The Last Coal Burner on the Durango & Silverton - Winter Steam Photo Special

[@Flutronko]

This should be cemented as art. This cinematography is amazing.

[@adler000]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing 🚂👍

[@christopherbrown3192]

The audio on this is incredible. The video is amazing but the sound is chefs kiss

[@fuscoproductions]

@@christopherbrown3192 thank you! I take as much care with the audio/sound design as I do with the visuals, so I am glad you took notice. Thanks again for the kind words! :-)

[@NajahLightfootMagick]

Thank you for this amazing footage! I especially enjoyed the coal burner and the engineers. More than two decades ago my hubby proposed to me, on this magnificent winter train ride. We live in Denver, and we're still together! We love trains. Magic. So glad we are part of the 143-year tradition. Glad the train will continue to inspire and carry on!

[@MrTien]

beautiful. Thanks for sharing, happy new year

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I don't think anyone else captured this event better than you. Fantastic work on an end of an era!

[@nmelkhunter1]

That was simply awesome! I love the sound of a steam locomotive, its whistle, the Animas River and the mighty San Juans. Awesome stuff! 🤠

[@markthomas6436]

Coal smoke, steam, snow and blue, blue sky. Doesn't get better than this! 😊

[@leemathis6053]

Rode this train back in the 70s, the whole town of Silverton was closed until the train showed up from Durango, then everything opened, and when we were loading up to go back to Durango, the whole town started closing down lol

[@danieltrujillo7583]

Just did cascade canyon in November for my bday and it was amazing. The 45 minute lay over gave me and my wife the opportunity to explore and have an epic river side lunch that I'll remember forever

[@railfanningwithtydan]

Joe!! Your films deserve an academy award for how much talented work you put into them. The coloring and the shots themselves look immaculate. Coal power will be missed on the D&S. Incredible video!

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I did spend a lot of time getting the color to what I thought was "just right" - extra challenging when there is so much white on the screen thanks to the snow. I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardhead1114]

Simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing

[@atsfevan0242]

Sure glad I got to visit this place in 2021. While I wish I got to see and ride behind one of their engines when they were still coal fired I was able to bring home two lumps of coal from 476’s tender home with me as a reminder of a now bygone era. But I did get to ride behind 484 that next summer which is still coal fired alongside seeing 463 in service too and so far are the only operational coal fired steam engines I’ve seen in person but I hope to see many more in the future.

[@garryferrington811]

We rode behind 476 in 1965. That was a great day for eleven-year-old me.

[@fourbanger]

What a wonderful video....thank you....Started riding this train in the late 50's ....still had trackage into Farmington, NM....an unplanned cab ride in 1964 from Silverton back to Durango.... The wife and I have ridden the snow train to the Cascade Y and been the only ones to picnic outside in the snow as others huddled in the heated cars.... It is a National treasure...and a legacy of endurance....the world is better for experiences to be had like this... Thank you again for this spectacular documentation

[@fuscoproductions]

I wholeheartedly agree - a national treasure - and I am so glad they continue to operate steam powered trains, regardless of the fuel source. Thanks for the compliments. 🙂

[@StrasburgRailProductions]

Awesome video Joe! This is pure cinema glad to see you post after awhile!

[@MoosaiLuver]

The editing is so good!! And the framing of all your shots is stellar, for real. Subbed!

[@jeffmurdock8321]

I got a cinder in my eye as a kid from an engine in WV and can attest that it's not pleasant. Oil is easier and cleaner and most folks wouldn't know the difference. Still, coal is a bit more fun and it would have been nice to keep one in service. At least they still run at all, so I'm glad they are still around in any form.

[@regularguy7266]

As I always say, it doesn't matter if they're coal or oil, only that they put on a good show, and the Durango and Silverton always does. Fantastic video my friend, it's always a treat watching your videos.

[@BobQuaglia]

Great video rode the d and s twenty some years ago and it looks as beautiful now as it did then

[@North_Cascade_Railfan]

6:46 what an amazing shot

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you, it was probably my favorite from the whole trip!

[@BTCRAILFILMS]

The cab shots are beautifully colored, but the shot at 19:20 feels like an O. Winston Link image come to life. Amazing work!

[@fuscoproductions]

@@BTCRAILFILMS thank you - the cab shots were tricky! Bright white outside and dark tones inside. Glad you like how it turned out. As for the night shot at around 19:00 - thank you - I’ll gladly take any comparisons to OWL. The lighting credit goes to the D&S guys as well as some assistance from Dak Dillon. It was a great night session!

[@BTCRAILFILMS]

@@fuscoproductions That Dak guy sure knows his lighting!

[@MPT_Productions]

A great tribute to a legendary era of steam! Well done, Joe!

[@EngineerDaylight]

RIP to the smell of Coal & Sulfur on the D&S, I couldn't think of a better photographer to video the last coal powered train out of Durango. A wonderful tribute to the end of Coal firing.

[@Whistlestop_Productions]

I'm just speechless, Joe. This IS the best video of the Durango and Silverton! The blue hues in the sky during your daylight shots are magnificent, and the b&w scenes make it look like the year 1930 during the D&RGW days. Truly outstanding cinematography! Hope you didn't get a cinder in your eye 😂

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you! With so many great videos of D&S, it is an honor that you would say that. No, I did not get a cinder in my eye - but I have, several times before! Hey, it builds character. Haha! 😂

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Fantastic video and enjoyed watching. Have a great rest of your day. Steve

[@1chuck96]

As much as I'm not a narrow-gauge fan...This is extra ordinally perfect!!! Keep 'em coming brother!

[@firegrateproductions]

Awesome stuff, Joe! It was hard to find something not to love about this. Steam, snow, mountains... the perfect combination of sound and visuals. Nice work!

[@hsavage3350]

Absolutely fantastic in every sense of the word... your are indeed gifted beyond measure. My blood pressure went down 40 points!! Wow.....

[@bobbybasketball1999]

this is utterly incredible. you are such a talent!

[@fuscoproductions]

Thank you!!

[@davidstott7223]

wonderful! I've ridden it many, many times beginning in 1972.

[@struck2soon]

What a perfect day for filming a steam locomotive!

[@artiek1177]

Couldn’t ask for better.

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

Incredible as always! One of my favorite D&S videos I've seen. Really wished I could've been there when 481 was actually running, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Can't wait for the next video!

[@fuscoproductions]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it. Once again it was nice bumping in to you at the Durango roundhouse a couple months prior!

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

@@fuscoproductions Absolutely! Hoping to make it back out there for the Winter Photo Special in a few months, not sure just yet.

[@fuscoproductions]

@ likewise, depending on the date.

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

@@fuscoproductions Well I'll hope to see you there, unless you're planning on attending a certain event in January🙃

[@acw71000]

Fabulous video with so many outstanding shots. Thank you

[@BirdsNNVA]

I took this train in the 1990’s. There’s nothing like coal power. The excitement, the cinders! Thanks so much for filming thus last run.

[@benc.5863]

Your videos are cinematography, very well done. My first video of yours was your video of Valley Railroad 97 from years ago, awesome to see how far you’ve come

[@fuscoproductions]

That was a while ago - back when I was still recording on 8mm tape! Glad to have you along for the ride for so long. Thanks for the kind words!

[@Toledo1940]

Outstanding video and audio--as usual!!

[@railroad9000]

Several of these would make beautiful Cristmas cards!

[@rickdee67]

Excellent video! I’m adding this to my soundtrack for my model railroad!

[@fuscoproductions]

I’d love to see/hear your model railroad with these sounds in the background! :-)

[@curtiskea876]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL VIDEO. I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE RIDDEN IT MANY TIMES, BUT NEVER IN THE WINTER. AS WITH YOU JOE IT ALSO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ANYWHERE.

[@Jeffreyconnor-x6y]

it is a beautiful ride to Silverton. a good friend an engineer

[@stewarthughesstewart]

Fantastic filming!

[@TheRCScotsman]

Amazing video. Utterly captivating. And what a beautiful part of the world.

[@yukon4511]

Thank you so much! My daughter and I rode it in 1994.

[@Jasper_Seven]

Thank you. Wish I was there.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Easily one of the best working steam railways in the world. Great photography and loved the black and white especially. :-)

[@gpnorman9453]

Lovely just lovely, Will have to watch again. Visited this railway in Sept 2001 by default as all the airshows were cancelled due to the WTC attack. I would probably never of had only for that.

[@BirdsNNVA]

Do you mean 2001? I was in the general area of the World Trade Center on that day. Would much rather have been riding a steam train in CO!

[@Georgeconna32]

@@BirdsNNVA Yep 2001 Typo, Visited from Ireland, I Had penned in Edwards Airshow and a few others. Got to see some parts of the US that I will never forgot. Wonderful country.

[@duncanmacdonald4271]

Beautiful sights and sounds. Thank you for bringing back memories of my childhood - and the smell of the smoke and steam. 😁

[@joshbagley1959]

Great video. I was sorry to see/read that they converted to oil-fired instead of sticking with coal. There's something special and unique to me in the smell of a coal fire. Coal fired trains in the mountains are straight out of history. I was a stunt rider and picture double on a movie made on the Cumbres & Toltec RR in February 1991. We plowed through feet of fresh snow every day for a couple weeks doing filming.... The conversion is the end of an era. But it's great to see these trains and RRs still going strong.

[@chooch1764]

Coal or oil burners, they are still steam trains.

[@jordanwhitecar1982]

From 7:00 to 7:40 is so picturesque

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Is it just me or does the D&S seem like almost EVERY part of its trackage is a spectacular photo spot? Hands down one of the most beautiful rail lines in the United States, possibly even the entire world.

[@fuscoproductions]

It’s a truly beautiful piece of railroad!

[@MiddleTennesseeRailProductions]

Spectacular footage!

[@spoorwegstudio]

The productions you create, Joe, are out of this world compared to what most people put out here. These aren’t your standard railfanning videos that the typical ‘average Joe’ uploads (which, of course, isn’t a bad thing). These are cinematic masterpieces with heart. The way these shots are composed clearly shows they are well-thought-out, carefully considered, and meticulously constructed-not just simple ‘tripod panning shots.’ Truly, you’re a wonderful cinematographer who can even outshine some big-budget movies and documentaries. I have to ask-what gear are you using? I read somewhere in the comments that you use a Blackmagic camera, but which one? Haha. I’m also assuming you use DaVinci Resolve for color grading and editing. Do you make use of premade LUTs, or do you handle the grading entirely yourself? On a more creative note, what’s the reason behind editing the night scenes in black and white? It looks absolutely beautiful and ‘old school,’ but I can’t help but wonder what those scenes would look like in color. There are so few people who have an eye for capturing more than just the train. It’s the whole atmosphere-the mood-that makes the picture, not just the big monster on wheels. Dak Dillon and Tino Hofmann from Germany also have that rare ability to capture the full essence of the railway-the train and the landscape it moves through. I try to capture that same spirit myself, but I sometimes feel like I fall short. Your videos-and those of others-continue to inspire me to keep pushing myself, improving, and striving to be better with every project. Wishing you that more people will see these amazing movies you put out. Keep creating these cinematic wonders. Absolute cinema!

[@fuscoproductions]

First of all - thanks for the glowing review! I really appreciate it - it is comments like yours that encourage me to keep on making these videos. I'm glad you can feel the "heart" in them, I certainly try to convey just how much I revere the subject matter - not only the trains themselves, but the people that work on them, and the landscapes they run through. My goal is to "paint a picture" of a place that I love, as well as to document a bit of history, and I am glad that shined through for you. On the subject of camera gear, I am using the original Blackmagic 6K, Canon EF mount. Prior to that, I was using Canon DSLRS. Yes - you are correct on me using DaVinci Resolve for this video and all of my most recent work, although I have used Adobe Premiere prior to that (and Final Cut Pro prior to that...). As far as color grading goes, I have been changing it up for each video, but for this video and probably for the next one too - I have found a "secret blend" of manual corrections and LUTs that I really like. I won't say too much else, other than I watch each shot repeatedly and tweak them incessantly until I am happy. I tell people I spend a day on each shot, but my wife says I spend "more like a week" on each. LOL! As for the black & white footage - there are a few reasons. First of all, I love the film-noir look and always have, but I also love beautiful blue skies and rich colors. On top of that, many people associate night photography with the famous O. Winston Link, who shot at night almost exclusively (or entirely exclusively? Not sure...) in black & white. He did make color photos during the daytime, but all of his night stuff was B&W. So, between my love of B&W and paying homage to one of the greats, I tend to "allow" myself to dabble in black & white during night sequences. Or - whenever I feel that black & white fits best! Also, it should be noted that it is easier to conceal noise in black & white, another reason I opt for monochrome shots in low-light. So it is a blend of practical reasons and as an excuse to "have fun" with a different grading style and create visual contrast within the same video. As an aside - if all goes according to plan, I do have a night sequence planned for my next video that will (most likely) be presented in color - and I have a specific reason for doing that. Stay tuned! Once again, glad you are enjoying my videos. I certainly enjoy sharing them with you all - it's why I do this stuff in the first place! Thanks for your well-thought out comment.

[@spoorwegstudio]

@ The phrase ‘painting a picture’ perfectly describes what you create. The 6K’s are stunning! I think we got to use those cameras at the school I attended. You don’t use a gimbal, do you? It all looks like it’s shot on a tripod. Right now, I’m kind of ‘stuck’ on Final Cut Pro. I’ve been using it for a few years now (and iMovie before that), so all the shortcuts are ingrained in my head. I do want to switch to DaVinci Resolve eventually, but I haven’t quite found the motivation yet to learn a whole new program. Once I get a better camera that can shoot in log, I’ll probably make the move so I can properly grade my shots. I was afraid you were going to say that it sometimes takes you weeks to make these films-haha! The final results definitely show that real effort and care go into each one. I really enjoyed your explanation about the black-and-white shots. Being inspired by one of the greats is something I always admire in any art form-whether it’s movies mimicking iconic shots from older classics or photographs inspired by what came before. I’ve never heard of O. Winston Link, but I’ll be sure to look him up when I get the chance. The noise reduction aspect also makes perfect sense and was something I suspected might be part of the reason. Can’t wait for your next production!

[@ЛЬВИНИ]

Good video, like !!!

[@markiliff]

Such _gorgeous_ videography! Beautiful job.

[@markiliff]

…and that was even before the epic "let's stop and make a rainbow" moment

[@timjim10]

Wow, what a well thought out, beautiful production. Sounds fantastic too. Of course I’ve now subscribed!

[@fuscoproductions]

@@timjim10 thanks for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed it. More videos to come! :-)

[@AJKPenguin]

The Christmas Express arrives! Thank you Joe ! 🚂

[@fuscoproductions]

@@AJKPenguin always great to see your comments - glad you have been along for the ride with me for the past several years. I am glad you are enjoying my videos! :-)

[@AJKPenguin]

Absolutely @fuscoproductions : ) It's a treat to savor and share.

[@thomassinbruno2612]

it's magnifique! thx!!

[@jurgenmangold6776]

Ein sehr schöner Film von Anfang bis zum Ende! Die Landschaftsaufnahmen, die Geräusche, keine Musik, alles wunderbar! Gruß aus Hamburg (D)

[@fuscoproductions]

@@jurgenmangold6776 vielen Dank!

[@cassscenicproductions8888]

Beautiful video!

[@tomedgar4375]

The coal smoke adds a cloud of beauty

[@alvinlucywalk8317]

Gloriously MAJESTIC DELIGHTFUL HEAVENLY VIEW OF THE IRON HORSE TRANSCENDING TIME AND SPACE❤❤❤

[@Teresa-L.2024]

I got to take this journey several years back. We didn't get all the way to Silverton because of snow, but the shortened trip was still spectacular. A shame that they're converting 481 to oil. Nothing quite like a coal fired steam loco.

[@TheREALLibertyOrDeath]

WOW! What a rig!

[@lexwalker]

Amazing video.

[@ventdebronze6212]

MAGNIFIQUE !

[@trialen]

Stunning.

[@MagnetOnlyMotors]

10:00 see the drone disappear in the smoke 😅

[@Rostov_red_beard]

all i can say is one heart felt thank you

[@wendibernhardt9190]

I would love to be riding in that caboose at the top with a nice fire hoing in the stove and a cup of coffee. Beautiful scenery

[@ИринаРатникова-т7п]

Какой трудный путь у паровоза, машинисты молодцы💪 видео получилось великолепным😊 респект автору за труд❤❤

[@chadlanc]

Love the monochrome shots at the end

[@monmixer]

The little engine that could on those grades. Wow

[@djavidianmx1832]

O. Winston would be proud of you 😉

[@grosseringo]

wunderschöne Aufnahmen!

[@mikechapmanmedia2291]

One of the best videos I've seen - and I used to produce and edit for Pentrex.

[@fuscoproductions]

@@mikechapmanmedia2291 Wow - thank you! I grew up watching Pentrex, so that really means a lot to me! :-)

[@mikechapmanmedia2291]

@@fuscoproductions Count me as a new subscriber! Keep up the great work.

[@serhiishynkaruk6752]

Really ecology friendly! And this is not a joke.

[@caroljeanscholl7370]

I find trains so wonderful even though I don't know that much about them. I had two brother-in-laws both worked for the railroad. I heard good stories and bad stories. This is when there was still a caboose where two on every single train. As the train is coming around the bend I see under the engine but looks to be a spray of water. If so can somebody explain to me what this is? Thank you

[@fuscoproductions]

@@caroljeanscholl7370 at what time in the video? It’s cold, so a lot of the steam condenses back into liquid water. If you give me a time stamp I can probably give you a better explanation. :-)

[@caroljeanscholl7370]

​@@fuscoproductions Timestamps 2:21 22:05

[@fuscoproductions]

@@caroljeanscholl7370 At 2:21 I don't see anything unusual. In fact, I can't really see anything coming out from under the engine. I just see the usual smoke/steam/condensate coming from the smoke stack on a cold day. 22:05 is the end frame of the video (just a black screen), so nothing to note there. I will say that at 7:34 and 17:18 the engine crew performs what is known as a "blow down" - where a valve opens up on the bottom of the boiler that expels large amounts of steam from the boiler in an attempt to remove unwanted sediment that may have settled at the bottom of the boiler. This is done periodically throughout the day to keep the boiler clean, though, the shot at 17:18 was done specifically because we knew that at that time of day, a rainbow would form from the water particles that condense. You can see at the end of that shot my lens gets coated in water droplets. It was a cold spray of water, despite being in the boiler just seconds prior. I hope that may help to answer some of your questions. If not, feel free to ask more questions!

[@caroljeanscholl7370]

My mistake. I got the timestamp wrong. Go to timestamp 3:16. Start watching from there as the train is coming around the bend. Look right close to the ground next to the rail. Once you see it, you can't miss it. It's just before the cab where the engineer sits.

[@fuscoproductions]

@@caroljeanscholl7370 I believe what you are looking at is the overflow water from the injector. When they add water to the boiler from the tender, they use a device called an injector that uses a steam jet to force water into the boiler. Some amount of water will not make it into the jet and is simply dropped on the ground.

[@joriankell1983]

Oh, THAT kind of coal burner... Neat.

[@masdapd]

Im happy to watch this

[@MaryA-j1k]

Awesomely beautiful

[@michaell.maloney4026]

Was that an extra water tank behind the tinder?

[@fuscoproductions]

@@michaell.maloney4026 yes, it reduced the need for water stops!

[@gravelydon7072]

I hope that they at least kept one set of grates so that some time in the future they could reinstall them. Oil is easier to control the fire with and cinders are less but it still isn't the same as coal smoke.

[@bmolitor615]

what a day...

[@soniaannwillard8635]

👍⛄️

[@hootwho3640]

And a caboose!!

[@tolerancereal]

Curious how many horse powers did this model have. Read that Big Boy had around 8000hp.

[@fuscoproductions]

It's a hard comparison to make. The "K-36" class of locomotives that the 481 is an example of don't have a clear horsepower rating. They do, however, have a clear "tractive effort" rating which is measured in pounds of force, similar to measuring torque in an automobile. The "K-36" class exerts approximately 36,000 pounds of force, hence "K-36." The Big Boy class, however, exerted approximately 135,000 pounds of force - obviously much more - being standard gauge and essentially two engines under one boiler. That's about the best I can do for comparison! 🙂

[@tolerancereal]

​@@fuscoproductionsThanks! The K-36 had by a factor of 3.75 less torque in comparison to Big Boy. As I understand, horse powers don't scale proportionally to the torque, though if they did, the K-36 would have by a 3.75 less hp. Considering Big Boy had between 7000-8000 hp, the K-36 would yield between 1866-2133 hp, which seems unrealistic for a locomotive from the year 1925.

[@monmixer]

Yu caught a rainbow at 17:30 cool

[@wkjeeping9053]

Coal fired smell and sounds is such a better sound and smell of a oil burner. I hate all are switching to oil burners across the nation

[@chooch1764]

There are more people that care less about what it burns. They are still steam locomotives no matter if it’s coal, wood, or oil.

[@Wilett614]

Next Time PLEASE run the Playback speed of the video at "NORMAL " Speed THANKS !!

[@fuscoproductions]

Hi, the video was shot at normal speed - no slow motion or sped up footage. I think it might be a setting on your end - you should be able to change the playback speed back to normal. Click the little icon that looks like a gear.

[@PeterPete]

Not good for the environment is it?

[@chooch1764]

Oil is cleaner than coal and it also significantly reduces the risk of wildfires.

[@juancreekz5078]

From coal to oil? Commies!

[@chooch1764]

No

[@ourv9603]

WHY couldnt an old steam loco be repowered with electricity? Blow steam out the old unused stack for effect? !

[@fuscoproductions]

They are converting them to burn oil, not heat water with electricity. They are just changing the fuel source, most of the rest of the locomotives remain unchanged. I suppose you could do this, but at that point, it wouldn't really be a steam locomotive anymore.

[@pvtimberfaller]

It’s stupid of them to eliminate all of the coal burners, it makes sense during fire season but the rest of the year.

[@fuscoproductions]

@@pvtimberfaller they have their reasons. I’m just grateful they keep steam going, regardless of fuel source!

[@Big_Diehl]

Sadly, fire season is most of the year out here now…

[@aftonhalters]

Filthy... between the fires, beetles, mine tailings .....people just won't stop. I'd like to see the revenue for one year, generated by this. I'm sure it's not worth it. Has the falling ash ever started fires? YES

[@nvs4u2]

Oh, go knit a sweater.

[@zebrashark23]

I don't know if I can watch this. I'm afraid it will make to too sad.

[@BirdsNNVA]

I hope you did watch it. It’s a beautiful historical document.

[@BirdsNNVA]

I took this train in the 1990’s. There’s nothing like coal power. The excitement, the cinders! Thanks so much for filming this last run.