Can We Make This Rivarossi Big Boy Run Again? Sitting for 20 Years

I purchased this vintage big boy locomotive in an auction around a year ago and today I decided to finally take it out of the box and see if we could get it working again. I brought it over to the track to test it and it seemed to be having trouble picking up electricity.
It's possible this locomotive has been sitting for decades and many contacts have rusted over so it required disassembly and cleaning to get things going again. I'm overall impressed with the results.

[@MMRails]

Did you see the initials? ES? That big boy belonged to Ed Sheeran! So cool. Speaking of initials, SMT now stands for So Much Talent. Great job!

[@MMRails]

Soldering Machine Teen

[@MMRails]

Superior Model Technician

[@johndoblinger6805]

i thougt it stood for slow moving train

[@SMTMainline]

Ed Sherran!? Must have been run on a layout with many lego houses

[@Petemonster62]

Sudbury, Montreal, & Toronto Railway.

[@beefs0ck911]

I love that you film repairs on virtually every make and model, especially vintage ones. Watching these videos has been teaching me to repair mine

[@NorthmassRails]

Nice locomotives!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I don’t want to be dedicated to only doing repairs on certain types, this can be a learning curve but makes future projects easier.

[@Dominic_Kim-]

As soon as I see the "Can we make it run" in the title I already felt like yes it will and I hope it runs.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@NorfolkSouthernRailfan754]

Same here!

[@katies6426]

Has SMT ever failed at repairing a model on one of these “episodes”?

[@stephenlongtin6441]

SMT mainline I think u should do a charity for people who are with any food to eat and for the people who are homeless and for people who are trynna get off drugs Those are some charity ideas for you to do that are good ! 3:45am

[@mercuryoak2]

@@stephenlongtin6441 um he had done that before. International food bank. That was a live stream he did before

[@ShipRail_Studios_official]

I love seeing your restoration videos; always great to see a Big Boy running again. Keep up the great work!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@adamhinkle7982]

Excellent job on the repair someone will be a happy camper.

[@bc5441]

I had a Riv Big Boy oh, so long ago. I enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together. Fortunately I was intimidated by my steam locomotives and never attempted to disassemble any of them, because if I had, they never would have gone back together!

[@SMTMainline]

They can be tricky, especially when you don’t have a parts diagram.

[@jasonanderson6583]

This man can make anything run

[@TheRacist1234]

Good thing you worked on that cabforward before, now you know how to deal with big engines

[@cjfauxx6266]

I just got myself a Rivarossi 4005 Big Boy that needed some new oil and grease. I got it from my local railroad club where it was running rough but with the help of your video here, I got her going smoothly! Hope you have a happy new year!

[@beyondtheouterrim3025]

Love that there was a little 0-4-0 in there I love those little guys

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Nice job getting this one going.

[@TonyLasagna]

These videos are always so satisfying. Glad this ran!

[@stripes497]

Great job on the rebuild. This was a fun video to watch. This reminds of when I was a little boy and my Paternal Grandfather took me to the train yards of The Santa Fe Railroad. Seeing anything train related reminds me of my childhood days. Thanks for showing this particular video

[@johnallred716]

man, discovered your channel yesterday. You have got this KZbin thing nailed. Great vid work, great lighting, perfect narrative, fun storylines, for us model train guys and gals to enjoy. Love your "rehab mechanicals" videos the best but the Train Store archeology tours are very cool. Spent many hours in them across the US collecting in my travels. So thank you, and your friends for saving the old stuff we had as a kid and then an adult. Had to part with my collections several times, (space, no basement.) Great to see some Gen Zs enjoying this hobby.

[@gpalmt]

another great video. You inspire me to try and repair my locomotives and to be sure , all of us are in awe of your ability. Keep up the good work, we all look forward to your videos

[@Lighthouseadventures1]

You probaly are unaware of this youtuber, but your like the Growling Sidewinder of HO scale train repairing, meaning every episode gets more amazing and you learn alot more than you think you knew

[@SMTMainline]

I haven’t watched them to be honest but I appreciate the kind words

[@nelslyman8167]

You taught me how to repair engines and that is now the way I buy most of my engines

[@rayhuntermusic]

So cool!!! I love that layout.

[@normanrowe2831]

As a lover of old Rivarossi locos, thanks for the tender loving care. Lol. Always enjoyable watching you work your magic. See ya. Happy New Year.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@SantaFeBob]

Great demonstration. I will use these techniques on my own Big Boy that needs repair. Thank you for posting another valuable video.

[@khtrains]

I've had a few of Rivarossi's articulated locomotives. I've never been game to disassemble the drivetrain quite as far as you did. But I think I'll be able to give it a go on the next one I get thanks to seeing this!

[@philipvandyke5980]

Another great fix and video. I am surprised you haven't run out of space in the basement

[@cheesyman321]

Its always so interesting to watch the intricate breakdown of these bigger engines. I personally like my N scales as it feels a bit easier for me with less parts!

[@SMTMainline]

I haven’t worked too many n scale locomotives but I actually find them trickier haha

[@tracynation2820]

Super. The drive is a lot better than I imagined, and oiling the siderods, bearings, and valve gear is very important on a locomotive like this. I like the Big Boy, but will probably not buy one for my railroad, but if one just happens to come my way, I'd find an excuse to operate it on my railroads fantrips. 💙 T.E.N.

[@willamcombs1106]

I've been watching your video's for well over a year now and I've noticed that you have become very good at Model Locomotive diagnosis and repair. Keep up the good work. I look forward to all of your video's.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks I’ve been trying to learn more, the community is constantly giving me good suggestions which helps.

[@MozanaRN]

Thank you Harrison for the excellent restoration of the Rivarossi Big Boy (aka..beast). And thank you especially for the track side running shots of this monster in real time and slow motion. Happy New Year to you and yours!! :-)

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you too!

[@UnionCentralSystem]

Another great job Harrison!!!

[@montetude_tripple2706]

These things are so damn expensive, I wish I could get my hands on even a used one, or 3d print my own. Good find man.

[@bulwinkle]

I used to use a small brass wire brush to clean wheels. I attached a wire between it and a 9v battery and had a return wire to complete the circuit so the brush itself powered the loco whilst cleaning the wheels.

[@user-ig6dm7cq1g]

I love the big boy! It's really cool looking.

[@wowdad3055]

Have a happy New Year . Great job again.

[@alanwbelcher]

Great work bringing it back from the scrap yard. Never doubted you could.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@tommyt329]

You do a great job on repairs. You leave no stone unturned. I'm watching your channel from New Zealand.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@randybrening9528]

Love watching your can we make it run videos. They're really enjoyable and relaxing to watch.

[@SMTMainline]

Glad you like them!

[@RayBoebel]

Nicely done Harrison!

[@godchilla2847]

great work!

[@cnwproductions]

Fantastic Video as Always SMT

[@kuzzyjo]

A one of a kind toy you really out done yourself here great job

[@derekalexander4030]

I’m blown away that you took that Big Boy apart (which I could do) but then cleaned it, got it running, and most importantly, put it back together with no leftover parts. (Which I could not do, lol.) A+ to you.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, it's taken me a while to learn how to work on this stuff.

[@TheOtherBud]

Loving the camera work on this video keep up the good work

[@carterputnam4229]

What a nice rig. Always have been a fan of the big boys, even as a child! Let alone model trains in general!

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

You are a very talented young man..great work and care

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@bartholomewsorrentino9013]

Great video! Loved seeing and hearing the engine run and pull a train!

[@SMTMainline]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AdamChancellor4449]

Good job on fixing the Bigboy Man 🎉

[@gorgewashington1216]

nice job and nice piece in youre collection !

[@ferrovocho28]

So great! It's very interesting seeing the guts on that kind of locomotives. The engineering work done to do them run is amazing. And Rivarossi always surprise with such small motors. Great video!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@tannerdoty7429]

This was such an impressive fix.

[@realcanadian96]

I remember when you were at 5k subscribers... Man have you grown. The quality of the videos you produce always increases. I can really see your channel being a well known name in model railroading, but that's in the future. It's a long way to get there, but you will.

[@SMTMainline]

I really appreciate that, I’ve been trying to improve the quality over the last few months so hearing that means a lot.

[@matthewhazelip843]

This would make a cool addition to my starter set up nice loco for sure

[@randalkire220]

Good job. Very interesting to watch how you repaired it.

[@irenecraggs6123]

that looks great nice job

[@nitrorrat8190]

One of my favorite locomotive

[@tommyhaynes9157]

That was awesome dude

[@petershepherd53]

I feel a lot more confident servicing a big boy after your video, well done from across the pond, regards pete

[@strat1960s]

Looks great. Fun video to watch

[@SMTMainline]

It was a good project, thanks

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

You did a great job! 👍😎

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@nitrorrat8190]

Good looking locomotive

[@thatsimulatorguy]

Oh jeez, I need this. My Rivarossi mallet blew itself up and I would love to have another beast on the rails once again until I fix mine… I will get this loco until I can’t… then I’ll be sad. Also that speed up edit at the end was hilarious and it jump scared me 😂

[@massari4u]

What a great locomotive, came across your channel randomly, glad I did. Great content. subbed

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you so kindly!

[@NotGavin]

Great job on the repair, runs beautifully Harrison!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

good job to make it run that way. Happy New Year Harisson

[@GaryDavis-ir6fh]

yaaaay! another piece of model train history saved, i love it!

[@magnuswettermark8293]

Great job! I wish you happy new year...

[@umbertospilotros3986]

Nice video. Greatings from Brazil.

[@curtisbezanson8156]

That big boy looks amazing goin around ur track

[@MoosesWorkshop]

Love your videos!

[@waynemcdonough5174]

First post: I thought I should let you know how much I enjoy your videos. Not only are the successes great, but your presentation is also very engaging. It just shows that old does not mean trash worthy. Much can be restored with patience and attention to detail.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. Some people don’t get why I bother working on these types of locomotives but I find it satisfying when you get something written off as junk running again.

[@brandongasowski7868]

Awesome job

[@Papa_Shurika]

Hello! You are the best locomotive doctor!👍

[@D1rtyDon]

Don’t know why the hell this was in my recommended but it was fun to watch

[@SMTMainline]

Glad to hear it lol

[@Fxe4014]

It is incredible to see the process of how to repair a Rivarossi Big Boy, plus it reminded me that if one day I have one of those locomotives, I would like to customize it so that it looks like the BIG ONE, is from the anime "The Galaxy Railways", greetings and good video!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@RobertEHunt-dv9sq]

excellent video. I have one of these engines, in fact 4005 like yours. Once clean and lubricated can pull 40 cars on level track. Love these large articulateds

[@darksideoflife8045]

Love your content, keep making more vids please

[@andersholt4653]

Nice job.

[@davidokelly1140]

Looks like you took a tip from Ron form classic model trains on that wheel cleaning technique. Those wheels look SO clean... Thanks, enjoyed the video...

[@BobDarlington]

Good job.

[@MattKonsol]

Wow man! I bet you got another big boy for fun but I’m glad you got this thing running here and pretty cool that your giving it away as a raffle.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@joallawestervelt6918]

Toys for tots is a great charity. An incredible idea. This is a beautiful locomotive. It was great watching you fix and service this locomotive. The Harrison Touch again prevails. I know it has been some Time since this aired but I explained in your latest video as to why. Thank you so much for sharing this video. 💕❤💕 I hope you raise a lot of money for what you choose for the charity.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, hopefully it will.

[@bassmanzh]

I want to get a big boy for my layout ! I love these gorgeous machines ..me and my pop pop chased one from saint peters mo to pacific missouri ... amazing beast ... every time I see one it reminds me of him!

[@garrettsubproductions8705]

Congratulations on 80k

[@nimbly1693]

My 6 year old loves trains. We got to see the big boy when it came through eastern Oklahoma.

[@davidjohnfarrell4579]

You look to have a great layout.

[@antonbruce1241]

Darned fine runner there! I was rather surprised the motor was in as good of a condition as it is! Another fantastic Dr. SMT surgery - ya brought her back to perfect health!!! Now..if you could only convert her to DCC and a sound decoder....

[@nick-dm3if]

I really was excited about that 0-4-0 lol i love those

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

great work harrison,nice one,happy new year.jpj

[@SMTMainline]

Happy new year

[@yhird]

Terrific work! Beautiful collection. Subscribed.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the sub!

[@paulbervid1610]

Look at you Harrison. Big Boy engine detective. Great video as always.

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@benjaminmcclatchey9814]

I’m happy about the trains he repairs too! I think it’s great!

[@bobkohl6779]

Well done and nice to see someone open them up. We used to look at 4014 and wonder if it was just going to rot

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Nice job 👍 ! What a cool engine.

[@SMTMainline]

It sure is!

[@mercuryoak2]

That's really cool that you got this locomotive running. The tender looks like it goes to a Riverrossi mallet locomotive my uncle used to have one. My current uncle has it and you won't let it go for anything maybe I'll buy it off of him who knows but they claim that there's no parts available which I heard the same thing from a hobby store. I'm glad that you are careful taking apart this locomotive because the availability of parts I bet is slim. Everything you do in these videos I do to my locomotives that's why they run so good. I loved the run bys that you did.

[@josephschuster1494]

I just bought my first-ever Rivarossi Loco, a 2-8-8-2 N&W mallet, and will use this video for maintenance/repair guidance, as it’s the most complicated engine in my Roundhouse. Thanks, SMT, and keep repairing! 🚃

[@brianbaird3]

My mom found me a limited edition HO scale Publix Express train set by International Hobby Corporation for Christmas. I work for Publix in the state of florida and it’s a grocery store chain. For 25 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Love hearing Well folks!

[@MattKonsol]

Hearing it makes me happy!

[@SMTMainline]

@@MattKonsol So kind :)

[@thunderfox53]

Such a wonderful locomotive I recently bought a riverossi big boy n scale

[@GreysonHolovach]

it is kind of crazy how you make it look so easy to fix it up

[@dbtech7914]

Good job. Really nice engine. Just needed a little cleaning and maintenance.

[@dupity1]

Excellent as always, thanks for the video Harrison😀👍 I'm resurrecting a RivaRossi Cab Forward. She has significant Zinc Pest, I'm going to slather a layer of JB weld all over that😁 Motors good, drive train too. Got lucky and found her at an estate sale for $60 USD I've got screenshots of your Cab Forward Video for reference. Thanks alot, take care.

[@jonas2431]

This is amazing. Im currently looking for a big boy for my layout. I love big steam locos. Ive seen the big boy in person and it was amazing. Really a beautiful sight to behold

[@SMTMainline]

I saw one too at steamtown. Super impressive!

[@An_Official_Scratcher]

Did you mean sight instead of site?

[@kuhndj67]

Nice old Rivarossi - that's a model I always wanted as a kid. I'd have cleaned the wheels and checked the wheel pickup brushes before I did anything else with an old engine like that - most of the time that's the only problem.