Swanton Pacific Railroad Live Steam 19" gauge

Swanton Pacific Railroad owned by Cal Poly University, featuring Pacifics built by Louis MacDermot for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, CA. Now residing in Swanton, CA on the former ranch of Al Smith, proprietor of Orchard Supply Hardware.
The Overfair Railway Pacifics were designed after Southern Pacific’s Brooks (The American Locomotive Works) built (1913) P-6 Pacific class locomotives (Nos. 2453 to 2458). About 6,800 of the Pacific 4-6-2 type engines were built in the United States from 1902 or 1903 until approximately 1930. Although the Pacific class was originally built for passenger service, it was readily adopted for high speed freight service. The Pacific was the logical development of both the 4-4-2 and 2-6-2 steam engines. It retained the riding stability of the 4-4-2 class, the driver adhesion of the 2-6-2 class, and the desirable firebox characteristics of both types. Soon the Pacific became the standard American high-speed locomotive. This was a position the Pacific was to hold for many years, only to be dethroned when greater horsepower output was obtained from newer locomotive types which featured additional driving axles.
Louis MacDermot modeled his Overfair miniatures after these “great” locomotives. The basic Overfair Railway Pacific locomotive specifications are:
Locomotive: length 17 feet, 3 feet 6-inches width over cab.
Locomotive Frame: 1 7/8-inch-thick steel plate.
Boiler: 12 feet long Wagontop boiler with a 30-inch diameter at the smokebox.
Boiler Pressure: 180 pounds per square inch as set now, 200 when new.
Firebox: approximately 9 square feet, with 162 1-inch tubes.
Fuel: currently oil, coal when built.
Wheels/Drivers: lead truck wheels 10.5 inches, wheelbase 25.5 inches, drivers 26 inches, 14 inch diameter trailing axle.
Cylinders: 9 X 10.5 inches
Tender: length 8 feet, 375-gallon water capacity, approximately 60 gallons oil (diesel), with a three-inch steel channel and wooden frame.
Weight: 12 tons dry

[@UncleFester84]

It's impressive how a 'little' locomotive like that can pull itself, the tender and 8 coaches full of people like it's nothing. Steam engines are so underrated.

[@Trainboy1EJR]

Steam is extremely powerful. The reason it isn't still used today is maintenance. You'd have to grease the joints every 50 miles on a steam locomotive. A diesel can go across the country and back with just 4 fill ups of diesel. Even now there still isn't a single diesel that can equal the power of the Big Boy.

[@formattable1]

Actually steam is still used today. Even a nuclear aircraft carrier uses its reactor to make steam. Steam still being one of the most efficient transfers of energy

[@MasseeMedia]

Steam is used to generate electricity on all nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines. The nuclear reaction generates heat, which boils water to create steam, which drives the steam turbine that generates electricity. All fossil fuel plants also use steam to generate electricity in the same way except with coal or gas as the heat source. They just don't use the steam directly to drive the engines on the ships anymore. The use of steam hasn't faded, it has switched from being used directly to being used to generate electricity via the creation of rotary motion via a steam turbine.

[@WheelsRCool]

@@formattable1 Steam is used for electricity generation because you can't otherwise directly use the combustion of fossil fuels or nuclear fission to turn an electric generator. But otherwise, for actually driving a machine that does work, steam is very inefficient.

[@bluefoxy6478]

Heck, some steam engines are more efficient than a modern cars engine!

[@scardboy]

I remember going here all time as kid with my grandpa, I miss those days

[@DanteHicks79]

Tragic that this was all destroyed by wildfire. :-(

[@loganhane5270]

It was?

[@davidhibbs6989]

When did this happen? Was it rebuilt?

[@Caledonianpug]

@@davidhibbs6989They moved their engines and equipment to a different location and I think they will rebuild it and restore the engines

[@sirbarongaming2138]

One day, whenever I have the money to buy a couple hundred acres of land, I'm gonna make a 19 in gauge railway, thank you for this new life goal of mine

[@surenchhetrithapa6404]

Yes I like this steam engineering life, and it is our part of life I am also a resident of steam locomotives area Darjeeling Himalayan railway in India since it's establishment my family were part of it. During construction. And we enjoy and loved steam it's sound and everything.

[@milkvanman104]

That's an incredible little railway! The engines look so real, and they're the size as the people!

[@randycoolbaugh1408]

this takes the term "disposable income" to a whole new level.............

[@johnnyjames7139]

Al Smith donated one of the McDermott pacific's to the state railroad museum in Sacramento. It was a back up locomotive that was never fired so the boiler in it is new to this day.

[@ichabodon]

I take my hat off to all these magnificent makers, be they aircraft, trains, boats or whatever. Absolutely marvellous.

[@user-jn3sw7nx9k]

ตีคาา ง

[@7822welshsteam]

How cool is that? I can't believe how spectacular that double-header was for such small engines.

[@bruceburns1672]

Without You Tube existing I would have never known that this size of Steam Train existed , amazing what people get up too .

[@lorenj.238]

I have 465 acres of land in SC, wooded and currently not being utilized for anything. I think I just found what I need to put on it. ; )

[@juanpindonga405]

A much more good idea that just chop the trees and build a mall

[@alnov91]

I will volunteer to help build it if you let me

[@UncleSpuddy]

@@juanpindonga405 Where I'm from malls are dying. Steam locos are a tourist attraction, much better investment.

[@bigmuscles250lbs]

I'm sure you could find a lot of volunteers to help you build a RR

[@lectro_folf2424]

You’ll have your own tiny railway!

[@TRAVELWP]

Fantastic construction, a most enjoyable video about a wonderful RR.

[@concorde2003]

That train set would require a very large christmas tree.

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

I'd suggest a redwood or sequoia as your tree of choice.

[@liam-xm4kg]

Christmas forest

[@cameronstone1889]

Indeed it would

[@johnjeffery7858]

Itchy tubo

[@johnjeffery7858]

Ltchy boots

[@kurtjakins6396]

what a marvel of engineering it's amazing.

[@divox9pqr]

Amazing, fun to watch..Can't imagine the joy of taking a ride on one of the Swanton Pacific trains.

[@richardcasey7521]

Beautiful 1/3rd scale working model steam train! Wow!

[@RRIA_America]

248 people likes this so much they turned their device upside down to like it again

[@SailorJohn34]

lmao.. That is funny!!!

[@charlesbishop7583]

Simply amazing. Multimillionaire engineer/machinists. As a former railroad carman, myself, I am in awe at the detail of those engines.

[@mustardtiger5080]

Words cant describe how good this is! I love it!

[@QtheMisanthrope]

if i was a multimillionaire this would be the only way into my house

[@Ambraham]

+Valon Selimaj ditto

[@bigallan7181]

Same!!

[@mattwarren4334]

Valon Selimaj offcc

[@taketimeout2share]

If I was it would be IN my house. Use it for the cook to deliver breakfast in bed.

[@heyyoualive1869]

Matt Warren same

[@Peterjnel]

Those are incredible! They capture most of the presence of the full gauge machines.

[@marshallman1au]

"ALL" ......

[@mikeking2539]

Wow best miniature steam locomotives I have ever seen!

[@organbuilder272]

Good grief - the guy can sit in this monster. - Amazing. What a beautiful piece of work.

[@Mitchosaure]

Just gorgeous!! Greetings from France!

[@gacj2010]

That is beautiful...I hope they keep them

[@robertterry9367]

I was lucky to engineer this locomotive when it was on the Calistoga Steam R.R. - Thank you Bob and Rick.

[@GTgyro]

Wow..I was just looking for info on little O Gauge garden railroad stuff and came across THIS. Wow.

[@marshallman1au]

Size DOES matter ..... ROFL!

[@robertwterry]

I was blessed to have engineered and exact duplicate locomotive on the Calistoga Steam Railroad. It's a great locomotive!!!!! Now in the Sacramento R.R.

[@JoyceLund]

Sad that it burned down

[@georgeorwell4534]

This is taking boys and their toys to a whole other level. :)

[@GooseinTheCabooseProductions]

Wow!! This is awesome!! I had no idea they could be this big. I thought the biggest size was ride - on ones. This is probably the closest you could get driving the real thing without an engineer's license.

[@Philippesdad1]

you would still have to be certified to operate a steam locomotive, and the insurance company would be watching every movement.

[@dolothedolphin]

Jacob Oliver yeah it's only the miniature live steamers that you can ride without a license.

[@WKruit-oh3ce]

Jacob Oliver, search for Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. About the same size with a track length of over 13 miles.

[@GooseinTheCabooseProductions]

Ok. Thanks man I will!!!

[@rvnmedic1968]

True, but the operators still need a boiler certification done each year, usually done by a club member.

[@kielbasaglen6843]

I have never seen anything like this before. It was so... much fun the watch it. I felt like a little boy watching the trains go by. Thanks...

[@wharris302]

you should look up the RH&D railway then it's like apart from its British

[@NSResponder]

This looks like an incredible amount of fun.

[@U2WB]

WOW ! Something like this is what I’ve dreamed of having since I was a little boy.

[@lazarusmagellan2367]

I used to go there as a kid! Love this place.

[@privatedetective6516]

It always amazes me that people will "unlike" a production like this. Very nice segment. What a testament to the skill of the Builders.

[@MasseeMedia]

The phenomenon has been described to me as people thinking that the like and dislike buttons work like the Pandora music service, where it will show you less of something similar if you dislike it. (it doesn't work that way on KZbin). And also people ticking the dislike button if it wasn't what they expected or were looking for.

[@keithbacon1276]

Awesome sounds

[@auralfury]

this is truly amazing...love it!

[@elleryparsons2433]

Love Seeing videos Of Trains Like this one.

[@martineastburn3679]

I love this road - It is a 1/3 size IIRC. I rode on it in the old days and enjoyed every minute. Sometime in the 1980's.

[@cheesy._.romano2193]

Some one needs to make a 19" gauge 4-8-8-4 union pacific "big boy" and call it a "little boy" with the 4025 number since they on did 4000-4024 :)

[@mabelcastillo8843]

Copenhagen_Crazy67 i

[@bulow453]

I thought that same dang thing!

[@migueldelacruz4799]

Cheesy_Romano what's stopping you?

[@KandiKlover]

Yes. I would like one of those and a few dozen empty cars and a big rail property like this all to myself to go crazy on all day hehehehe

[@mikeytrains1]

No. Just no.

[@jcdsuper]

beautiful

[@jeffculp2197]

Al Smith owned Swanton and I visited there when I was a kid. Al lived in Los Gatos, near San Jose CA. He had a few acres of prime orchard land with a tower where you could climb a ladder and pop up in the middle of his HO scale (I think) train sets.I knew Al Smith when I was younger. My Dad and Al were good friends. I have such fond memories of "Mr. Smith" and loved going over to visit him. Later he owned Orchard Supply Hardware, a local chain of stores in that area. I remember he would have parties at his Swanton, which is in the Santa Cruz mountains. He showed me the railroad he was building there, but I never saw it completed. Al would drive the Los Gatos park steam train "Bill Jones Wildcat Railroad". I use to drive over there to see him on it with a big smile. He was a gentle, quiet good mad. He had a wooden leg, lost when a box car step he was riding gave way.

[@INTERNATIONAL_RDF-D]

I like this cause if you put a full size cab on it and a saddle tank its practically a full size engine.

[@taledarkside]

now I know what I will do when I win the powerball.

[@rafaucett]

Simply magnificent! 👍

[@bandccoresohio]

Its beautiful classical and amazing!!!

[@neicey5934]

Absolutely phenomenal...id luv this 💞

[@gotsloco1810]

The 1915 in the State Railroad museum is one of the Locomotive built along with the four for the Exposition, never finished no dirigible at Crissy Field no need. Al Smith donated the 15 to the Museum prior to Cal Poly being involved. The cab on the 1915 is the cab off the 1914. The Cab on the 1914 was built by Sacramento for use on the 1914. Note the cutout to the roof and larger side windows. Easier for Al to get in and out of. We are looking for volunteers see the Swanton Pacific web site

[@jtuttle11]

This is AWESOME ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[@SailorJohn34]

Stunningly beautiful... Spectacular ... Amazing... Wonderful... I could go on and one.. Such beautiful workmanship.. Amazing details... and that sound.. I could lay in my bed asleep and listen to that locomotive chug and chug.. and i'd know that i'm waking up in an amazing mood. I love it.. Thank you for sharing this with us.. even with the 1.2K people that have such a lack of taste and good character who disliked this.. Amazing!!!

[@jbhix2691]

That has to be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. 🇺🇸👍

[@ElementofKindness]

OK, I typically find many of these down-scaled steam locomotive railroads plain silly. An adult whom looks like a giant sitting on top just seems absurd. BUT . . . this 19" gauge railroad is legit amazing!! When they come highballing around that bend at 2:08, let me tell you, that gave me goosebumps just as the full size locomotives do.

[@marshallman1au]

You are so right !

[@dddf27]

Agree

[@SailorJohn34]

it's all about building them.. and running a genuine steam engine .. look at RC cars... there's absolutely no use for them.. but they are fun.. at least these things could be used to do work around the property.. besides.. they are part of our history.. and history is a subject that we need the youth of today to learn much more about...

[@aydengaming553]

Tbh it looked like a scene from polar express

[@aydengaming553]

@@SailorJohn34 this is true, to be fair if you really wanted to, you COULD use an rc car to try and spy one people of fit into small places for rescue missions. But you are right in the fact that these are a symbol of history. It being A symbol of one of the GREATEST revolutions in history. And it could indeed pull off the usage of a standard locomotive! And besides, it a train for pity's sake! And what's more freaking epic than that?

[@brysongrondin9415]

AMAZING!!! i really wish i had a good amount of money to purchase a locomotive like this of my own. mine would be based on the N&W 611 for sure!!

[@smakkacowtherealone]

this is my new favorite railroad

[@shagster1970]

Wow this is an insane scale!

[@sindhurawat4001]

Oh what a powerful steam engine 👌👌👌👌👍👍👍

[@darioinfini]

Gorgeous machines.

[@Engineer5344]

awsome video mike, keep up the good work.

[@joyceebert3772]

Now THAT'S a train layout I'd love to have!!

[@kevp9601]

This is Exquisite, and I Love It a Lot! :-D

[@mokologo1204]

You should have 1 Billion subscribers by now awesome video can't even describe it

[@tlimb813]

I love your videos

[@zacharyspinks6207]

I Love it!!! thanks so much.

[@59Hellfire]

I'm watching this and I keep hearing the shining time station theme.

[@john2914]

Great stuff.

[@arnoldhicks4847]

FANTASTIC.

[@sonnydean1617]

Very nice 4-6-2 class locomotives.

[@rambalan5127]

CFTR

[@BobbyTucker]

what he said....

[@lestermiller2717]

What does the no.# 464 stand for?

[@rhilton1881]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@Willysmb44]

Great video!

[@robertrockwell7581]

now this is just way to cool i want one.

[@railwayman2013]

I need one of these in my backyard lol

[@olivvapor4873]

Unbelievable engines ... beyond words ! Alas my lawn is too small ... 😬☺️

[@luisantoniomarrega3713]

Parabéns, esta mini ferrovia é fantástica! Rio Brasil

[@dobermanpac1064]

THIS GUY WINS.....BEST MODEL STEAM I'VE EVER SEEN...

[@inkyscrolls5193]

2:47 Their power levels are OVER 9000!

[@MintonBarry]

9000 tons or pounds?

[@texmullikin3267]

Man, that is cooler than Christmas!

[@lazarusmagellan2367]

It is a pleasure to volunteer at Swanton.

[@acptelford1307]

Lazarus Magellan why don’t they pay you?

[@bloba4443]

ACP Telford why do they need to pay you! Look at what you do

[@alfonsogalicia6836]

Awesome and nice the train

[@railroadguy100]

Awesome video. Reminds me of Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos, CA.

[@neiltoatasi6892]

Thats awesome stuff boys really awesome

[@emdman1959]

Wow, totally awesome

[@bobrulejr.4057]

OUTSTANDING!!

[@user-ul4nh6wk9p]

Fantastic!!!

[@KlimovoMan]

It's amazing!!!

[@Frisco1522]

I can visualize these two with SP Pyle headlights w/visor mounted just below center on the smokebox front and front mounted bells. They sound awesome.

[@ScratchGlass9]

Magnificent engines. Bravo🇺🇲

[@restauragreenlab]

Bueno, realmente esto es uno de los mejores trabajos en vapor que he visto, que maravilla de locomotora y de instalaciones

[@gandumulle8561]

amazing ride...

[@dsnchannel9559]

Amazing.👍👍👍👍👍

[@kenmtb]

I can not process how cool that railroad is!

[@marzara5182]

Beautiful

[@TheVirzo4]

siete straordinari

[@yamahaguy1732]

This is so cool

[@ghostwolf6377]

that is so amazing

[@s_rv.]

Man i wish i could travel to school and home like this

[@aabgrx5]

coś wspaniałego, pozazdrościć trasy kunsztu wykonania oraz poświęcenia w pracy. Moję najniższe ukłony . (PL)

[@42lookc]

Good grief that's incredible! These things are full blown steam locomotives on only a slightly reduced scale. I'll bet they're just as durable, too!

[@Cabinessance]

Just GORGEOUS! Beautifully maintained, and modelled, well done, you must be proud of your railway.. It is superb. Such engines deserve really nice ladies names, ask your wives, they'll agree!!.