Memories of Steam in New England

[@trainknut]

I love all the shots of the men working these hard jobs... it's not just endless footage of trains, but also the people and machines that make it all possible, reminds you just how much work went into running a railroad back then.

[@DerekDtj]

In the mid-40s and 50s, I spent my summers w/my grandparents on Cape Cod. My grandfather, Charles Macfarlane, knew Frank Nye, who was the engineer on the daily Boston to Provincetown freight run up the Cape. When the train would pull into Harwich Center, I got to ride in the cab with Mr. Nye while he switched freight cars. On many occasions, we'd follow the train in Daddy's old Buick up thru Brewster, Welfleet and Truro, and a few even to Provincetown. The passenger service, the New Haven's "Cape Codder" from NYC ended at Hyannis and it was a lovely trip up from Grand Central Terminal. Those were never to be forgotten days for a kid, for sure. Steam railroading at it's finest for a railfan.

[@robmaciver5093]

We spent summers in Chatham in the 50s, and my dad would take the New Haven's "Cape Codder" from NYC to Hyannis to join us for his two-week vacation. I remember meeting his train at the old railroad station on Willow Street. You could see that train coming down the track for what seemed like miles!

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

22:26 Now that’s a rare sight. Anybody else notice the tender truck booster?

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

I notice it's like a monster

[@T128Productions]

I saw it too, definitely not something you’d see every day.

[@Redwagon2012]

It's a diesel disguise as the wheel

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

@@Redwagon2012 It’s not. That’s a tender booster my friend.

[@christopherdibble5872]

The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore; not like they did back in 1954 listen to "I'M MOV'IN ON" BY HANK SNOW, A GREAT RAILROAD SONG!

[@robertgift]

Well done sound synchronization! Wish the bell sounded better.

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Thie excellent video should be digitally remastered, of possible! Thanks for presentation, from Germany

[@philippilkington4053]

Great old footage. I recently retired from CSX in New England and really enjoyed those clips from the old New Haven. As a trainman I held the job the covered Norwood and the East Walpole Industrial Track for a year or so .

[@Somerandompokemon]

Unfortunately some of these engines may not be alive anymore.. rest in peace, iron giants

[@trainsupporter9088]

What a fantastic video! I especially enjoy seeing scenes of trains in the snow. Wish I could have been alive to see all of this in person, but this will have to do!

[@louislamonte334]

Fantastic footage!! Thank God both the #470 & #3713 will run again one day!!

[@composerlecturer]

Peter Haney: I agree about the superiority of train travel - even long distance. If speed is necessary, then I guess one must fly, but I alway try to plan a "mini-vacation" into my business trip. The first time I lectured in Toronto, flew on a commuter airline from Newark. It was a dreadful trip, and I missed all the beautiful Finger Lakes scenery. So the second time I lectured in Toronto, I took Amtrak's Maple Leaf up the day before and back the day after. Beautiful visually, and I was able to relax and do final prep for the lectures going up, and just sat back and read for pleasure when I wasn't looking out the window on the way back. Way back in the Pennsylvania RR days, my father, who worked in Newark, NJ, would sometimes have business in Chicago at 9 am. So the evening before he would catch the Broadway Limited out and arrive in downtown Chicago relaxed after a good night's sleep, while his flying colleagues would have left EWR near dawn, flown into O'Hare, and arrive for the meeting already frazzled. Or flown out the day before, spent a fortune in a downtown hotel and had to pay for meals, while the train ticket included sleeping and food. No contest!

[@Altepeter]

Thank you for your response; you think precisely as I do on the subject.

[@j.a.mccord515]

I love to see those chunky CV Consolidations with the 63 inch drivers...some of ALCO's finest work.

[@ajknaup3530]

Oh, good! Thanks J. A., I wasn't sure if that was a Consolidation or not.

[@mathewspencer4323]

This video starts by saying its in St Albans VT, but its actually Essex Junction...and I love that I found this...good research for my future layout

[@wabisabi6875]

Excellent footage, thanks for sharing!

[@TrainLordJC]

Stunning black and white footage.

[@thatoneguy611]

To discuss the description, I love steam locomotives, but they left for a reason. They put out a lot of pollution, and were much more expensive to maintain than diesels. It’s not steam locomotives that should/would return (although I wouldn’t complain if they did), it’s trains in general.

[@danielboone3770]

What magnificent steam action here! For this, I'd love to bring in slip stream power. It's based on this only clean and environment friendly.

[@nileadam7336]

18:14 It's nice to see the footage of the B&M 3713! In the 2000s, it is undergoing restoration to operating condition.

[@michaelf7863]

Maine Central # 470 at the 27:57 mark of this video is currently at the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire.

[@alanwbelcher]

Actually, #470 is being rebuilt in Ellsworth, Maine. The MEC engine at Conway Scenic is #501.

[@thatoneguy611]

That shot makes me angry. A diesel pushing 470 to what could have been it’s grave.

[@aaronrowland8259]

And Maine Central 519 At Steamtown National Historic Site And Central Vermont 220 Display And Boston And Maine 1455 Display

[@rogerhuber3133]

Great vintage railroading.

[@gingerbread6614]

Great video. So glad someone took the time to film these shots. Thank you very much

[@mwand89]

I found the currently preserved Boston & Maine 4-6-2 Pacific #3713 in 18:12.

[@andriymelnyk8037]

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[@mjrodriguez8670]

I really enjoyed watching this video! It is a wonderful treasure!

[@johnalder6028]

Greetings from Port Saint Lucie Florida ! Nice video.

[@buixrule]

This is pure gold. Thanks for posting. You have any from further up north to Bangor and up?

[@mwand89]

The currently preserved Maine Central 4-6-2 Pacific #470 making it's final run in 1954 at 27:50.

[@SuperFoxyRailwayProduction6702]

27:49

[@alshotrodsandratrods8780]

My earliest memory of steam engines was in Salem Mass. A Boston and Maine steam locomotive derailed coming out of the old train station that's no longer there. There was a big crowed gathered around. Someone suggested that everybody help pick up the engine and put it back on the tracks. My mom was pushing me in a stroller so she went over and helped pick up the train. She passed away in 1949 so this must have been 1947 or 1948. How many people can brag that their mother lifted a derailed steam locomotive? Even Superman's mom never did that. lol When I was 10 in 1954 I saw four steam engines with their coal cars lined up in the freight yard. I was checking them out when the engineer of the first locomotive told me to climb aboard. He said they were putting all the steam engines in mothballs. They were being replaced with self propelled Budd cars. He let me push the throttle forward and I drove a steam engine about ten feet. Then he told me to pull it back and we backed up to where we started. The Conway scenic railroad bought one of the old Boston and Maine steam locomotives but they haven't been using it for the last few years. At least I haven't seen it. They had The Yankee Clipper for a while. It was an early art-deco streamlined diesel that was all stainless steel. It was built in 1937, The cars were permanently connected with one set of wheels at each junction. I talked to some old timers that remembered it's maiden voyage. It stopped at every town along the route and the whole town turned out to see it. They gave the kids the day off from school to see it. It was one of the biggest events of 1937. I volunteered to help restore it but they never had a budget so it never happened. It's at another scenic railroad now in Lincoln N.H. They had removed the engine and were rebuilding it. They don't have much of a budget either but at least they started on it. If you like old trains it's worth checking out if you're ever in Lincoln N.H.

[@alshotrodsandratrods8780]

The Yankee Clipper is at 21:56

[@alanwbelcher]

Flying Yankee. Last I heard the Flying Yankee was in Concord awaiting funding for further restoration. It’s an unwanted orphan, sadly.

[@thomascrowell3835]

Love content and sounds!!!!

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

Fantastic stuff 😊😊😊❤😊

[@lifeinamerica.veronika3341]

👍Great American history my friend

[@usstiger_cd4165]

Who wishes the I-5’s were still around

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

I sure do!

[@alternative890]

Was this like Maine Central, Central Vermont and the Boston and Maine?

[@realtoytrains]

I’m doing a video on my o scale i5 can I use some of your footage please?

[@tomlebudzinski7716]

Ends with a string of steamers headed toward their demise. How sad.

[@asd36f]

24:25 - Why would a crew member need to walk along the top of the carriage like that?

[@dondesnoo1771]

Graham Clayton brakeman were used before air brakes he turned brake wheels 😎 on ea. Car

[@Toledo1940]

Don Desnoo: No, that's not the reason: this footage was shot well into the air-brake era. Walking along the tops of the CARS enabled members of the train crew to move along the train while it was moving. This had a practical advantage, especially when the train was being assembled or broken up. It was a dangerous practice, one which is no longer allowed.

[@patricknoveski6409]

My Uncle was a brakeman. He died as a result of walking the box cars.

[@bluesboyst]

Outstanding Wow

[@SKumar-fk6tj]

Steam era memories of a Drivers Real Life story- kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHrTlp6lm8xpq8k

[@patricknoveski6409]

And then, puff! They were gone. 🤨

[@wacoflyer]

Nice video. Fake sound effects aren't really necessary.

[@allanegleston4931]

:)

[@Sparecards]

Hate to tell you this, but steam is to impractical to use and maintain today. Diesel is much easier.

[@composerlecturer]

No fumes?? Are you nuts?? Much of what you see coming out of a stack is smoke from either coal or oil fire. My mom in the '40s when we lived across from a main line had to hand the laundry inside the house draped all over the furniture because the soot would coat anything hung outside on the clothesline (dryers weren't around then). Get a grip!! I love steam as an historical artifact, and go to ride such trains all over the place. But to actually bring it back as the main power? Idiocy!! Or are you a Trumpian who thinks this will start up the coal industry?? Dream on. That'll never happen, nor should it!!

[@Altepeter]

Steam is dirty and expensive to maintain, but rail travel is more comfortable than air and highway travel. I've always wondered what it costs in jet fuel to move the average passenger x number of miles.

[@andreialexiev7858]

I guess electrifying the railroads would be the most efficient. But you would still have to worry about coal burned or nuclear plants to produce that electricity

[@alexaga3247]

Andrei Alexiev, It is needed to be care about nuclear plants because recovering after disaster could take tens thousand years as for Chernobyl case. About coal, global warming may be yes may be not. If yes people will again can live in Greenland as in viking times. Interestingly, vikings had thought about global freezing when they must leave Greenland. Causes of global warming are clearly unclear. Steam engines have only advantage. It is needed what can be burnt (coal, wood etc) and water. If there is not oil steam rules. Of course this is most bad scenario. But the ability to build steam engines must be preserved as strategical reserve, now in form of artifacts.

[@donnebes9421]

Paul Somers what the hell is wrong with you? Oh, never mind. I’m sure the list is long.