How To Fire Up a Steam Locomotive [4K]

•A step-by-step video, with descriptions, on how to fire up a coal-burning steam locomotive. The entire 6 - 7 hour process was shortened down to ~37 minutes in this video to highlight most of the main points.
•The locomotive seen in the video is Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) mikado (2-8-2) #491, one of the largest narrow gauge locomotives ever created. It now runs at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. It has ~37,100 pounds of tractive effort, and weighs ~150 tons or ~302,000 pounds. It was built in 1928 by the D&RGW Burnham shops in Denver, Colorado using the boiler off of a standard gauge D&RGW 2-8-0. #491 is a pristine example of a locomotive perfectly suited for rugged, mountain climbing work.
•Copyright 2017 Jeff Berrier All Rights Reserved

[@JeffBerrier]

*_New videos are in the works!_* Sorry it has taken so long, but this has been a very busy year for me so far! *_An Update:_* • In January, _The Walt Disney Company_ found me and presented an offer I could not decline to join their roundhouse crew that takes care of the 5 steam locomotives as well as the steamboat at Disneyland. • The roundhouse at Disneyland is very much so off limits to the public so creating videos there is not permitted (as of right now). • I travel back home (Colorado) very frequently to help out as well as do contract work with the various railroads in the state (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Colorado Railroad Museum, etc.). • During these trips to work on the locomotives out in Colorado, I come up with new ideas for videos and collect all the footage I can to create them. Thanks for everyone's patience and new videos will be out very soon! -Jeff Berrier For more content from me, see my Instagram: instagram.com/denver_and_rio_grande_western/?hl=en Or my new FaceBook page: facebook.com/JeffryPBerrier/

[@modesttea7133]

love your content keep up thr amazing work. i find these videos really cool and i have watched this like 30 times

[@Mafuskas]

Just found your channel. Congratulations on the new opportunity with Disney. It sounds wonderful. Good luck!

[@Shortzy54]

Couple things Im curious about.... The water. How much does it hold, and how often does it need refilled? Also, what about the opposite of this video? haha. Any chance you could show us the process of parking/shutting down one of the locomotives? Just saw your pinned post. Congrats on the new job!

[@esinohio]

Living the dream of so many already and now you get to work for Disney as well!

[@JuanHerrero]

You make Disney sound like they are the mob xD

[@delet5718]

-gets straight to the point -no clickbait -no commentary -no annoying intro -is actually simple to understand -steam locomotive 11/10

[@nikesb9420]

Yes

[@thornil2231]

I only partly agree with you. Commentaries and music can be nice... if they are of good quality. I actually have a lot of questions that could have been answered in a commentary.

[@AvaMRodriguez]

“A manual transmission is the best anti-theft device!” Railroad technicians: “That’s cute.”

[@audigex]

Rose also that line makes no sense in the UK... everyone and their gran can drive manual over here

[@Ramblequist]

@@audigex Now get to work on dental care..

[@realcodechris]

@@Ramblequist The UK has better teeth on average then the US

[@realcodechris]

@@Ramblequist No, you're very far off the numbers diversityuk.org/diversity-in-the-uk/

[@Ramblequist]

@George Arndt I thought the Germans were all going green with Greta and electric cars. Go paddle your Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS off the line against a Tesla S, then tell us again how quaint gear shifting is superior.

[@Incognito-vc9wj]

Thankyou for not adding music. This is the sound we want to hear!

[@kylehill3643]

Booop Bap Boop Bucha Bucha! Don't you LOVE the sounds of the Obama Care rap engine?

[@vera2892]

@@kylehill3643 ?????

[@nathanjoerndt5021]

there's nothing more than the sounds of the hisssssssssing the chug.. chug..... chugging and the WOOO WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! of a steam locomotive!!! and that's music to my ears

[@ZR117]

Wuy not or Star trek music 🤣🤣🤣

[@user-mr8ij8gi7c]

A little narration could be OK, to explain what he is doing, or why he is doing it, and things to know about each part of the locomotive. He does have some text descriptions added on the screen, but not much detail. But I do agree that it is much better to hear the locomotive waking up, and sounds of the work without music covering it up.

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

Cowboys were cool to me as a kid... but an engineer was something even cooler. I have so much respect for my two great grandads, and my grandpa who all worked on the railroad. One of my great grandpas fired the UP 844.

[@danielt619]

awesome astronaut he lucky

[@bobpaulino4714]

Early engineers and firemen were like astronauts.

[@davecrupel2817]

Hell of a man to do that kind of work! 💪

[@armchairrocketscientist4934]

@@davecrupel2817 I never knew him, but he looked real tough. Apparently he never wore anything but overalls 😄

[@ryann6919]

That's awesome. Glad to see another tankwatcher who loves steam locos

[@staticalphabetsoup637]

Really makes you appreciate the lads who Tokyo drifted the polar express

[@datguymiller]

That was a cool scene but it would have fucked that loco up royaly

[@Victorsvolkswagens]

Tokyo express

[@renegadeoflife87]

You could go ask the nice folks at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso Michigan how well that would have actually worked. They're the caretakers of the real world counterpart to the Polar Express, Pere Marquette #1225. I've stood beside that legendary engine during some routine maintenance.

[@wr400boy]

respect to Tokyo express

[@gormauslander]

Mostly because the wheels can't be braked individually on each side like a car because they are bound together by an axle.

[@austinhall2158]

The most impressive part was how this young engineer looks to be no more than 20... impressive to watch anyone operate one of these, but someone as young as him bring this beast to life and operate it like second nature is unbelievable. Hats off to you, my friend.

[@MinDigitalMedia]

I was thinking the same this as I watched it.

[@christophertracy9944]

@@praisegod287 Right. He's a hostler not an engineer.

[@samk2266]

best job ever.. it's nice that someone is keeping this kind of technology alive, you never know it might still be needed in the future

[@MrGW2fanboy]

@@praisegod287 You'd be suprised, some people are just not cut out for this kinda thing just like how not every person on the tools could do what an engineer does.

[@mihirwadyekar2000]

very boy's dream ........ to be a man

[@KameraShy]

Great to see young guys interested in preserving these. I am old enough to remember when the steam locos were in regular service. You cannot imagine how powerful these were until experiencing them rolling through town, just overwhelming the environment. My father worked locally for Electro-Motive from its very beginning in the 30's in developing and manufacturing the diesels. As always, economics ruled and the steamers faded away. But I can still remember a few in active service as late as the mid 50's.

[@danielbutler5726]

My grandfather was an engineer on the Milwaukee Santa fey and was young diesel engineer because the senior engineers got all the steam engineer jobs . Come find out years later that the higher electrical generating system gave the engineers heart Attacks .

[@rohitchowdhury2462]

Days when mechanical engineering was on high demand. Royal days of mechanical engineering

[@amthonys]

Yeah now its programming and logic controllers

[@matthewwynn3025]

Design a mechanical computer/ probe that can work on Venus, if you're looking for somewhere to put some mechanical engineering ideas to good use

[@dhdoctor6108]

You don't start a steam locomotive. You bring it to life!

[@Patriot1776]

Yep! WAKING it from a slumber! ^^

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

25:00 _thumpfssssssss..............thumpfssssssssss_ We got a pulse!

[@fcguy2778]

Right! Look at 15:30 ... it's like a heartbeat!!

[@Salmagundiii]

The same can be said of a Dalek.

[@manga12]

yes a steam engine is woke up, you start the fire, but you wake the engine up, and it does indeed creak and stretch as the metal of the engine and all its parts heats up, and it takes time to do its got tons of metal there litteraly, as well as getting all the firebed going it all takes time for optimum performance. can you heat that boiler up faster sure but you shorten its life and can warp the metal

[@meestahwah]

I loved that the engineer was a younger fellow. These things need new recruits to keep the knowledge alive for the next generation to enjoy. My cap is off to the fellow seen doing most of the work in the video here. Thanks for being interested!

[@donny303]

I love younger fellows as well, my pants were off during the video.

[@afrog2666]

lol

[@MrDaiki_]

+dino brunetti Is this video not from Colorado?

[@chrisalister2297]

I don't think he pulled out a phone once to check his messages. What a rarity these days. All the old ways will be lost and forgotten in a few more generations.

[@calahanheidt3310]

Chris, Im sure your grandpa was furious to see that people were using railroads to get across the country instead of using the good ol’ wholesome organ trail.

[@thornil2231]

I was there when they were repairing an old Baldwin. Those guys are volunteers and it is a total labor of love. What they do is amazing.

[@Antonio-qm3bi]

Imagine all the work this represents. An engineer in 1900 would have to get up at 4am to have the train ready at 7am. All this work in front, and in the back carriages, ladies in pompous dresses and refined gentlemen. What a time, and I'm pleased to see a guy my age doing this job, it's amazing. Respect bro 😎

[@lukedoherty8062]

Not quite to be fair. When in the Shed it’ll be looked after by a crew the driver and fireman would do his checks and oiling and the fire would have never have gone out so it would be kept ready unless it was in for overhaul

[@ph11p3540]

Never realized it took Thomas so long to wake up every day.

[@tspence6671]

Phillip Mulligan when steam locos were in daily use, they were kept hot by a crew member known as the hostler. He did the grading and oiling overnight while feeding the fire and maintaining water level in the boiler. It was far less work and better for the machine to be kept hot unless it needed to be down for major repair or wasn’t going to be used for several days. Also, many of the round houses at larger railroads and facilities had “shop steam” to help warm a boiler up faster then using the circulating pump shown in the beginning of the video.

[@yoloman3607]

The smaller trainyard shunter engines are a bit shorter to warm up compared to a full sized engine thanks to having smaller boilers. The oil based engines are even faster still, but not fast enough to beat a diesel engine.

[@KameraShy]

About as long as it takes me.

[@rokamayono2312]

@@KameraShy lol

[@TheExplosiveGuy]

It's incredible how much engineering goes into these engines. I work at a machine shop specializing in big parts, and last year we spent nine months completely overhauling a White Pass steam locomotive, including boiler, wheels, brakes, steam lines, pistons, all moving parts, the whole works. Gave me a lot more respect for the people that used to make these, especially when you consider the fact it was all done by hand or in a manual machine. Sure made us feel good watching that thing chooch up and down our 300' test track after it was all said and done. Lol the entire town showed up to check it out when we were testing it, we had over 300 people in the parking lot. People do love steam locomotives... Great video, It's awesome seeing names and functions being put to so many of the parts I helped repair. Lots of the parts we repaired we had no idea what they were, we just knew that they were broken and needed to be fixed. Good stuff.

[@richardhetrick4770]

This arthas to be passed down to younger people or it becomes lost

[@laura-ann.0726]

> Mark Green - I have taken three rides on the WP&YR, never behind a steam locomotive (that's on my bucket list), but I wish to thank you for your effort to keep the WP&YR's steam equipment alive. Steam engines, whether installed in ships or railroad locomotives, are maybe the closest that humans will ever come to creating a machine that feels like a living organism. There is no sound in the world like the music of a steam whistle to make one's blood tingle.

[@TheExplosiveGuy]

@@laura-ann.0726 haha thanks, its funny you mention the steam whistle since I personally cleaned and polished it lol.

[@stephenrice4554]

There's pride in your work and the machine in your words , rare these days . My hats off to you sir . 👍

[@KameraShy]

And they did it without computers. Just think about that.

[@mtfgamma6257]

I was the fireman for 481 in the D&SRR for one summer back in my 20's, Loved every minute of it.

[@priestofsyrinx6681]

I love these old machines. They're just engineering marvels.

[@BIOOHAZARD]

I love it’s a pure mechanical

[@boulder89984]

By the time you get rolling, you forget where you were going.

[@VintageTechFan]

That's why they put it on rails.

[@KarolOfGutovo]

That's why those went hundreds of kilometres at once, and hauled a metric shit ton of cargo/passangers

[@gerrard1144]

@@KarolOfGutovo passengers*

[@EliasDeJesus95]

Wouldn’t it be....cheaper to never turn these engines off? Obviously this is a rare case but back when these things were a hit, did they actually let the engine go cold back at the train yard?

[@richardporter4281]

That's what my uncle would have said or where were you going when I seen you comming back

[@TheJakePoole]

"Hey, can you move your vehicle up a few feet? I can't get my car out."

[@StalloneSiciliano]

And yeah i can, do you have about 6-7 hours to wait?

[@davecrupel2817]

"We'll be out of the way first thing tommorow ... ... ... ... Evening!"

[@luederkerr9592]

Brought back memories. Worked as fireman for CPR when I was 19. At that time (1956) about half our power was steam, some hand bombers the rest stoker fired, coal of course. When all steam dissappeared so did I.

[@leh3827]

As a young man my grampa worked on the trains in North Dakota, then when they got their homesteads up here in Alberta, he ran the steam on the threshing crew. I wish he was here to talk to, and my dad, to see some videos like this one. Thanks. I was born in 1956. It's neat that there was still some steam going on when I was a kid. It would be fun to talk to you, and learn how to run a locomotive.

[@billmiller5706]

My Dad told me they were phased out about 1959. Is this accurate?

[@creeguyvernon]

There's a neat video on here about the Cnr and the transition from steam to diesel and the public's reaction to the changes

[@insas223]

Love the way he uses just the correct amount of torque while working with critical parts. The care and deliberation of his movements show a master craftsman at work.

[@evanhoozier]

Looked at the time and thought "37 minutes who the hell wants to watch that" but after I was transfixed for 37 minutes I just wanted more. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@ttcherrick]

Embarrassed to admit exactly the same thing. I probably need therapy to break my machine-porn addiction.

[@markleach116]

My great great grandfather was an engineer on a steam locomotive. I just spent some quality time going back to his era!

[@Lyle-xc9pg]

Maryland

[@frankt5682]

I figured, 37 minutes? I'll just skip forward to the good parts. 37 minutes later, and I'm wanting more. Excellent video.

[@piontropechetrini5640]

That Young man is so lucky to work with such a Beautiful machine.

[@carriersignal]

and that machine might consider itself so lucky to have someone as meticulous as him that cares so much. Seems as though they were meant for each other.

[@MatAK49]

I have wanted all my life to see how these old engines run and came across this video which showed it all, the prep, firing up and the care that goes into these engines. Thanks for posting this as it made my day. P.s. now to drive one, that'll really make my day!

[@digitopdeals1398]

Who in the world is this amazing young man? The way he operates the beast shows he has been doing that for a long time. Love to see such responsible young people.

[@ukspizzaman]

I guess you dont have to worry about someone stealing one of these.

[@silvermediastudio]

tow it with your own locomotive... duh

[@renj6531]

To Get it hot faster use doc browns presto logs lol

[@supraman236]

Gone in 37 minutes

[@steven-qk1sg]

welll they just showed you how to start the thing

[@deephorizon1365]

Lmao

[@scotty3034]

Railroad: So you’d like to be a steam train engineer? Applicant: Yes Railroad: How’s your cardio?

[@dylanhultman3922]

Applicant: enough.

[@davecrupel2817]

Applicant: "It's versatile."

[@craftpaint1644]

And your sock drawer?

[@jeppepedersen7006]

@@craftpaint1644 wtf. go away weirdo

[@antonioranzo2859]

This young boy not only starts a giant of steel but also makes us relive a now distant past in which people lived by simple things obtained with much effort and therefore more appreciated.

[@georgeanderson8582]

Great video, no crappy music, good photography, no voice overs, just informative captions. Also, what really impressed me was the young man who so casually went about his business, no hint of any kind of attitude at all. And like others have said, it's great to have younger people skilled and take an interest in this very old technology.

[@Woody615]

Now THIS is the type of video I've been looking for for a long time. Informative, entertaining, and most importantly, without the crap music background. I could almost smell the combination of smoke, steam, and grease. LOVE it. Think of all the hundreds of thousands of men who used to do this at the height of the railroad era. Also, 6 to 7 HOURS to fire it up? WOW.

[@TheSonic10160]

No, one man is all you need to fire up a steam locomotive. Especially a larger one like this. The main factor in how long it takes is the capacity of the boiler. It's a lot of water to heat to well over boiling temperature.

[@bobsullivan5714]

EXCELLANT comment!

[@EvertGuzman]

Samuel Zelter wouldn't it be faster to fill the tank with preheated water ?

[@zackboone15]

Some of the Japanese steam locos are just never put out (Usually ones that run almost every day)

[@davecrupel2817]

Evert Guzman thats a thought, but it would probably take too much resources and effort to keep that preheated water hot.

[@MarkBaldridge]

Ladies and Gentlemen, THIS is the industrial revolution.

[@ljprep6250]

Yup. They had horses/mules/oxen and wagons before this. This is state-of-the-art way back when. The Oregon Trail took 4-6 months of hot, dry, bumpy, hard living. But by 1857, you could make it in 4 weeks in relative style on a train.

[@isaiahwelch8066]

@@ljprep6250: While you're right about this being state-of-the-art, you're off on some "timely" facts: You could travel to Texas in 1845, if the rails could take you where you wanted -- using the Classic American 4-4-0 as the locomotive. Second: The Transcontinental Railroad, completed by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads, did not happen until Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869. Fun fact 1: The Union Pacific laid ten miles of rail a day, during the tracklaying phase. Fun fact 2: The Union Pacific is the only original railroad left in the United States, having never been merged into a larger company. Fun fact 3: The Union Pacific, through it's Steam Locomotive program, maintains the largest steam locomotive still running in the world: Big Boy engine #3985, a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.

[@nikitao8153]

Nobody expects the industrial revolution!

[@subscribeorsus6862]

@@isaiahwelch8066 how do u know all this?

[@isaiahwelch8066]

@@subscribeorsus6862 : Because back when I was younger, I was a huge rail buff, as well as someone fascinated by history. Point in fact, for Christmas, my mom gave me a coffee mug that, ironically, has facts about the 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Funny enough, there is a story about Engine #3985, that happened about 25-30 years ago. The story is, that 3985 had finished pulling an excursion train, which included two tenders of coal and water. Ahead of her was a mixed freight that had three DD40-AX diesel locomotives at the head. The issue was, this freight train had become stuck, attempting to crest a hill in Wyoming. Well, 3985 heard, over the radio, that this diesel crew was unsure about what to do -- and given that a helper pair of locos out of Cheyenne would have taken over 90 minutes to reach them, Engine 3985 decided to help. Linking up at the back of the freight train, 3985 then began to push -- and to spite that it had passenger cars attached, was able to get the freight over the hill. The freight crew, feeling their train start to move, didn't know 3985 had hooked up to them. At the end of the day, they were extremely grateful that 3985 had come to the rescue. And every time I tell this story, I damned near shed a tear, because I've always been a huge fan of the "Iron Horse" and what those marvels of machine can do. And 3985 proved that day that steam is still, even in modern times, capable of doing what it was designed to do, to spite how old the technology is. Just because how old something is, doesn't mean it isn't still useful.

[@Sidewayz455]

Watching just in case I ever wanted to take the steam locomotive instead of my usual car to work.

[@jubbetje4278]

You'd better get up early.

[@Juggernogger64]

It's like a dragon of steel finally waking after a nice beauty sleep.

[@yappymat549]

20:30 love that sound of the dynamo starting.

[@Genius_at_Work]

Because both of them are Turbines. Small Car Turbochargers sound similar; big ones like in Ship Engine sound like Airlinern Engines.

[@davecrupel2817]

@@Genius_at_Work some of those ship ones used to be airplane engines. two specific examples: You'll find some repurposed j47s and j79s in the Marine world. Not as efficient or clean as a more modern engine. But a *hell* of a lot cheaper to purchase and to maintain.

[@Genius_at_Work]

@@davecrupel2817 I meant Turbochargers. And Gas Turbines are way more expensive than Diesel Engines, both to purchase and to run. They are made of higher Quality Alloys to survive the Temperatures involved, are less efficient (as you said) and also require higher Quality Fuel than Diesels. Diesels can run on Bunker Oil but I doubt that's gonna be possible with Gas Turbines. There are even more Problems with Gas Turbines on Ships like a lot of blank Metal on the Inside which is a bad Combination with salty Air or their high Air Consumption which requires much larger Engine Room Ventilation Systems. So Gas Turbines are used only where you need much Power and have very limited Space, which means they are mostly used on Warships and High Speed Crafts and you hardly ever see one somewhere else. COGAS and COGES are some interesting Concepts though. Gas Turbines are so inefficient (at best 35% Efficiency compared to over 50% on large Two Stroke Marine Diesels) because they lose a lot of Heat over the Exhaust Gas. You can use that to heat a Boiler which in Terms drives Steam Turbines. These and the Gas Turbines can either drive the Propellers directly (COGAS-Combined Gas and Steam) or drive Generators to power both the Propeller Motors and other Electric Consumers (COGES-Combined Gas and Steam Electric). This Principle has been used in Powerplants since Decades and a few Times onboard Ships. Total Efficiency currently is at about 45-50% but with much lower Emissions thanks to the continuous Combustion in the Turbines rather than intermitting like in Diesel Engines. Given that Bunker Fuel is becoming less attractive due to stricter Sulphur and Emissions Regulations and LNG is used more and more these two Concepts may become more important in the Future.

[@lukasmossnerler]

In Germany, we say: "Wer gut schmiert, der gut fährt!" "Who lubricates well, drives well!"

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

Ah, I thought it means: "Where good smears, there good fart"

[@Monstero5o]

Also thats what she said ;)

[@lukasmossnerler]

Beast60: "Anlauf statt Gleitgel!" "Start instead Lube" :))

[@hoffer54]

Especially after menopause, or just give up!

[@horst424]

But that saying usually refers to corruption.

[@huojin01]

Glad to see a video showcasing operating these trains. The technologies of the industrial revolution is from a time where we no longer even see nowadays. To be able to see this train in action in the century is a reminder of how it used to be back then. Little did I realize there was so much preparation in order to operate a train.

[@jonka1]

Thank you for this fascinating video and thank you again to the makers for not polluting the quietness with music.

[@RNJuiceable]

I'm overwhelmed by the attention to detail, the care and, well, there's no other way to put it-- the obvious love for a machine and a trade that I did not expect from someone so young! I'd only expect this sort of knowledge and respect from folks 50+ years older like my dad's dad who did this sort of thing! We've all been blessed by such a terrific, thorough educational video. Thank you for this.

[@timsharkey1993]

It’s amazing how these incredibly complex machines were made to run so smoothly. The fact that this technology could reliably travel at speeds upwards of 100 mph is a testament to the talented people who designed, built, drove, and maintained them.

[@josephclemmons5234]

There's so much skill and love in every rivet of that locomotive, the only reason she still lives today is men like yourself who have so much pride in their work

[@MrMaxeemum]

Beautiful. Steam engines are probably the closest thing humans have made to a living breathing animal. I am sure each engine has it's own characteristics / personality. We usually think of steam trains as old technology and therefore easy but these things are so complicated and takes a lot of understanding to keep one running. Hats off to the people who keep them alive.

[@Paul-gz5dp]

That being complicated is most likely the reason that they are not as desirable to the ones who own them. The most complex designs that I have seen are steam, much more goes into making them than most of the things made today.

[@karlrovey]

I think the pipe organ could provide a challenge for that claim (at least the pre-electricity instruments that had to be hand pumped).

[@Someguy6571]

@@Paul-gz5dp they have to be complex and engineered right. I mean you are basically just controlling a massive steam boiler. Have you ever seen what a water heater at home does when it bursts? Imagine a failure of one of these.

[@roadmasterz]

A steam locomotive IS the closest we have come to creating a living and breathing animal! If you ever get the chance to be close to one, you will understand what I am saying!

[@benwetzel8449]

MrMaxeemum Why else do you think we called them the Iron Horse.

[@PierreCC1]

This is the kind of video that should be added to all railway museum displays. I had no real idea what it took to start these machines from cold. Even if you chatted with those who operate these trains, you still do not get a clear idea of what it takes to fire these machines up until now! Thank you Jeff.

[@warped-sliderule]

This caught my eye since my grandfather worked for and retired from the B&O. The video makes it evident that, in it's day the complexity of a locomotive was equivalent to the jet plane of today. In ways, the guy operating the locomotive wasn't called an "engineer" for nothing. It was complicated, powerful, and hazardous. Jeff, thanks for showing us that the care and feeding of these legendary machines is an art form. Looks like the engines are in good hands!

[@TRAVELWP]

The young man that prepared the engine was very knowledgeable and competent.

[@TestingPyros]

Going from a cold, dead piece of metal to a living breathing monster. Best description I ever heard of waking up a steam engine!

[@BrokenAbucus]

26:27 So that's where Star Wars got their door opening techniques from lol

[@Paddywhack1976]

That guy looks so young and yet so experienced. Really enjoyed this video . Straight into my favourites. Thanks for sharing

[@JonnyMac420]

I watched this entire video a few years ago and have been watching Steve locomotive engine videos ever since. Fred dinbah was another that I stumbled into. Thank you, so much appreciation for your work and passion.

[@mindgame112]

I had no clue a steam engine like this had a generator that actually produced electricity for the lights and such. Such an amazing video!!!

[@trezzh4]

@@maiy8786 In XIX century they actually did

[@kelharper7971]

How did you think they powered all the lights on the locomotive and the train? They stopped using kerosene lamps at the start of the 20th century. A car has an alternator, even a diesel vehicle. So why wouldn't a steam locomotive?

[@coast2coast00]

Early cars did have gas lamps, so it would make sense to think trains which came before them did as well.

[@karlrovey]

During the last few year os steam locomotives, a used steam to produce electricity and use the electricity to run (similar to how diesel electric locomotives run).

[@wilsjane]

It is obvious when you think about it, but like you I never stopped to think. LOL.

[@TheElusivePanda]

Wow, that's really fascinating, I'm so glad there are still people maintaining the knowledge and skills to keep these running.

[@falconkillingmachine3450]

Beauty and best part is when u here the noise of the steam engine.. the rythem from steam.. no modren engines can replace the noise part. And the looks or the appearance of the engine remembers our childhood.. in todays technology everything lies in our tip of our fingers push a button engine starts.. not much of efforts were needed, but today technology has improved.. but how far ever we grow.. nothing can replace the old once.. by another 100 year i dont the weather those generation people would lively get to see such beautiful steam engine... By their time our current technology would be a showcase.. so i thank the team for demonstrating practically the effors.... Plz preserve for another 10 decades.. hopefully... Thankyou all..

[@thaburninator0904]

Can we all just stop and appreciate how much of an amazing fire starter this guy is? THAT IS ONE FINE FIRE.

[@nuclearwinterxxx]

37 minutes and 32 seconds of my life that I will never get back...PERFECTLY FINE BY ME! It's astonishing how something starts out as cold lifeless steel can be brought to life with fire and generations of know how. Amazing video, thank you for the share!

[@allgoo1930]

James kincade says: "37 minutes and 32 seconds of my life that I will never get back.." == Wait till you see how they start up a boiler for the steam turbine on a boat. It takes 48 hours. For this reason , they rarely put it down even the ship is in a port not moving. They do it only once a year or once in two years, when they need to see the condition of inside of the boiler. If it's a boiler for power plant(larger), it may take even longer.

[@nickgast9292]

James kincade 7

[@AndyP71]

L

[@karlrovey]

It's also why they would keep the fires going in the locomotives until they had to clean and examine the inside. It would probably take twice as long to get one of the "Big Boy" or "Challenger" locomotives fired up.

[@mikkiweex]

@@karlrovey I read something once about it taking 2 hours for a Big Boy-the fuel oil ones. probably if you had a full crew, & rushed it, which they likely never did for safety

[@higgins382]

Such a beautiful engine. I love steam, clockwork, old cars and bikes, guns etc. Precision and large-scale engineering always makes me happy.

[@e-mananimates2274]

Sounds like you're my kind of guy! Steam and clockworks always catch my eye!

[@alangeisdorf4198]

thank you. in an age of instant everything its amazing to see the procedures you go thro today. Watching this video was a real education. I guess our mindset today is like jump in your truck, turn the key and off you go.. and often once on the move its usually then you might discover a flat tire. I never realized a pre drive preparation was so large for a steam locomotive.

[@mrvoyagerm]

Amazing job, we are all glad someone took the time to train you on every aspect of running this train. It shows in your confidence. Thanks for posting.

[@donb4301]

Wow stumbled on this video. My Grandfather in the 20's and 30's worked in a very busy station on the east coast and would oil and grease engines as they would come into the station to load and unload passengers. He also became an engineer on the steam engines. Sadly he died before i knew him but I am blown away to see what he did for his life's work.

[@alwayssomething4590]

I was thinking about the same thing. But I knew my “Pop.” After he retired he would talk about all the places he’d been on a train. This gave me a chance to spend some time in his world.

[@paulbookbinder4899]

14 thumbs down??? Must not be addicted to steam. This is certainly one of the best steam locomotive videos on youtube, thank you for an outstanding job.

[@1940limited]

I have no idea why anyone would give this a thumbs down even if you prefer diesels.

[@tcon_7830]

Paul Bookbinder thumb people thumbs down if they don't find it intretresting to them or just to be mean not that they hate it or find it stupid I think it also keeps things like it out of their suggestion box

[@IvanCalderon]

I'm not a fan of steam, locomotives or trains at all but this was a great video. Steam locomotives are marvellous machines, truly one of the finest inventions.

[@paddlesaddlelad1881]

Paul Bookbinder 14 horrifying kid's videos youtubers,probably

[@DadsLloyd]

Many thanks, Jeff, for this impressive and informative video! These behind the scenes views with captions are wonderful and create deep respect for the workers that kept/keep steam trains in top operating condition. Almost a lost world...except for you and your colleagues.

[@MLOCharmer]

Those barn doors are beautiful! I had no idea there was such a fan base for steamers! My late father was a big fan and made me love them as well

[@43615]

The locomotive itself IS the anti-theft device.

[@jorge-052]

Don't want your car stolen chain it to anti theft train

[@davecrupel2817]

If nothing else, then when that *dynamo* starts spinning, everyone within 1/2 mile will know something's up.

[@josephrutha1060]

Don't want your car stolen? Convert it to steam power!

[@davecrupel2817]

@@josephrutha1060 like this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIbKkKihd9ymr9E

[@celeridad6972]

@@jorge-052 or just drive a manual transmission xD

[@Rickster5176]

There's a lot more to firing up a cold locomotive than I would have imagined. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnarigot1701]

never realized it took so long or that much labor to get her up and running.Thank you for a wonderful educational video

[@gretchensanders302]

This is so incredible! Memories of my father who was a fireman on the British Railways!

[@vilmo825]

Steam locomotive.... The only man made machine with a heart♥️

[@mikepetergumball8337]

I beg to differ , Steam Cranes , Traction Engines, Steam Shovels, :)

[@therealKJMD]

Steam nuclear plants?

[@KeplersConjecture]

And lungs, and a stomach.

[@therealKJMD]

@@KeplersConjecture well it isn't man made, is it?

[@Mr_Fancypants]

@@therealKJMD to be fair you need a man and a woman to create life so yes, manmade.

[@bobmamipoko]

Almost as complex as getting my wife in the mood.

[@azycray4801]

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are. If your a guy and married I dare you not to crack a smile.

[@wisher21uk]

Brilliant

[@championx1]

youre doin it wrong....

[@gnashdog290]

I'd rather fire the locomotive...

[@WilliamHunterII]

LOL

[@eddiewhaler1]

This is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a long time. When people used their brains and built these incredible machines I envy this Young Man as he has the knowledge that no two bit nitwit pea brain will ever imagine to have in his life other than getting a high score on a video game. This Young man maintaining this mechanical marvel should be well rewarded for keeping a very essential piece of history alive. You can tell with every maintenance obligation he has pride and is thinking about every single thing he is doing for that engine. Thank You Young Man for your caring and emotions for the work you do to keep these machines running flawlessly. And what gives me Goose Bumps is the different whistle blow signals. It's like the engine is speaking, asking and telling you what you he wants to do next.

[@darshanaiyengar]

This was way way more involved that I imagined. Thanks for the video...transported me to a different time.

[@soulfreaz]

Watching this whole process is absolutely incredible.

[@1KiiLLaZ1]

9:35 the fire seems so calm and chilled

[@spiriteddrive6309]

just another lazy day at work....

[@erwinschrodinger6407]

26:30 check that out

[@1KiiLLaZ1]

@@erwinschrodinger6407 and that, ladys and gentleman, is what we call: the hell

[@user-zb3sr9ss3v]

@@1KiiLLaZ1 ความ

[@ProfessorPesca]

I’m just imagining scaling this up to the big old coal-fired steam warships. Unbelievably time-consuming and technically complex, incredible.

[@GmailCom-hh6yq]

OMG!!! Seriously!? When did you get up to fire it all up? 2am? 🤯 I'm blown away by this young man's knowledge and skill, seems he knows every tiny bit of this huge locomotive... it was really nice and informative to get an explanation to why there was steam here, and oil there... RESPECT and hat's off 🤩💖 I could never do this job... goodness me! Thank you, Jeff!! You just made me appreciate my own work as a 24-hours service travel agent (working from home) hundreds time more, God I'm lucky!😂... Well, I'm grateful there are people like you, Jeff Berrier, who keep these old beautiful machinery still alive and shown to the public 💖 And...you're cute 😂💖

[@Chevy4x4dawg]

Amazing video! Every step shown in 30 or so minutes when it prolly took this guy a total of 6 hours to get the steam built up. Very good editing and didnt ruin it with music just the sounds of steam!!! Would love to do this job! Very mechanical.

[@BigRobChicagoPL]

Me: Driving standard transmission is very complicated Interior of train at 29:54: hold my levers

[@celebrityxcruises8087]

Robert PL9501 No kidding

[@AndreZA979]

That was super interesting to watch. The care with which you treat the train is beautiful to see, respect. Thanks for sharing!

[@mikewhite2457]

Just awesome. Love that the history is not lost. Keep up the great work!

[@godfreyhamshire4682]

Hi, thank you for this video, I grew up around steam locomotives my Dad worked as Guard on a narrow gauge rail way, I used to go and watch them get the locomotive ready. All the things you did in the video I used to see as a kid. I really really enjoyed watching every aspect of the firing up the greasing and the oiling. Great work and please keep the video's rolling. Regards and Thanks.

[@PeterDful]

I thought, this is going to be boring !!! I had no idea how fascinating steam could be. Thanks for making this video, well done 👍👍

[@jasonbauer5488]

This is by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen! I love trains, but I've never seen how you start a steam locomotive. Wow, I think I have to watch this again. I can't imagine how someone designed and built something like this. Awesome video!

[@WasatchWind]

If you like it you should check out Mark "Hyce" Huber's channel. He works at the Colorado Railroad museum, and makes videos about 491, and everything with steam locomotives.

[@Ratrazor]

That is such an awesome steam locomotive, I just loved seeing the work that goes into running one of those daily.

[@IrishEddie317]

Fascinating video. 99% of us have no idea how much detail is involved in getting one of these beautiful beasts up and running. So if I understand you correctly, if you have a 7 AM excursion run, you need to start this process around midnight. You look like you are very dedicated to your work and I sense that there is a great deal of enjoyment to it for you, despite it being a long and tedious process.

[@JeffBerrier]

Edward Hara Typically, we try to have the locomotive steamed up and serviced the day before we have to run so it only takes around 3 - 4 hours to steam back up the next day since it is already hot. And thank you! I do very much enjoy working on the old ladies.

[@1940limited]

There's more to it than I realized.

[@perrinayebarra]

I can’t believe the complexity of these old contraptions. Amazing engineering.

[@werrieshorne6929]

Thank you for sharing this. I loved it tremendously. Many of my family were on the lines in the early and mid 1900's. I miss them. Salute to you.

[@leh3827]

As a young man my grampa worked on the trains in North Dakota, then when they got their homesteads up here in Alberta, he ran the steam on the threshing crew. I wish he was here to talk to, and my dad, to see some videos like this one. Thanks. I was born in 1956. It's neat that there was still some steam going on when I was a kid. It would be fun to talk to you, and learn how to run a locomotive.

[@roadmasterz]

DR Frankenstein never got as close to creating life as this young man!

[@roadmasterz]

Who do I have to kill to get his job?

[@justdont3998]

@@roadmasterz excuse me what

[@ryanhopf8324]

@@justdont3998 it's a joke/sarcasm

[@reginoldstephen115]

mclazers

[@berthugh2214]

As a retired machine operator, I just adore this video. I do not mind at all; in fact, I LOVE all the priming & preparations necessary to get a machine up & runnin'! What I really appreciate that this locomotive's output-hot steaming water- is used to clean out systems, clean off the engine (et al), & circulate the different oils throughout the loco's systems. That last is especially terrific. As for trains themselves, I grew up with my fathers heavy, metal Lionel train set (the original of the 50's), & got to watch him operate it in full action along its tracks & switches, through & past covered bridges, & sheds, rail signs, etc., & the scenery pieces my dad bought separate. I've had a passion for trains ever since. All kinds. Thank you so much for this video!

[@gopal_kolathu1960]

You were quite the one-man army there!! Thanks for this fascinating video… ❤

[@ccrider77]

Extremely talented young man there. Great job and thanks for the tour...

[@GazinGeezer]

....but does it come with an owners manual? Seriously, this is such a well shot and produced video. I look at one rivet on the engine and wonder who were the metallurgists that evaluated those. Then I look at what they hold together and wonder who the engineers were that could design such a magnificent machine as this example with no computers....no calculator...and in many cases pre-date the slip stick. And then the answers come to me and it is simply that they were men of brilliance. Thank you so much for providing the video when there is so much "crap" on KZbin.

[@PaulLemars01]

They were Engineers.

[@afrog2666]

Aliens.. It`s aliens ;)

[@MysticJabulon]

I suspect they also over-engineered things when in doubt, which might partlybe responsible for these things still being around after all these years. :-)

[@agentorange153]

And also partly responsible for why there aren't any steam-powered aircraft! ;-)

[@aleksandersuur9475]

Pretty sure they did not draw everything up to the very last detail. Superstructure, major components, precise fits, what connects where etc certainly, but not minor details. Much of it is craftsman judgement, fitting things together however they happened to fit etc. I bet every engine is somewhat different. Even today, for low volume production, cable routing and such minor details are left up to manufacturing. For more demanding designs, certainly you get pegboards for wiring harnesses, detailed procedures for every last operation and all the documentation, but where it doesn't, you get a schematic and a bill of materials and that's it. Figure the rest out on your own. All the parts come from CAD-s of course, but how it all goes together is generally not precisely engineered unless it must be.

[@henningschoberl5957]

Der junge Mann weiss was er tut. Mit einer akribischen Sorgfalt und Präzision bereitet er die Lok auf ihren Einsatz vor. Er strahlt dabei eine Ruhe aus ,die bemerkenswert ist. Er liebt seine Lok und weiss genau,das sie viel Zuwendung und Sorgfalt benötigt,um lange funktionstüchtig zu bleiben. Ein sehr schönes Video,weiter so❤❤❤!!!

[@ohmyblindman]

no wonder the railroads couldn't get rid of these type engines fast enough! The complexity and skills needed must have been in demand. Nice to see the young man doing such a loving job, he's easy on the eye too!

[@Mike-uh2gw]

Those zerk fittings make me happy. No BS trying to get them to take grease. The tiny pieces of crap we use today were meant to fail. The old saying, "They don't make em like they used to." is in full evidence here. Great video.

[@af235]

best damn 37 mins i have spent watching something all year. great job!

[@mariolofaro8343]

Forget AI, forget all the "auto" crap in the world! This is awesome! What an enormous learning film! I'm impressed by the amount of work and time it takes to move these beautiful parts of history.

[@kroghsmachineshop4708]

Fantastic video enjoyed it very much and thank you for NOT using, time lapse, fast forward and music.

[@BrianEvans766]

Kroghs Machine shop I hate stupid music in the background

[@paulzuk1468]

The way the fire gets hotter and hotter is mesmerizing

[@ThemDotcomBoyz]

I know nothing about trains and yet I watched the whole 37:32 mins of this video for some satisfying reason and now I feel like I’m a professional expert of steam trains with 300,000 hours of experience 😂

[@brianacuff274]

Airline pilots: *waves 10 page checklist in the air* "You wouldn't believe what it takes to start a 747" Locomotive Engineer: ".....................................lol" *pulls out phone book*

[@calmdown310]

You are not far off, this must be an absolute labour of love for these engineers to do this amount of work, beautiful to watch, he looks like he loved every second

[@dennisintersimone3416]

Baggage handler at Sea Tac airport "yeah! I've played some video games."

[@thecluckingassassin]

Good thing technology advances

[@charleswilson2448]

I’m a former locomotive engineer. Modern diesel. When In engineer school we are taught that we make more decisions per minute than an airline pilot. It takes a huge amount of finesse to keep a 40 million pound train at plus or minus 1 mph of the track speed (speed limit) at all times. Any more than that and you can get in trouble. Every little hill (up or down) makes a difference in your speed and has to be compensated for at all times. Think of how many hills there are in 2-3 miles. That’s how long modern trains are. So yeah there’s a lot to it. I know this was just a joke but I wanted y’all to know how much truth was actually in that statement though.

[@P61guy61]

One of the best railroad videos on KZbin. Thank you for the details as this is the type of stuff that really interests me. You have given everyone a great gift by documenting this. Thank you!

[@user-fn6kg8wg3x]

William Haley

[@BRadfrommalibu74]

K05 T4R You are correct, sir. The firebox is considered a reducing atmosphere, and the fire burns out all impurities in the coal. What's left is coke.

[@crankbv1]

KO5 T4R One of the reasons the smoke is yellow is due to Bitumen...coal tar...which is being driven out of coal on a newly laid fire. It's a temporary condition and is produced when fresh coal is added to the existing fire. As the newly added coal heats up but before it is hot enough to properly catch fire the bituminous content starts to be driven out and is carried unburned through to the funnel. As the fire becomes more intense the new fuel catches fire more readily so the bitumen content is consumed well before it reaches the funnel so it is merely a brief effect. You could also see this effect on domestic open coal fires that have just been replenished. Incidentally, it is the bitumen content that makes coal a fuel.

[@MrPassy4u]

what i really like, electricity is only used to light up some thing. The rest, all mechanical or steam, or a combination. Love it!