I got to run my namesake STEAM engine: The HUBER!

I was out in Ohio for the Huber Family Reunion, and, being a long descendent of Edward Huber, who founded the Huber Manufacturing Co. and the Marion Steam Shovel Co., was very lucky to have the honor to get to run one of the traction engines designed and built by my family 100+ years ago thanks to the kindness of Doug here in the video!
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[@WhiteStar1222]

Now we need Hyce to run a Heisler

[@west_side_9]

Nah, he needs to run a hyceler

[@MattTheEngineer.]

agreeeeed @@west_side_9

[@drewbarker8504]

@@west_side_9Took the words right out my mouth haha

[@seymoarsalvage]

LIMES!!

[@southernwolfgaming]

That would mean he would have to head to west Virginia to the cass scenic railroad. Let's go!!!

[@RGH2007]

My god…. It’s a Huber running a Huber with a (technically) Huber 6 chime on it!! also i had a good day yesterday at the museum!

[@highball5550]

Huberception!!!!

[@1309westernmaryland]

HUBERCEPTION!!!!!!

[@Acela2163]

Now we need to get you at the helm of a steam ship to complete the trifecta.

[@sambrown6426]

And a steam car, and a steam truck, and a steam bus.

[@wolfy1398]

hyce and the steam trifecta

[@erichd9460]

Sounds like a band name… Hyacinth Macaw and the Trifecta…

[@Nordsturm921]

@@sambrown6426 Steamshovel

[@Lazarus7000]

Ehhh there's typically no mechanical connection between the driver's station and the engine plant on a steamship, the bit that looks like a throttle handle is usually a "telegraph" for communicating with the engineers what you would like the engine to be doing. Probably some small steamships with direct linkages, but you'd have to seek it out specifically.

[@JonsGarage89]

Thats freakin awesome. Family steam tractor and the dude that owns it got inspired by one of the younger Hubers to build a whistle for it. If thats not full circle, I dont know what is.

[@15nyonker]

My Farmall H was used by my grandpa to work the land I am currently trying to take back from nature, and my Case 40 steamer was owned by one of his life long friends… Having personal history with machines makes them so much more special.

[@sambrown6426]

Couldn't agree more.

[@rottenroads1982]

Nice, someone actually got inspired to make his own Steam Whistle.

[@Railblitz]

When hyce saw it he thought hmmm (in yoda voice)

[@sambrown6426]

Reminds me of the time I got to run a 1917 40-horsepower Case traction engine, that was so much fun. What happened was that I was at a 4-H fair, and said engine was pulling hayrides, and I wanted to ride, but I was a broke college student, and I didn't want to pay. So I walked over to the engine, and started a conversation with the crew, and eventually they let me up on the platform. When it was time for them to pull the next ride though, when I went to step down, they told me I could ride with them for free, and I took them up on that offer. After that run, the fireman wanted a break, and so I was told that if I fired her for the next trip, (And they were only burning wood) that I could run her for the trip after that, and I obviously took them up on that too. That engine was a lot bigger than this one though, there was literally enough space on the platform for 4 guys to stand at the same time, and we had a little bit of wiggle room, though not a whole lot. Much like the subject of the video though, that old girl also had a gigantic whistle, a B&O 6-chime to be exact, though it also had a 3-chime, and a single-chime, both much smaller than the 6-chime. It didn't have a bell though. EDIT: The reason the johnson bar is essentially backwards like that is because there's a leather belt connecting a pulley on the drive to a pulley on the governor, and it's been looped so that it looks like an 8 instead of a 0, which makes it much harder for said belt to slip off, but also flips the johnson bar's operation. The Case I drove was also much less picky about how you got it moving (Probably because of the extra power, 40 H.P. vs 16) All you had to do was throw her in reverse, engage the clutch, crack the throttle to back her up a bit to get some slack in the hitch, then throw her in forward, open the throttle, and away she'd go.

[@buckduane1991]

Treasure this memory. My own is from when I was 12. I was in Boulder City, NV and was at the railroad place there with my grandpa who had been a gandy dancer from 1942 to 1944 on the GB&W before enlisting in the USAAF. We saw one of the hand carts from the tournament races, and he got on, showed me a few things, and we started pumping. A guy came over and hand my mom get on, too, and he said “treasure this! Three generations together! Gandy Dancer, Daughter, and Grandson!” Turns out, he was none other than the owner of the Eureka & Palisade #4 and was surprised to see my grandpa get on and operate it without direction… he was blind (macular degeneration) and had stroke damage, but it was like riding a bike. They swapped stories, and my step-father got impatient after an hour so we left. My mom didn’t even realize who we had talked to until a month later when she saw him on TV in a news interview about the Eureka. Life can be interesting.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

i love the gbw , i live right next to it

[@buckduane1991]

@@captainhuggyface6731 grandpa grew up in Wisconsin Rapids, middle brother of three. His older brother lied in Dec 1941 about his age and became a B-17 navigator. So, grandpa wanted to join as well, but was not going to lie. So from 1942 to November 1944 when he turned 18, he was a Gandy Dancer on the Green Bay & Western. The USAAF didn’t want him to join prior to becoming 18 by that point due to entire families losing all of their sons, like the Navy had learned with the Sullivan Brothers when all five stationed on a cruiser were lost in the Guadalcanal Campaign, leaving only the sixth who was stateside alive still. My grandpa had just completed solo training to fly P-51s for the intended invasion of Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped, so he was instead washed out of training and the USAAF… until 1950 when Korea began, so he was drawn back into the USAF and ended up serving at F.E. Warren at Cheyenne due again to his older brother now being a career officer and thinking of the three of them, he was the gentlest soul and deserved the most to have a family (since he himself was a womanizer and their youngest brother had discovered alcohol, but my grandpa was too kind and selfless, so he used his status as a Lt. Col to pull a few strings and keep my grandpa stateside without him ever knowing about it… my great-uncle only admitted it after my grandpa and their youngest brother had both passed away, since he ended up outliving them both of all things…) and so, that’s what happened. He made a lot of friends off base with the UP railroaders, and even got to ride in the cab of a Big Boy up over Sherman Hill to Laramie once when one engineer invited him along, then being active military was able to catch a free ride home on a passenger train. His notes say “4014”, but the 1 is a tad faded, so it could have been 4004 or 4024… it depends which ones were running in 1950 and 1951, and without having access to those notes anymore I can’t get an exact date now… even if I could, no telling if the UP records with dates and names still exist to find out more. What I would give to do so, though. But it all started with him on the GB&W… and racing the hand carts against the guys riding a speeder when the boss wasn’t looking and a train wasn’t scheduled, heh.

[@captainhuggyface6731]

@@buckduane1991 thats an incredible story dude! love it! my two favorite things is war stuff and trains.

[@GP30_Foamer]

That was utterly amazing! I can’t believe you finally got to run one of your family’s own traction engines!

[@15nyonker]

As someone who has been on my own steam journey with traction engines up in western Michigan since June 2022, seeing you finally firing a traction engine is a bit of full circle for me.

[@greatsmokymtnsrailfan]

Literally Hyce’s museum

[@awildjared1396]

When you're talking about the boiler, it looks a lot like a scotch marine boiler, just resized for a traction engine.

[@Spook_Boi]

its really neat that someone decided to make their own whistle not too far off from yours. this is getting out of hand. now there are 2 of them

[@Manwholikestrains]

7:53 “it’s all circles” me when I try to play any game when I was younger

[@Ryan_Rail]

This is so amazing Hyce, you look so happy driving that engine!! Also, it was a pleasure meeting you at the museum yesterday!!!

[@roberthuron9160]

Some of the earliest steam engines were return flues,but after the multi-tube boilers took hold,they were obsoleted! That's now a piece of overlooked history! Also there were steam traction engines,with railroad wheels,used in switching,and branch line operations! Definitely a part of history 👏! Thank you,and that Cheshire Cat grin was fantastic! Thank you,Hyce,and may you rack up a few more miles,on other traction engines! Thank you 😇 😊!!

[@dannycork423]

My great grandfather bought a 1917 20hp Minneapolis (which I believe is the smallest size they came in) in the early 50s from an auction house about 15 miles from where he lived, and he drove it all the way home. I believe it took the better part of a day. We still have that engine and I run it every year at our steam show

[@weird1012]

The irony is strong in this one Anakin

[@byrd203]

it's so rare to see an engine like that in brand-new condition I love watching steam engines run I just cry every time I see old stuff like this Great work Doug Hyce

[@Fireballpro]

Ah yes, another quality Hyce video.

[@TheMostUt]

Is it just me or does that gearset sound like it had a bit of noise in there. I love the "kid in a candy store" grin while you operate that beast. Life is the search for exactly that feeling, I think. Great story, great video. I hope to head out and visit the museum one day soon.

[@ratchet1freak]

kinda inevitable with straight spur gears as they wear, modern gear sets will use a helical or herringbone gear, but I guess this predates those and/or they wanted to avoid axial load issues and/or patent issues

[@mattymerr701]

​@@ratchet1freak straight gears have a surprisingly awful sound, but I guess that's just how it goes

[@Rollinmayhem21]

My great great great grandfather had one I used to have the original maintenance book for it complete with his ash covered finger prints on the pages. I was told stories on how he'd get a bath and read by candle light on how to fix the engine when it broke down.

[@1mandanceparty]

Hyce and Doug are just like two little kids having a blast on his steam tractor… incredible 👍 great whistle too! Wish I could hear it in person

[@joshsooy-mj3dg]

"The most fun you can have and keep your clothes on" 🤣🤣🤣 Classic!!! Great video!!!!

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

This is amazing! You should try visiting some thresherman societies to see if you can experience more of this

[@drewbarker8504]

What a cool story and experience. The New Huber is so markedly ingenious compared to other traction engines. (And the big Huber 6 v2.0 sounds rad on such a small piece of equipment)

[@jacobramsey7624]

You guys need to add steam tractors, shovles, steam rollers, Crain's, and such to the Centry Of Steam game you are working on. Think of it, dining a cut for your railroad with a steam shovle!!

[@maddman46]

It is so incredibly bizarre to watch one of your videos and immediately recognize the place you are in because I’ve been there my whole life. 😅

[@ZergSmasher]

With all the family history, this must have been one of your proudest moments, getting to run a piece of equipment designed by one of your ancestors.

[@RC-bm9so]

So, I have a gut feeling that Hyce may try to buy a Huber Traction Engine to run at the museum. I could be wrong about that, but I am sure Brett wants a Marion Shovel. Also, when does Doug get to go the Colorado Railroad Museum? I am sure it would be like gasoline on fire.

[@johnnorton3874]

Hey Hyce welcome to my back yard I’m from northern Ohio. Medina which is just over an hour from Marion!!!! Hope you enjoyed Ohio

[@gundamwarrior]

I love steam tractors, especially love to see the videos when they're all Powerful Diesel Tractor vs Steam Tractor and watch the Diesels just absolutely eat dirt.

[@flapjack413]

Lol. Now you just need a Nik Huber guitar to complete the collection!

[@PowerTrain611]

After restoring something beautiful and awesome like that, driving to the bar for a celebratory beer would be the first thing I'd do too!

[@cedarvalleyrail8419]

The people who ran these things on the farm are probably the ones who were most fascinated by the railroad counterparts. Imagine running your traction engine all day, sparks flying, steam sputtering and when you go into town at the end of the day, a train goes flying through "at timetable passenger speeds". Imagine how blown people's minds were!

[@wilhelm_iron2359]

I grew up about an hour from Marion in Granville Ohio. Its awesome to see a piece of what is for me local history running like that. The story here is beyond cool!

[@PeterStrange-oy9ev]

What an original, classic experience! That whistle sounds like a demon out of hell LOLOLOL

[@CameronMcCreary]

Now that was a horse of a different color. The spark show was great, thanks Hyce! 😅

[@bluescrew3124]

This is beyond cool! How incredible to inspire someone to make your steam whistle. Amazing!

[@burnerheinz]

love the Amish Fireworks at the end. c:

[@kakeboss72]

That’s awesome that he made your whistle

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

There's several of these at the doughty Valley steam days in northern Ohio the Huber engines are obnoxiously noisy under load edit I feel like that is probably because of the return flue

[@NowhereMan260]

As a traction engine nut I loved watching this video. Such a great moment, it all lined up for you.

[@lsswappedcessna]

It's almost like running steam engines runs in your family. Oh wait.

[@lawnmowerdude]

I’m heading to a steam tractor show this week here in PA and I’m going to see if someone has a Huber engine there!

[@15nyonker]

They are definitely unique. Return flue boilers are really interesting.

[@PennsyPappas]

This story is like the epitome of such a small world. This man owns a tractor that his grandad owned new, it was made by your family ancestors Hycez and you inspired the man to build a proper whistle for it. And when you blew that whistle all I heard was DEEP happy Hyce noises. Sure the camera audio didn't do it the justice it deserves but it was snore than enough to know it made an impression on people definitely a fun story to add to your history book of cool things you've gotten to do and that is half the fun of living right there. Thanks for sharing this with us we really appreciate it.

[@thatoldsoul9397]

I have ran a new Huber 20 hp return flew traction engine through a parade. Here in Minnesota at the Pioneer Power shower last year. For those of you that don’t know return please take longer to heat up but also a little harder to see over because they’re taller their overall still pretty fun.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

Between your family history and your modern antics, you practically have steam oil running through your veins.

[@TrustyRusty05]

As a Thomas The Tank Engine fan all I heard was Trevor’s season 2 theme but that is so cool that you got the chance to do this.

[@michaelhayes1678]

What a treat, that traction engine, whistle, and fan-dude!

[@DieselFitter]

That’s some really awesome family history. So cool to able to connect to your family’s past like that.

[@garysprandel1817]

Nice bit of family history there. Closest brush with history I know of is my grandfather was the general contractor that worked with Preston Tucker ( yes that Preston Tucker) converting the old Dodge aircraft plant over to the assembly line for making the 50 Tucker Torpedoes and also the GC on the first franchise McDonald's in Desplaines Illinois

[@tonyx3768]

Doug’s definitely a knowledgeable and interesting guy. Hope you got to chat with John I saw there around the first minute mark. He has the sister to this engine, and fair to say quite the Huber enthusiast.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I think I've seen this particular engine and met this operator a few times at Miami Valley - I brought along some of my college friends who aren't super into steam engines once, and his chime whistle was definitely a hit!

[@patricksheary2219]

Mark, that was amazing! What an ultra fab experience and story! OMG to the whistle that was too beautiful. Such a magnificently preserved machine and that it had relatively little mechanical wear is amazing and rare. Quite a museum piece for sure. Love the story of how Doug got it! 🤣 Also, it was so nice to get up close to see how this operates, has wonderful sound, but like you said Mark, different than a locomotive. Thanks Professor for sharing your experience with us. On a side note, I hope you and the CRRM crew had a great steam up weekend, cheers to you!

[@Hyce777]

Cheers Patrick! We did. :)

[@ELDRGW]

I remember going to a steam tractor near somewhere south of denver with my dad in the 80s it was the first time i got to rude in thr cab if a steam engine and i had a blast . Prior to that all i had seen was the stanley steamers and 318 under steam .

[@maddman46]

YOU WERE LIKE RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE!!! HOW DID I NOT KNOW

[@CountvonStaffordofVirginia1607]

I did not realize that traction engines were still being produced by 1920.

[@skeleton_craftGaming]

You have a positive effect on a lot more than just one person's life, I can guarantee it's at least two, but I'm willing to bet a million dollars that it's a lot more than even that!

[@larkshadow5317]

Had a real world impact on a man…..you made it Hyce, Grats lol.

[@kevinbeverly4086]

That is really awesome. Glad i got the see a Huber gas tractor at the steam and gas show in Lagrange, IN. Gald we got to talk about them.

[@thundercreekcustoms]

Man, I love old industrial equipment.

[@peregrina7701]

That machine absolutely rocks. I love it. so many moving parts. Of course the cherry on top is the whistle which sounds really good even through flawed audio! Doug is a real class act for inviting you to run his engine :) I have a big dumb grin all over my face from watching you two have fun with it. Thanks for sharing! :)

[@LoPhatKao]

thats really cool hope you invited Doug out to the museum would love to see a reciprocal video and see him running a loco

[@abyssminiaturestudios6103]

That's a great traction engine and even better that it still works.

[@TigerWalts]

Some things are just universal. When you get your first car it's pretty standard to drive it into town and maybe put a bigger horn on it.

[@weekendrailroader]

"How long is the firebox compared to the boiler barrel?" "Yes."

[@vegetable2139]

So cool, the IRL videos are always the best

[@railroad9000]

I think Hyce had a blast on that tractor!

[@organbuilder272]

Very nice story. You must have been excited considering the family history and all. Nice music as well.

[@thefaulnt3562]

A traction engine was the first vehicle my dad drove (he is in his 50s now). Yes, even before a car. I know I said it before when I first saw one of this channel's videos (early 101 videos I belive).

[@Wandering_4ever]

So cool Hyce .. I know someone mentioned a Heisler , how about a Shay ?? We know how much you love Shays 😀

[@jonathanjocham1193]

Sort of unrelated, but listening to those sounds gave me a movie flashback. Episode Idea: I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments that come to mind when you watch the train scenes in Back To The Future 3.

[@JanTonovski]

Man, this is so friggin cool!

[@irradiatedsalmonid1534]

My Dad and i were part of a vintage tractor club, and during some shows there would be several steam traction engines. During the evenings, one of the engines would connect to a large fan like in the video. Instead of putting handfuls of saw dust in the engine they would fill large paper bags and throw them in the fire box. This brought back some memories.

[@akaBoG]

Glad you had fun running the tractor!

[@brandonaldrich496]

The national thrashers convention in Wauseon Ohio is the largest gathering of steam engins in the country. Every june

[@lynxoflight72]

Such a great video! i especially loved the reverse, when the conrod was low on the flywheel and it spun forwards for a moment when it got steam and then reversed when you throttled up a bit. that was so cool to see

[@thompsonfreeman5767]

You have some really wonderful ideas to drive/pilot/fire in other comments - so let me add one: drive/fire a lonbard log hauler somedoay.

[@Crouse_Property_Maintenance]

Look up the National Pike Steam Gas and Horse Association. They're about 4 hours east of where you were. Huge equipment show twice a year in Pennsylvania.

[@motorTranz]

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@roastedelmerfudjoe3646]

Love your content man, keep up the great work!

[@CoalChrome]

There's a guy in the town I grew up in who's got one of these he bought a couple years ago One trick I've learned to start it when it's on center from the steam guys there is to rock the bar forward and back

[@Dan_Gyros]

This is so cool! What an awesome thing to see!

[@davegameplay6709]

i hope one day to visit the colorado railroad mesium, and find you there and have a very long chat, i'm from italy, and drive the 491 or the 20 together.

[@FishyFish8312]

I just realized at 8:50, Mark has a minor concern when he’s looking everything over and sees the pressure right before it pops.

[@GEV646]

This is just beautiful. All of it.

[@damensmith9944]

What a great story.... and love your shirt mate, LOL, cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@TracksideFoxnFuntimeFox]

That was AWSOME!! Pretty darn interesting family history too.

[@bobbysenterprises3220]

Awesome. Like beyond awesome. Thank you and your family for sharing the history and your day together. I can't imagine having to feed water and run one of these while also using accessories and doing constructive work like plowing where it's a job is it to keep track of what your doing added to how your doing it.

[@SteamfanScott]

Such a cool experience and so happy you brought us along for the ride! Is always so neat to see how your passion and work inspires others.

[@markcinque7011]

Hey, This one is a Keeper i really like the sound of that 6chime whistle 17:10

[@eliotreader8220]

its amazing that she's chuffing about on 75 PSI

[@railwayjade]

I find it interesting that they are quieter than a steam loco. Would have thought they would also have the sizzling sound

[@JonathanColemanMoreTrains]

If you want to see the oldest steam locomotive in Pennsylvania it is at the Williams Grove Pennsylvania on August 26th with all steam tractors that you can imagine and hearing all of the whistles and the smell

[@SeaEngineering]

your mission, get yourself a Huber tractor steam engine for the museum to run the tools needed for building new parts for your locomotives

[@rgsrrofnc]

Awesome! Steam tractors are a different beast. Fun to run.

[@AshCatTrainz]

Ah damn I thought it was Marion, Illinois. You should go to the Crab Orchard & Egyptian! It has an interesting history and one of the last used Wigwag crossings in America!

[@rudycarlson8245]

You got yourself a new subscriber!

[@Idaho-Cowboy]

So cool. That boiler design is really interesting. I've seen one of these parked and didn't realize the fire box and exhaust were on the same end. Great to see how that attention to the details and mechanics of steam run in the family.

[@brianentwistle145]

Loved the video. When I was young my father used to take me to the yearly antique threshing show at the local fairgrounds. Old steam traction was always the star. Great to see you out enjoying life. The industrial boilers where I work are set up with the same flue design. Did not now that you see one moving around. Beyond cool.