Preserving Steel & Steel Railroading in the USA - J&L Narrow Gauge

‪@YoungstownSteelHeritage‬ is quite the neat place, and gearing up for some really cool things. Huge thanks to them for having me out, and to Coal And Steel Photos for the thumbnail shot!
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[@sirrliv]

To quote fellow railroading KZbinr Chris Eden-Green when he got to drive the J&L Porters, "Now how's that for stack talk?!" And you always love hearing the phrase "We have more hill that we've got brakes."

[@BrooksMoses]

Hyce: "They've made a two-foot-gauge 0-4-0 that weighs upwards of ..." Me: "Two-foot? So, what, 10, maybe 15 tons?" Hyce: "...90,000 pounds." Me: WAT. That is just slightly absurd. Well done to the Porter engineers that designed her! Also the part where Hyce said "more than a thousand tons of steel" and I mentally filled in "per day?" and he said "at a time" gave me much the same feeling.

[@austinbrodzinski4444]

There really isn't much that these 90,000+ lb locomotives can't do! 58 specifically has a working boiler pressure of 200 lbs (her later sisters worked at 225), and boasts around 12,000 lbs of tractive effort!

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Steel switching in no joke. From hoppers full of ore, coke, and limestone to keep the blast furnaces going. Turning around and hauling torpedo cars of molten iron to the oxygen furnace to make steel. And finally if necessary hauling ladle cars of molten steel to the cast house to make the final product. This goes 24/7/365 no off days rain or shine.

[@davidty2006]

soo 90,000lbs into metric is.... 40 Tons! it's a chonky industrial

[@emilpersson8250]

If you come and visit Sweden I’ll get you behind the controls of a standard gauge locomotive on our 8 mile line that has among the steepest grades in Sweden.

[@Hyce777]

Count on it! Just... not sure when. lol!

[@Pyrotrainthing]

I didn't know J&L was working on steel production before this video! I just love my 0-4-0 rolling ingots!

[@shimesu443]

That whistle was jarring. I'm used to the deep throated bellowing of the really big choo choos, so that whistle was weirdly small, while at the same time being anything but. Kinda like the choo choo it belongs too - small, but very powerful at the same time. Awesome you got to driver her! Lucky!

[@YoungstownSteelHeritage]

We don't know where the 5 chime came from. Closest we can tell it was on a Rhodesian Railways 4-8-4. It's the default whistle when guest whistles are not on site

[@RobertCraft-re5sf]

Mose of the old 1860s locomotives sounded like that. Tiny steam whistles were more common. I suppose the deeper loud whistles just travel further I the cool night air.

[@patrickporter6536]

Calling it a choo choo is jarring.

[@KR4FTW3RK]

That whistle is sure to wake the dead! Amazing!

[@bluescrew3124]

lol quite the Ohio contrast to the Bosnian driving instructions of: “you. Drive.”

[@Hyce777]

Very different indeed, lol!

[@ChristopherDennie-tc5jt]

Yeah and also, squeak with chimes sounds a lot better than just squeak. I choose squeak with chimes as long as it sounds like the Hooterville Cannonball

[@ivankalinic7094]

But... Bosnian instructions were more fun!

[@bjornthebeast8317]

The small baby engine plus that whistle is a combo to remember

[@LamhirhAbriel]

58 is just pure insanity--Here's an engine thats just a block of solid steel, that as-built, has a higher axle loading than an ALCo S2. Then if ends up at Crown Metal Products, loses a large part of its weight (cab deck, cab, and pilot were lopped off). It eventually ends up at Jonas Stutzman's shop in Middlefield missing the saddle tank (recovered from a farm near Elizabeth, PA) looking like not much more than a hulk when Rick bought it. The fact that all but two and a half (only the frame and cylinders of 59 were cut up) of the seven of these things got scrapped is wild for a purpose-built mill locomotive design.

[@BrooksMoses]

I was going to say, that looks like some serious axle loading. Hyce, any idea what poundage of rail they're running it on? I imagine it's not the typical two-foot-gauge stock.

[@broncozephyr7931]

​@@BrooksMoseswe're using about 120 pound rails for the main and 75 for storage tracks.

[@BrooksMoses]

@@broncozephyr7931 : That's pretty solid!

[@MattsScaleModels]

That loco kicks arse; it's lke a nuggety prize fighter that packs a lot of punch with a small shadow! Not a single square inch of wasted space on that thing. Having said that, it'd be no good on the ES&D with that 'safety first' attitude! Great to see that telling the story of the US steel industry is in good hands. Cheers!

[@CardScientist]

I love you watching operate these other preserved steam locomotives. Gives us a nice look into what its like to actually operate these. Side note, i love all the sounds and noises the 58 makes. Every sound she makes just screams (sometimes literally) heavy industry. The chuffs, the whistle, just everything is fantastic. Very unique and i love it

[@austinbrodzinski4444]

It was a pleasure meeting you at J&L! Loved your video on our awesome museum, thank you for filming it for others to see! Hope to see you back sometime!

[@trainspotter454]

It’s awesome seeing that little locomotive at work

[@William_Bryant]

Breaking News: Hyce Drives World’s Strongest Brick! Local Train Buffs Stunned By Whistle Incongruety!

[@AShadowboxsFSX]

New definition of "little engine and big men.“ What awesome folk!

[@SteamfanScott]

I had a smile on my face the entire time, so cool you got to do the thing! Definitely quite challenging backing down that grade, especially after hearing you got more choo choo than brakes!

[@spagelsmegal]

God looks like you had to shake the living daylight outta that throttle 😂

[@Hyce777]

it was *awful*

[@spagelsmegal]

@@Hyce777 🤣

[@bear470]

Love that whistle, such a big sound from a small engine lol. Ive seen videos of this little railroad, glad you made a video about it!

[@BandanRRChannel]

I'm sorry, did they say a 40ft radius curve? That is absolutely insane, I think the tightest I've seen on standard gauge is about 90' radius (military base, later removed and replaced with something saner). Admittedly, narrow gauge, but still! Also, remembering that a lot of Welsh railways were 2' gauge (or close enough), I suddenly have a desire to see one of these bricks next to a Welsh engine, just for size comparison. Though I'm pretty sure if you took one of these ingots over there, you'd break every single rail they have!

[@musclecat1005]

This thing would tower over a Quarry Hunslet

[@austinbrodzinski4444]

Yes, we did in fact say a 40 foot radius curve! Not unlike what she probably would have encountered at Jones And Laughlin South Side Works!

[@Hybris51129]

Welsh Railroad Superintendent: "So how did that brick of an American locomotive do on the excursion run?" Engineer: "Ran great save for one issue sir." Welsh Railroad Superintendent: "What could have gone wrong?" Engineer: "Well sir we are no longer a 'railway' in the conventional sense." Welsh Railroad Superintendent: "What?" Engineer: "We are now a plate railway. The American locomotive squished the rails flat. All of them sir."

[@railconvoyprod]

@@Hybris51129 that made me giggle

[@Hybris51129]

@@railconvoyprod I try my best.

[@mikefilipkowski5445]

Hyce havin fun with a mini choo choo

[@PowerTrain611]

I follow Rick's channel here on KZbin and watched him restore 58 from the ground up basically by himself. It's so awesome to see what's become of 58 and a little operation she works for. Also, it's nice to see that the timing issue has been fixed. She sounds damn good now! I kimda like the whistle. It's shrill, but it fits. It doesn't sound like it's gonna empty the boiler if you blow a long crossing signal...

[@Iracingrookie39]

Always awesome to see local teams keeping steam alive! Especially when the J&L is about 20 minutes away from me!!!!!!

[@rubenskiii]

The only train that would look normal in Minecraft. I love it! It’s a handome lill’ Feller. Warm greetings from the Netherlands🇳🇱.

[@rubenskiii]

Locomotive*

[@akarinnnnnn]

I was supposed to do the engineer program that was part of the NNGC on Friday when the boiler tube leaking issue showed itself. Wasn't able to run 58 myself, but it was interesting to see the issue at least and the staff let me stick around to watch them troubleshoot.

[@austinbrodzinski4444]

Hopefully next time you come back, you'll get to take the throttle!

[@drunkenbmxvloger7548]

Brick, iron ingot all good ways to describe the lovely little engine. It definitely has the weight low to the ground to help it stay glued to the track.

[@patricksheary2219]

Wow Mark that was great! I never knew anything like this existed. Gives a new definition to narrow gauge for sure. The J&L crew’s preservation efforts are amazing, truly unique. Through this video, I learned yet another fascinating facet of choo choo (and industrial) history. Many thanks Professor for sharing with us your fabulous experience and as always cheers to you!

[@CollinBlack-j1y]

Thank you Hyce for sharing a little bit of your adventures. That's a little engine with a big heart.

[@SPRailfan4449]

That was so awesome seeing Hyce drive No. 58. Great job Hyce. ❤️👍😎

[@garysprandel1817]

Hyce was grinning on the inside the whole time even with the " serious business " expression on. Oh yes on the lady having a beautiful voice on that hill. My personal highlight of each J&L video is the stack talk on the grade.

[@HLLPanzerShrek]

I normally watch videos at 2x rarely do I watch a Hyce video at x2 speed I love every minute!

[@YurtFerguson]

We're not stopping till we get Hyce all the way to running the UP big boy!

[@bowser5678]

Glad you got to see and drive the 2ft gauge Brick in person as part of your Narrow Gauge tour. Can’t wait to see what other narrow gauge engines will be getting the spotlight in said tour.

[@nighthawk_s5504]

As someone from pittsburgh, i remember my grandfather talking about the J&L mill amd of course his time on the P&LE railroad too. Its so cool to see theyre preserving as much as they can and actually using it too

[@PittsburghRailroader31]

I live in Pittsburgh and one of the areas that CSX runs through the South Side of Pittsburgh is called “J&L tunnel” on the foamer land where J&L steel used to be and where those little engines ran I believe

[@KrypticTheorist]

Thats awesome. I especially loved when you were doing the signal whistles and callouts with the other fella. "Crossing clear. signal clear." Im not surprised the brakes wouldnt hold her back too great at normal pressure she weighs to quote you in that one video. A s--- ton.

[@blendpinexus1416]

watching hyce have a hooting time on that iron ingot porter is fun to watch.

[@kyonkoyuuki5473]

loved seeing the porter going up and down that hill. That was a very cool place to go visit. Thanks for sharing the history and running the train!

[@king_zeldar8442]

Very cool little 0-4-0 with a great sounding whistle.

[@lowellvillerailfanproductions]

Yeah that near where i live. Youngstown Ohio was built around the Steel Mills

[@soundwavesuperior7522]

Look at that freaking box, I love her

[@virtualstatic]

I had been wondering when you would end up in my neighborhood, super excited to watch this one

[@ASPEST2017]

This place is amazing as I went there before and it’s great I wish to go again

[@TheWolfiet]

I absolutely love that old porter brick.

[@15nyonker]

Gotta love little engines with specs that sound like insanity. She is definitely something.

[@charlessteele2455]

That whistle sent shivers up my spine, instantly made me think of peticote junction when I heard it scream 😂

[@dereklinkous9214]

That little porter hunts something crazy!

[@shawneemission27]

that whistle is absolutely glorius on a smol but mighty choo choo, love it

[@stormshadow_6477]

Man if that thing were to hit a truck it would just punch a porter-shaped hole into it and keep moving looney tunes style. What a beauty

[@BLUESKY.R.R.1]

The whistle on the engine sounds like the one they used in petticoat junction

[@ferrarikingdom]

Hey you visited my home town and I hadn’t a clue. Awesome footage

[@asteroidrules]

The HK Porter locomotives are the very definition of big things coming in small packages, they made hundreds of little industrial switchers that were all built like bricks.

[@railwayjade]

Man that little dude moves!

[@AllisonChainz3718]

That rail looks hilariously thick for the track gauge it is being used on. I swear the rails are thiccccer than the gauge.

[@peregrina7701]

the most disporportionate looking rail ever, but if the choochoo weighs 45 tons and goes screaming and rocking around curves like that..... Kudos to the MOW crew, it's a hell of an alignment to take that punishment!! :)

[@Hyce777]

It's a little over-heavy for what the locomotive's axle loading is, but it does make for a fun sight.

[@peregrina7701]

@@Hyce777 as a strictly armchair opinion which is no one's but mine, is it all bad that the road's a bit overbuilt? :)

[@BandanRRChannel]

Reminds me of seeing pics of the WP&Y with their heavy welded rail...it looks hilariously out of place on 3' gauge track. This looks even more oversized!

[@southern207hobbies]

Track guage is 23.5"

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

58 is an absolute unit. It talks big, and has the cojones to back it up! Last I heard they are trying to get 2 more of the Porters operational. They were even throwing around the idea of converting one to a standard type (not a 4-4-0) without a saddle tank.

[@epicstormchaserswf]

I've known about Youngstown Steel Heritage for about a little under a month now, they got quite the fleet of Porters. I currently am hoping that some day J&L #58 there can haul freshly made steel again, possibly even with one of her sisters if 57, 60, or 62 can get running eventually.

[@Tater_Lord]

That little brick really gets up and goes when it wants to wow, also that throttle is gonna give you tennis elbow with the amount shaking you had to the thing XD

[@jimludovici8427]

I got to run this locomotive this summer! Was a wonderful time.

[@Jonnyg325]

Oooooh The ingots, amazing little locomotives

[@ivankalinic7094]

I sooo want this loco in model form now! It looks soooo robustly amazing!

[@ArturoRailProductions]

Dang I was wondering when you would make your way to my territory! Awesome video! Love the guys at the J&L. The whistle on the 58 is a New Zealand 5 chime and it really sounds good! I got other videos of 58 when it had a big Lunkenheimer and it sounded like a big boy especially since the valve timing wasn’t fully right at the time.

[@ArturoRailProductions]

Another neat thing is when the blower is on all the way and 58 is climbing up the curve it can create crazy vibrations on the ground unlike any other locomotive.

[@PhilBender612]

Wow, I saw that thing come around the corner and man, thats a cool looking porter steam.

[@thetoontrain6073]

This is probably safer than a rollercoaster

[@suprisex4999]

0:00 watch it HIGH BALL OUT THA YARD

[@kellys.6047]

Just don’t let them hear you say, “It’ll be fine” 😂❤

[@kellys.6047]

Glad you’re in Ohio for a change. Very interesting episode, thanks!❤️🚂🚂🚂🚂😀❣️

[@jcmchandsomeface2292]

What a fascinating machine

[@bobbywelch6035]

Very nice little engine. That is an insane grade of 6% and she handles it very well.

[@monkeywrenchinandpepsidrin1578]

I live very close to this and I promise it's worth it! Nothing but history 6 ways to Sunday!

[@aljnistari]

Hyce you'd better be putting this absolute unit into CoS! 😍😍

[@vaudevillian7]

What a great little engine

[@jefesman]

That was cool...

[@OldIronVideo]

First locomotive I ever ran! That hill there is no joke

[@ATJonzie]

I knew you'd be there eventually. It's actually less than an hour away from me

[@thundercreekcustoms]

That 5-chime reminds me a lot of the Chinese 5 that NYSW 142 used to wear

[@ShadowDragon8685]

You taught us that what diesel-electric can _start,_ it can't pull; and what steam can _pull,_ it cannot start. This little solid-steel outhouse seems to have basically infinite torque from a standstill; ergo, anything you can physically hitch to it, it _will_ start, and it _will_ pull! I suspect the limiting factor on this little _ironclad Dwarf engine_ is the size of her wheels, the supply in the tender, and the mechanical strength of the couplers. Like Gimli said: very dangerous over short distances.

[@Miniaturerailwaymuseum]

I would absolutely love to make a CAD model and 3d print in 1:32, after I finish my B&O p7 in the same scale

[@MikuJess]

What a cute little loaf of steel.

[@desmondk-o7148]

there is something *so* amusing to me seeing at 1:35 that brick sh*thouse of an industrial switcher pulling the single open passenger coach, but I suppose thats railroad preservation for you :P I certainly would have paid for a ticket on that ride too

[@legdig]

"Throttle" is absolutely the word for that thing, had to properly slap it around haha!

[@Shipwright1918]

Ol' girl's got the vibe of "I might look like a brick, but I'm a Big Boy really. I am! I promise!" And when you open her up she goes, "Ya see? I told you I was a Big Boy. Stack talk for days!"

[@paulw4310]

I saw a video on their acquisition of that equipment awhile back. Pretty cool seeing you at the throttle.👍 PS I grew up in Pittsburgh and J&L sponsored my Junior Achievement company way back in the day.

[@monostripeexplosiveexplora2374]

it is a pretty cool train

[@That_One_Guy_In_A_Band]

The 5 chime is nice, but that 3 chime... Oh man, I love it! It sounds like the whistle from "Petticoat Junction" which, if I remember correctly, is a shortbell Lunkenheimer 3 chime... I wonder if it's the same whistle, dimensionally speaking, on the 58... Either way, it sounds great! They've done a great job restoring the 58, and I need to get out there some day.

[@dannagy546]

The Rolling Ingot!

[@sandyzalecki1145]

I watched the total rebuild of that engine on KZbin a couple of years ago. It was quite interesting.

[@bert5003]

thrilled you made it to J&L they have a lot of cool stuff. cant wait for their roller mill to be operational. also, maybe look at a sennheiser headmic or clip mic to get better speech quality on its own channel

[@doylerudolph7965]

Hyce in Y-town? Hell yeah! (I live near an ABC yard a few dozen miles away)

[@GavinMager]

Hey Hyce you should come to Sterling Illinois we have a museum here with a 0-8-0 steel mill switcher. The museum is the Dillon Home Museum. Maybe stop by on one of your trips. There's even videos on youtube of them working in the late 70's.

[@buckduane1991]

Just got back from the train show here in Kirkwood. Hyce, you’d be amazed by how many folks there I met who are subscribed to your channel, haha. Sadly, no SN3, I looked everywhere in your honor. I did find three 70s era GBW boxcars, the one and only car it seems to even exist for the Green Bay & Western, and of course 30 years later than when my grandpa worked on it in WWII. Still, I’m always hoping! It was a good little railroad in its day. Also, I’m pretty sure the frame of El Chonko Poco Grande #58 Special there is thicker than the belt armor on most interwar era heavy cruisers, maybe even some battleships… same steel, though.

[@danabbott2398]

A kid in a candy store, bubbling excitement.

[@DouggieFresh50]

I love the j&l

[@matthewjames4334]

I watched the 58 be rebuild by hand here on KZbin back when I was still in high school….I believe the cab was built from scratch by them IIRC

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

God lord, that throttle is sloppier than the steering on my ‘76 Nova!

[@nameridstormfellow5578]

Someday we should have you come out to Utah to visit Golden Spike some day, show you the in's and outs of running our replicas on a 1.5 mile alignment :)

[@EricM9189]

Had I known you were going to be there I would've went. I live maybe 15 minutes from there.

[@dillonporter5994]

Hey my name is Porter. I love that it's strange looking just like me.

[@LondontransporduckL99]

It's beautiful

[@craigbryant8493]

Wonderful video!.

[@brianwelch-qq3ti]

I'm actually there doing the operate a loco for a day today

[@s-altenburg]

I've been drawing that locomotive!!!!!!!!!!