the old days farmers with no education "Can Do" attitudes.

[@CsendPenge]

My greatest dream when I was kid... to be a fireman on a steam locomotive :) Unfortunately, I born into the wrong age. Well, many thanks to these videos Jeff! And thanks to anyone who helped to make it. Thank you!

[@amr1919ms]

Hi: this railway line is beautiful. My late wife and I have the diplomas of steam boiler operators, which legally allowed us to be firemans of steam locomotives. My late wife operated a steam boiler with twelve burners, at a pressure of 60 or 90 bars. It was an oil refinery .. Bests regards.

[@Knallteute]

amr1919ms Thats honestly really cool. My grandfather worked at henschel a big locomotive factory that later get bought by abb.

[@arbutuswatcher]

My Uncle Earl was a Conductor for the Illinois Central, from 1936 to 1976 - Primarily based out of Freeport, IL. He started out in Freight Service, but migrated over to Passenger Service his last few years, under Amtrak, before finally retiring with 40 years of service. He had many interesting stories. Ah, the days of cabooses, before FRED came along.

[@ShowCat1]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thanks for no music. The sounds of the train were beautiful enough.

[@andywomack3414]

My dad, who fired Pacific and Mikado steam locomotives on the west end of the Baltimore Division, B&O, would like the way Jeff Berrier fires the locomotive. Nice clean stack, firing only when needed. Washington DC terminal had strict rules about producing smoke. Being qualified for those jobs meant the fireman needed to know what he was doing. Berrier would qualify on the Washington Branch and The Met. Imagine doing that job at 80 mph.

[@bluedsteel1963]

Thank you very much for this video. I was a fireman for the K-27 DRGW 464 in Michigan during the summer/Christmas breaks away from college in the 90s. I have described the job many times, but the way the fire appears when running is best seen and your video beats any verbal description. I was taught and used the horse shoe method and never had a problem since it seemed to be what she liked. The steepest grade we had on the line then was 2%. They took that section out of the trip since my time unfortunately. Great job on the video! When I was in Colorado several years ago, they stopped running CT because of the fires so never made it over to see 463. Next time.

[@matthewmiller6068]

Really appreciate your videos showing all the "behind the scenes" stuff -- these machines are amazing to see out running but I really like the opportunity to better understand all the hard work that goes into keeping them running. I've read articles but you don't really get the same picture as seeing it from the point of view of someone actually doing the work first hand and the explanation about why each thing is the way it is. Love to see more of it in the future!

[@johnnyjames7139]

I haven't been able to coal fire my 2 1/2" scale live steamer successfully. It does work well using wood with a grate adapted from a pellet stove. I freely admit to knowing nothing about drafting a locomotive. I always appreciate these how to videos.

[@charleshettrick2408]

Don't know size of ur fire box. 2 1/2" is pretty large. So assuming it is scale, not gage, grate spacing 5/16 to 3/16 should be good. Starting with easiest, check ash pan dampers are open and there is enough space for adequate air flow between grates and ash pan. The blast nozzle should be free of internal obstructions like rust scale, teflon tape, etc. Often these can only be seen with the smoke box door off and some steam or air blowing through the cylinders out the stack. Most important be sure blast pipe is correctly aligned to the stack and @ the proper distance. There is a lot of information on the net at club sites to aid correcting ur drafting issues.

[@acdii]

Check Keith Appleton's videos. He is a brit who builds, operates, and repairs everything steam. When they fire up a loco, they have a special blower that rests on top of the stack to draw the smoke out and get the coal glowing right until steam is up enough to vent through the smoke box and create it's own draft. Really interesting guy, but he is a Brit, a bit dry, and set in his ways.

[@davidrichards5594]

Jeff, Thanks for putting up these great videos, I know it takes a lot of time. My cousin & I rode the C&T last August and had a GREAT time. I never realized that a tourist road could be run so professionally and true to it's history. Instant subscription here.......Dave

[@Dems-fk8sh]

Excellent ! Watching it with my 2 years old boy. Pure delight. Thanks again !

[@Max20FA]

I literally watched in amusement the entire video, the sounds, awesome mountain views and the work these guys were performing. That’s a big piece of history right there still getting the job done. I would love to ride in that cab!

[@chuck1641]

Just an amazing video. I love steam locomotives, but I could never do what you do. So much to know and keep on top of. You're a much better man than I, and all my respect to you, and all firemen out there.

[@rhavrane]

Bonjour Jeff, As steam passionate and RC steam boats (running on gas) collector, I find your videos especilayy interesting because of the appropriate subtitles. Great work for a great result, thanks a lot ! Do not hesitate to find other topics about steam :+) Amicalement, Raphaël

[@kennethwise7108]

My Pap worked on the railroad his entire life. I have his badge given to him the day he made "Engineer". After watching this young man shoveling coal into the firebox I can understand why he was so motivated to get engineer qualified! WOW, LOTS OF HARD WORK! 👍

[@bboomer1948]

Firing and coaling a steam locomotive was so archaic for many years. You would think someone would have had invented a better 'coal delivery' system to the firebox. That damn shoveling was very hard work. No envy , here, for the man (or woman) performing that back breaking ordeal. I guess oil fired locomotives were a very good thing !

[@DanielPRails]

They did use mechanical stokers with coal on some locomotive types. The fire boxes demanded so much coal that a person would be unable to supply enough. But I definitely agree that it would have been a demanding job!

[@TheBizonGaming]

Came here to learn how to fire a locomotive, ended up learning how to drive a steam strain

[@Bizzon666]

Great video! Not everyone can appreciate this, but I like steam locomotives, and the insights/details about operating the engine are most interesting to me.

[@gilparks7303]

Nice job on the video. When i attended fireman school at the CTSRR, Harry was one of the instructors. I learned to fire the 488 that session. Thanks!

[@nlo114]

17:20 - The 'blowdown' is also used to clear any mud and debris from the foundation ring of the firebox. This prevents mud baking hard, with subsequent hot-spots that lead to distortion and failure of the inner firebox wrapper.

[@michaelpeterson4348]

Very nice video thank you for not playing any stupid music....

[@marlenejcn]

What an awesome video!!! It gave me so much information about what the fireman does. My dad worked as a fireman on the train some 60-65 years ago. I would like to know how it is different today from how it was when he worked it. I'm writing stories for my grandchildren about when I was a little girl in Durango. We moved to California when I was ten. I have so many GREAT memories of Durango. Thank you, Thank you this is just what I was looking for. It was so well done. With the writing I could pause it when I wanted to make notes about the information. There is nothing like the sounds of the train. I NEVER tire of hearing it.

[@earnesthillsdale9218]

This is awesome. It’s man power using the earth and coal.I appreciate the olds days. You actually had to work. Im an engineer driving a pumping fire truck people still don’t understand how pumped water forward, Centrifugal force and pressures and gages you can dial up or down. Always checking your gages will never get old .

[@nearjet]

Hey Jeff, thanks for another great video! As a professional jet pilot, I take for granted all that went into the operation of such an awesome machine! A lot of hard work and diligence is required, but its hay-day was a much gentieler time! Sometimes I wish we could go back?

[@corey6426]

When the engine went through the tunnel it took on a different feel...super cool..thanks guys.

[@Lunaholic94]

What a nice job this used to be back in the days. That's a lot of work and responsibility but you also have such an amazing views

[@K4REF]

Love your videos Jeff. Next one needs to be "How to be the train Engineer". Go thru all the steps of driving the train as the Engineer. Include discussion about the subtle changes made as you start up grade, down grade and braking procedures. BTW... I actually like narration better if it's clear, it lets you convey a lot more info. (Maybe it's cause I can't read and watch at the same time. LOL) Thanks again for letting us into your world.

[@MARS_118]

The engineering went into these is just gorgeous.

[@SJFPenguin1854]

I think I would enjoy being a steam engine fireman for a few days to try something new, but it's very hard work to have as a career. Especially 80+ years ago when these trains were essential for moving people and freight rather than just tourist excursions.

[@TonyLasagna]

Long time insta follower - very well done. That shot of the firebox (and actually being able to make out the cinders) is nuts!

[@khadijagwen]

That picture you have in your Thumbnail when you click on this video is a classic and needs to be blown up and put in a Museum or sold! I'd marry that man in a minute.

[@flatoutfullbore]

Absolutely excellent. I took the fireman class at C&T & many of the things in this video are things Ronnie Lopez was trying to teach me. I wish I had seen your video before the class, but I will watch this many more times & learn something new with every viewing. Thanks Jeff!

[@Calou-Calou]

I'm a fan of old steam locomotives 😍. Your video fills me with happiness 🔝 She is rich in information, explanations ... It's just happiness 😉 A big thank you! 👏👍 (I'm french, sorry my english is average) ^^

[@albclean]

Your English is fine my friend.

[@Calou-Calou]

@@albclean Tank you my friend 😉

[@1929modelagirl]

Another great video. Thank you My dad, sister and I rode the Cumbres & Toltec nearly 20 yrs ago. It was and remains the best trip we ever did.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@HungryH1951]

Very educational. Good explanations of how things work. Thank you for posting.

[@hoophil]

Wow Jeff, that video was amazing! You do such a great job and it was so enjoyable to watch. Thanks for all your hard work and for sharing it with us!

[@roostercogburn809]

Great vids... how many gallons of water per hour are used and how many cubic yards of coal? Thanks

[@atultailang8787]

Thanks Jeff both the objectives are fulfilled .great effort. Thanks a lot.

[@daveantd1971]

my grand dad worked for the rail road decades ago he said when it came to the steam locamotives THANK GOD FOR AUTOMATIC COAL FEAD

[@jaysonflesher8666]

thank you for a fascinating look into the work of a fireman I enjoyed this and it was interesting to see the scenery as well

[@remko1238]

THAT is a machine 💪,, so much effort and dedication: i ❤️ the video

[@Harrlond]

how many miles can you do on one full tank of water and a full tender of coal? and which is likely to run out first?

[@Mike-01234]

Very nice video I wondered if coal locomotives still were able to be in use with the fire danger, and amount of smoke they produce. I could not imagine what guy felt like after all day shoveling coal, and how hot it was in the summer.

[@Brian_yeah_that_brian_Strang]

I hear the one in Durango is switching to oil because they blamed it for a fire

[@Mike-01234]

@@Brian_yeah_that_brian_Strang Too bad but I guess still a nice ride through the forest

[@Brian_yeah_that_brian_Strang]

@@Mike-01234 hard to find a better one

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship train 🚃🚂🚃🚂

[@jandejong6498]

Dear Jeff! I do like the way you edit your beautifull videos! Thanks! Greetings from Holland.

[@PlutoProtogen]

ngl, the sound of a steam engine operating is asmr to me. they are beautiful machines and i would love to know everything i can about them, they are incredible

[@shyryTsr2k]

It's so so cute to see the mini train fire car drive behind the monstrosity. Amazing work btw bro you earned a new supporter!🙏

[@greghilton7797]

A wonderfully fabulous video full of great information and very informative. Than you Jeff. Cheers

[@YoursUntruly]

17:30 The little toot toot to the fireman as a thank you was awesome haha

[@stephensfarms7165]

Greatest video I have on the operation in the cab. Nice one. 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rate

[@brucetharpe762]

I travelled behind her on July 16 I believe from Chama to Antonio. 488 did an awesome show.

[@PowerTrain611]

Yes! I've been patiently waiting for the next installment!

[@LeandroMuntendam]

Love the video dude but what I found a bit funny was the way you subtitled the video for us folks to understand what you are doing as a fireman. Nevertheless cool video man. Thanks for sharing

[@davidpoor8638]

Excellent job on this Jeff!! Thank you for sharing this with folks!!

[@Beaver-1]

Another great video. Thanks Jeff!

[@chrisinnes2128]

I remember doing this in the north york moors railway as a 15 or 16 year old boy. One of the best 30 minutes of my life

[@NoNonsenseKnowHow]

Incredibly well put together man! Ever need some volunteer help, let me know! I would be glad to make a trip out and put a few weeks in for any maint or repairs

[@kaibroeking9968]

Thanks for another great video! I really enjoy that you just show the footage as it is, without voiceovers or music: just the sound of the locomotive and you working, plus some views of the great outdoors. Please keep up the good work! (By the way, the "Egyptian mummies as fuel" story appears to have been a tall tale by Mark Twain, put in "The Innocents Abroad", most likely as a joke. There is a short bit about two engineers bickering about the peasant bodies not burning well enough and that they'd better put the mummy of a king in the firebox to keep the pressure up.)

[@stamrly418]

Great work love the video. One more thing the fireman needs to know is the line and where the inclines are. This is so he can get his fire made ready for the extra demand of climbing. You did say he needs to know his surroundings which is part of this planning. Please note fireman is used even though ladies and girls do fire these wonderful things and do it well. The condition of the locomotives is a working machine, polished handles by the operators hand not polishing rags. Paint worn off at the points they are used Great stuff not the glittering highly polished of some. A everyday working machine, with all their quirks . Thanks for taking the time and effort to do these. A greater number people will now understand how important the fireman’s job is to make a great trip. Keep it up Amacf

[@tom7601]

A lady, or female, fireman. "MAN," as in huMAN. As opposed to firedog or firecat... :-)

[@mikehogan9265]

I worked as a fireman to save money to attend university. This was in South Africa in the 70's when steam was still in use. The worst part of the job was cleaning fire. Must have shovelled umpteen tons of coal. It is interesting how each engine type performs better depending on where the coal is placed.You learn that quick!

[@AZAce1064]

What a cool video👍 I bet you guys in the engine all day can still hear choo choo in your sleep after a long day🤙

[@RoseSharon7777]

Ever had a bear or wild animal jump out and scare you or on the track? This video was AWESOME. Very very interesting!!

[@codyg2828]

How do trains get brought and or transported into muesums? Do they have to build track from a main line to the building? Continuing inside the building?

[@buckel9263]

thank you, YT for recommending this to me. I did not know that I liked steam locomotives.

[@Juxen4021]

Great video! I rode on this section of the C&TS this past summer. I didn't know the blowdown was used to purge excess water; I always thought it was for sediment build-up.

[@charlesgreathouse7376]

You are correct, the blow down is to remove the solids in the water. They build up in the boiler as the water turns to steam. All water has minerals and solids that stay in the boller when water is boiled.

[@muralidharc782]

Superb .I never felt I was watching a video .it was like being on engine itself. Good to see narration and distracting music kept out.

[@marcoscosta2318]

When you talked about the red hot cinders I remembered a history from my grandfather , he used to ride in open cattle cars and he said that the cattle and the hats and clothing of the people in the car would get burned , but at the time I didn't understand why , now I do . Thanks for the nice video and the nice footage.

[@billfarnham1592]

The Southern 4501 is another 2-8-2 Mikado now liveried in Chattanooga at a working railroad museum. I've been on her before. She is, as you would guess, fired by coal. While firing with a shovel is an option, the main way of firing her is with a stoker - a big corkscrew looking thing that moves coal from the tender to the firebox under the floorboard of the loco that is over the coupling, etc.

[@timose8192]

i love your videos the closest thing on locomotive i have is a model train and you made me love in again !!! keep up the vids with love from greece !!

[@jakubpiszkiewicz5852]

Glad to see, that I am not the only crazy one who think, that kicking coal is the best method to move it down :D

[@sonicsound84]

What ever happened to this channel. these are some of the best videos of steam engines ive ever seen and heard... :-(

[@kevinlynch1227]

Thank you Jeff. Thoroughly enjoyed everything about this video, The Sounds, Nostalgia, Working Operations and Fueling, explanations about the Steam System and Surroundings, the Scenery, Track and just hanging out with you Guys made my day. I honestly felt like I was there. I never gave thought to the fact that these trains could pass through the countryside and create a fire? I was wondering if you could tell me how many Freight cars a steam locomotive like this might pull, back in the day? My guess would be about 30 to 40. The other day I counted a train going through a Railroad Crossing and there were 166 cars.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@MAhjam-sz5wn]

Awesome,Fantastic and Lovely steam train.🌲🌴🌲🌴🌷

[@3345646]

How do they get the fire started? I don’t think that is mentioned here???

[@3345646]

I live in Illinois which has the union Illinois rail road museum.

[@Austin.D]

usually, just some paper/cardboard and a match or lighter then add your main source of fuel like getting a campfire going

[@3345646]

To Austin: It must be that since the air draft comes from underneath the coal it doesn’t take much to get it going…

[@TheDamnoranges]

Man, I just love this channel.

[@mikelagaffe]

I wish i could learn all yhat and do it as a job. Is it still possible? Those beasts always fascinated me. The work that needs to be done in order to maintain it and make it move is wonderful, and the scenery is unbelievable

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Thank you for not adding background music

[@drgwnut1251]

Jeff thank you so much for sharing this with all of us youtubers. I truely hope you can post msny more vids on these locos,roundhouses & the workshops. Awsome to experience this first hand,esp as some of us will prolly never br able to see in rl. Thank you 👍

[@ianpatrickmchugh787]

I love your videos! Thanks for posting again!

[@raymondgarafano8604]

the plume of steam up by cab is the steam turbine for the headlight generator, 480 watts for headlight and cab lighting 32 volts at 15 amps. there is a sand dome for the sanders, air is blown into the sandbox and blown down in front of the drivers or larger wheels.

[@MrNoUsername]

2:40 4:55 Wow! You can really hear the *POWER* in that chuff! Although I'm more into the UK railways and steam locomotives, I can't deny that American steam engines are absolute beasts and incredibly powerful!

[@drgw489productions]

YOUR BACK!!!

[@Thomas1980]

Nice Video! Thumbs Up!

[@cwhuffman01]

Fantastic job, Jeff!

[@frankoesterreicher6907]

Holy crap this an awesome video! 👍

[@futureconsequence5374]

At 4:40 , What would that large structure with the little house like building on top have been used for?

[@itsyaboi3349]

That is a coal tower (or tipple) which would have lifted loads of coal from ground level to be stored and poured into the tenders of the locomotives.

[@futureconsequence5374]

@@itsyaboi3349 neat! Thanks for the reply!

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Coal fired steamship Titanic

[@zagaberoo]

You're back!

[@DeanWolter-jy8qu]

I’ve been thinking about applying for a job at the D&RGW railroad working with the locomotives themselves. Especially the Eureka during the time period when it’s there. Do you have any knowledge nuggets concerning applying for the job or how to work my way up to working with the locomotives?