Tribute to the steam locomotive

[@christopherspringer2764]

One time, me and my grandfather, who was an engineer on the Southern Pacific in the late '40's and '50's, were chasing SP 4449 through northern California in 2017, and we stopped in a spot in a valley where the tracks passed through that perfectly channeled sound from up the valley. My grandfather knew this place well, since he had sat there as a boy watching the big freight locomotives run uphill, and we waited almost all day because 4449's train got delayed from a broken down freight. But finally, just after twilight, we heard the most eerily gorgeous voice of 4449's SP 6-chime. She was working hard uphill, too, and her bark was so loud that it set off a nearby car alarm as she passed by. My grandfather was a GS-4 engineer, and he got teary-eyed as she ran by. That was the last experience I ever got to share with my grandfather, since he died about two months later. He had battled pancreatic cancer for thirty-nine years. This video reminded me of that experience, and of him, so I just wanted to thank you. Thank you very much.

[@AutoToonsAnimation]

"you can't expect an electric train to pull a freighter and you can't expect a diesel to Pull a high-speed passenger train that you can bet a steam locomotive is going to do its best at either" -a wise man

[@arcturus4762]

Ever since I saw these metal beasts I’ve been in love with them ever since. That’s why I decided to study mechanical engineering in the first place. Truly, these beasts were and are the closest we have gotten to create a breathing, living being of our own. A behemoth with steel as flesh, water for blood, and a flaming heart of fire. Traversed hundreds of thousands of miles. As in the video, I wonder, they are not alive, but if they were, what would they tell us?

[@christopherspringer2764]

That's what's so magical about a steam locomotive. They are machines, built to work, yet they have moods and characteristics that seem so human. Maybe because they were built by humans, or maybe simply because they are made up of the core elements of our planet, earth, air, water, and fire. If they could talk, I'm sure they would tell us a multitude of amazing tales that have been lost to history.

[@QLDrailfan798]

i'd imagine they'd tell us incredible stories about men and women who we can only read about today, like the rocket for example, i imagine we'd know alot more about the Stephansons and they're friends/rivals

[@HollenHays-xy5cu]

The first time I saw this, I almost cried. I understand that diesels have their own advantages, but they lack what the steamers have: soul. I am a young adult, so diesels have been everywhere for me, but I still mourn and grieve steam locomotives for what happened to them.

[@antiares1684]

Steam locomotives are probably the most iconic machines ever created by man! They simply transcend time, and capture the mind of people who haven't even seen one under own steam in person. Steam locos symbolise progress, power and building a better future. I guess that's why they are universally loved even by generations today!

[@jwilmes667]

There's a reasons so many people say they're alive because well they kinda are. They breath, eat, drink, and talk. They have a soul they have just something about them.

[@eliotreader8220]

they are the closed thing to a human being

[@OldIronVideo]

I have asked steam crews the same question and often get the same response, with these machines you have to remind yourself that they aren't alive. I believe that is a true testament to the beauty of the steam locomotive.

[@chicagolandrailroader]

I can't say I agree with diesels being ugly and heartless, but steam locomotives certainly have something that any other machine lacks.

[@rustingparts]

soul. diesels have no soul.

[@chicagolandrailroader]

@@rustingparts Soul is subjective. I think all locomotives have personality and soul. You may disagree. So be it.

[@rustingparts]

@@ollepol4491 That's the soul part. Theres nothing wrong with them, but they don't have that living quality that a steam engine has. Steam engines breathe, eat, drink. Diesel engines just rumble away all day. Diesel just lacks soul.

[@rustingparts]

@@chicagolandrailroader Its not a matter of liking a locomotive, I like alot of diesels. Especially the early FT/3/7 units that killed the steamers. But at the end of the day diesels have no living qualities. Steam engines eat, drink and breathe it a way thats very human. You will never get that from a diesel, by the very nature of there design

[@rmgilyard]

Diesels do have souls. They roar, pure, whine and hum, like a bird, bear, dinosaur or cat does. Even humans growl. How is that soulless?!

[@The_PaleHorseman]

My dad was a diesel guy, he was a engineer but he started at Penn Central in the 70s as rail gang layin track, worked his way up to conductor and then Engineer. He passed at age 54 in 2009 from cancer, but that ending made me think of him. The picture I have on my wall and I'm lookin at it right now is him waving out the window of the engine at me in Lagrange Kentucky when I came home from deployment, I surprised him on his line in 2005 and snapped that picture and I feel like he's waving good bye to me. I sure miss that man, and I hope wherever he is, he's happy on that train in the sky. Sure hope when it's my time to go, my dad picks me up on that engine and takes me home.

[@loganbilbrey2414]

I'm so sorry to hear your dad passed, but I'm sure no matter where you are he cares for you, have a nice night/day

[@henrybigGreen]

Steam locomotives are the avatars of the railroad,earth,fire,air,and water. If only more steam locomotives were preserved.

[@AutoToonsAnimation]

for those of you wondering about the thing with the engineer and St. Peter, it's called 'St Peter and the Railroad Man' the other poem is 'will the lights be white'

[@crorivpro]

Wow everything from Maine two footers to" Danger Lights". Don't people know Steam Locomotives are alive. I love when one of these beasts is resting at a platform and you can hear its heartbeat.

[@kam833]

There is something special about steam engines, we just cant truly understant why we are so obsesed whit these things, for some reason we cant think of them as just another engine, the sound, the speed and the power

[@RUNAWAYTRAIN3010]

This actually made me tear up something I don’t do very often you earned my sub and my like and I hope all your lights are white my brother of the rails.

[@pattyg1902]

What do you mean a steam engine doesn't have a heart they have amazing personalities each individual locomotive those Engineers and fireman are very much still rock stars Roll On You Beautiful machines

[@FuelFire]

I have been fascinated by steam locomotives and love them ever since I can think, so since I was about 4 years old. I turn 21 this November and I will never not love these "metal dragons". Their chuffs are their breath, the whistles the singing voices... I wish we could make them great again like they were a century ago...

[@JAdg75oo00]

One day, maybe one day 🥲🚂

[@time2bcoolYT]

There is only one thing that makes me jealous of people from the past...

[@FutureRailProductions]

I teared up mate. The music is perfect for this. It's reminiscing about something that's long gone and yet still around but just in lesser numbers. They don't make them like they used to.

[@Timerman765]

They don't make them like they used to because they don't manufacturer these locomotive

[@AlCoHall-wc2ny]

Love the bits of audio from End Of The Line, probably my favorite railroad documentary and you certainly used it to great effect.

[@rustingparts]

are you refering to the poetry at the end?

[@AlCoHall-wc2ny]

@@rustingparts all of it. Most clips are from that documentary.

[@joelpodlaski9639]

@Al Co. Hall what is the name of that documentary?

[@rustingparts]

@@joelpodlaski9639 End of the Line

[@AutoToonsAnimation]

does it have the thing about the engineer entering heaven cuz for the life of me I cannot find that one

[@rustingparts]

This is one of those video that deserves more attention that its received. Wonderful video!

[@AB_Alastors_Bordcast]

I grew up as a little thomas fan and as i have gotten old my love of Steam has never when out. There are so many steam locos out there so many places for progress and so many have been so famous and important ALL OVER THE WORLD and they were just built for transportation but for others the idea for a engine with all the sites sounds a history is just so much more. They were once the keystone of many parts of history and have been in a since the best thing man has ever crafted. The beasts of the industrial age, a giant in a metal jacket. From the bottom of my heart i thank the maker of this video as you have tried to express The love of these special creatures. But has hard as anyone may try there is no end to the love of the gladiators that we love so much today.

[@Falonhan]

It's pretty sad seeing these locomotives full of souls each having a completely different whistling sound of their own being turned into scrap pieces of metal ❤🚂

[@TheFailroaders]

Dude I teared up to this, I've been crying legitimately for a few minutes just from the impact of this video. Very emotional and touching, you made a great one. Thank you.

[@jacksalvin364]

When Steam was King.

[@Save_the_Stick_Shifts]

Are we now that railroad man? That engineer? That fireman? Those of us who cling to our machines that stir our hearts.... we row the gears, throttle up and up and up to 8000 rpm, and let it sing. There is a soul we say, mechanical, it speaks to us just like those old steamers did to the men that built the world before us.

[@Shipwright1918]

They posess a mystique, something that reaches in and grabs you, and is loathe to let you go. Born way too late to experience steam in its heyday, but when I was very young I saw the #3985 come through my hometown, and it left quite the impression and kindled a love for the steamers that's lasted all my life. Why I wound up getting into live steam and getting several little ones of my own, grew up wanting to be a steam loco engineer and had to DIY it all to make it happen. If that ain't love, I dunno what is.

[@skylandersgeek7122]

I love steam locomotives I have a steam era railroad screw spike that off the old Bessemer and Lake Erie railroad it was last used in 1925

[@Reaper1770]

All trains have souls for sure. Even electrics and diesels and everything in between, from how the compressor kicks to how the wheels scream on a bend, or how the horn has a great big effect

[@rustingparts]

"god only knows whats at the end, but I hope the lights are white"

[@u-9952]

Where is that from?

[@rustingparts]

@@u-9952 it's the poem at the end of the video, It's by Cy Warman called "Will the lights be white?"

[@evilryutaropro]

I miss the American gumption that got us to build these great railroads and steam engines. Cars and roads feel so dismal. Trains are tied with language my personal favorite inventions of mankind. They are beautiful and powerful like the sunrise. Long live steam locomotives!!

[@mr.sir.]

I've seen the iron whales, the largest of the Munsters ran near my house. We still have the roundhouse of the steam but it has sat cold in our yard for almost 50 years. These were the greatest generation. The men who rode the iron whales of fire and water or as one old man said, "a great big tea kettle on wheels".

[@Timerman765]

Dude you nailed it. Steam locomotives need to be restored and to pull excursions so people can understand how important these iron horses was pulling our nations passenger and frieght

[@Timerman765]

Holster engines you have earned our subscription well done brother

[@QLDrailfan798]

1:40 - 2:06 this EXACTLY represents my views on the steam locomotive, its unlike anything else, yeah sure we're making robots that can replicate life, but in a way though, steam power is the closest thing that we have to life, sure their machines, but they felt life like.

[@itaycohen145]

0:51 i Never thought people would cheer and watch a train wrestling competition

[@Dedicated_michigan_railfan]

I cried. i wish i was born in that era of steam, the best era known to man im gonna cry more 😭 😭 just listening to the sadness of the men that worked hard on them to

[@DavidFennessy-yj7du]

I think the problem with people who don’t remember steam locomotives is that steam is associated with the domestic situation, the kitchen etc, it’s only oil that demonstrates power to them, so hence the steam locomotive is referred to as a..’ kettle’…etc, in actual fact they are giant pressure cookers, terrific pressure, steam being tortured to great pressure even in a saturated locomotive, we are still well and truly in the steam age of course with nuclear power

[@OldIronVideo]

This is one of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen!

[@abhisekbhattacharyya2878]

Steam engines are the drops of blessings in railways 😊😊. They're the real means of 🚂 locomotives. Steam has soul, steam has beauty, steam has nostalgia, steam has fun, steam has health, steam has manpower, steam has great team, workmanship, steam has addiction among girls and good looking chicks! , steam has something different something magical which can hide the loco into the thick layer of steam wrenching from the thin steam pipes down the cylinder. Steam is real, Steam is good, Steam is a real portrait😊.

[@C-O_M-1_Steam_Turbine]

This is the most moving thing I've seen and give me faith

[@dariusthedmirconsolidation3494]

0:54, so this is what railfans like the most

[@JLVModels]

Wow this video was really well done!

[@raizamutalib2100]

No way steam wrestling!?

[@greyfox8194]

actual;ly made me cry a little bit there was always a romance to this hobby one i could never escape as it was fun to learn just sad it was well before our times

[@GenericGuy822]

These things were the greatest achievement we have arguably ever accomplished, the steam locomotive not only managed to upgrade transport in general, but moved us forward through many dark times. The Civil War, World War 1, and World War 2, it has been there, assisting us and getting us through the dark times of brutal war, it’s honestly a shame that they became replaced to the modern age because they were still greater than ever. Take the GS class northerns for example, they were introduced in the early 40s and late 30s, but the GS-4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, and 8s, were only there for a bit over 10 years even tho they were remarkable engines for the time, but alas, they were replaced like the others. May the steam locomotive be present until the day I die and carry on the legacy of what TRUE power is like in excursion service, Amen. Edit: I should mention the fact they are like living and breathing things even tho it’s been mentioned a lot, so I am, but I think the comments other than mine mention it better than I would.

[@nenaibokistarcevic5831]

The steam train fight is the best part

[@jurassicsmackdown6359]

I hate to admit it, but I can't make out nearly anything anyone is saying Other than that, it's awesome!

[@AstroKnight118]

long live the steam locomotive

[@boxcarthehusky420]

Such a great tribute

[@npk765fan]

This is amazing

[@STICKGUYMB]

No way this only has 21k views after 2 years....

[@thatonecaledonian812]

1:03 , if you know, you know

[@fishpop]

Diesel and Electric ARE better in terms of efficiency and ease of use But there's just something about steam engines that just hits different... Like it's a living creature akin to a dragon that you ease awake every morning and must tend to carefully or they'll get stroppy I've heard stories of drivers saying their engines have moods Could partially be what inspired Awdry, aside from the general noises they make sounding like speech Think the "I Can/'t do it!" chanting from Edward & Gordon kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6uneYCQodVjn7s

[@oliverthehero5964]

Its a good video, you can feel the emotion behind the men in it. On a side note what is the film those engines going head to head from? at 0:54

[@HostlerProductions]

Danger light 1930

[@keatonkinsey1322]

Got me choke up alittle

[@chrisbrindell-watt6497]

Beautiful

[@mbrproductions160]

Such a wonderfully brilliant video! I even got enough a little emotional at times. I noticed that at some points in the video, an old man can be heard reciting a poem starting at 2:36, can you please tell me where you got the audio from or what the name of the poem is? Thank You!

[@HostlerProductions]

The poems are from the Canadian railroad documentary, End of the line.

[@maxwellwalcher6420]

would you do NYC Hudson's Tribute Music Schubert Serenade Please.

[@Baltic115]

That was moving

[@RaphaelFrancaisAnglais1506Z2N]

Brothers of Railways Everything is mordenity of Chaos,Rumors and Pain to Bothers Childhood of The conductors of Railways.But we will remberer before the steam of power and diesel ignore the Rejects eletrics trains Embrace old Steam of Power and the old brothers old fast Rails,Trains,Steam,Old legend trains. I hope you readed thiq gentlemens who works on the railways and Brothers of Railways -Raphaël

[@highball5550]

What are the poems that are featured in this video? They are absolutely beautiful.

[@HostlerProductions]

They are all from the Canadian railroad documentary, End of the line.

[@highball5550]

@@HostlerProductions no kidding. I’ll have to check it out.

[@Timerman765]

Holster productions show this to hyce and other youtubers who are for steam locomotives please

[@time2bcoolYT]

4:34-5:45 Anyone know the name of that poem?

[@ferrodu5759]

"Will the lights be white?"

[@MarshallRedmon01]

2:31 I can't help but love this poem but I wish I knew what it's name

[@HostlerProductions]

I believe the poem is called, The dying lament of engine 444.

[@maxnash8450]

Could you tell us where you got the quotes from, if possible? I'm especially curious of the ones at 2:36 and 3:28. This was very well done by the way.

[@maxnash8450]

So do you know where they're from?

[@HostlerProductions]

@@maxnash8450 Their all from the documentary, End of the line, about Canadas dieselization.

[@maxnash8450]

@@HostlerProductions Thanks

[@Timerman765]

If anyone wants hyce to see this video say yes!!!✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋

[@nickaprill5427]

Yes ✋

[@rmgilyard]

Unpopular opinion: I really disagree with what most railroad experts say about diesels, sure they might not having the same breathing as the steamers when they get idle or slowly build up steam, but when they’re starting up, something awesome and thrilling occurs within their engine. The motor in them, (especially the SD40s) sound allot like a creature that just roars loudly to get everyone’s attention and the way the noise doesn’t die off when it puts it on is just way wicked cool. 0:20 - 0:34 Wowwwww!!! That is just railroad opinions of predjuice I wound my have thought of that!!!

[@brandonproulx9583]

Where is that Maine central footage from?

[@HostlerProductions]

New England glory vol. 1 Mountain division.

[@joshbreck3489]

anyone got a link to the one where the two steamers are playing shove of war? 0:52

[@HostlerProductions]

Danger lights 1930

[@LocoConductor]

4:27 does anyone know what video this is from or who that is?

[@maximvardeh3027]

what the clip of the 0:50 interesting clip over there so i want to see where is that clip

[@HostlerProductions]

The 1930 film Danger Lights

[@maximvardeh3027]

@@HostlerProductions thx

[@trainguy2155]

What’s the clip at 0:23? I’m very curious about it.

[@HostlerProductions]

It's from This is my railroad

[@carolinarailfanproductions]

What film clips are these two steam trains from 4:08-4:24?

[@HostlerProductions]

Danger light 1930 and Paradise express 1937

[@carolinarailfanproductions]

@@HostlerProductions thank you so much

[@rogerlollar4325]

Why did railroads have to dieselize

[@careyquadtrac4219]

Diesels had significantly lower operating costs, where simpler to operate and where a lot more comfortable for engineers, for example no coal dust and coal soot all over you at the end of the day. I hope that that helps :)

[@dugenpippenger4811]

@@careyquadtrac4219 Late steam was just as clean as early diesel, no one was shoveling coal on steamers in the 30 and 40s it was done automatically, and steamers are overall cheaper to operate in materials than steam. But diesels require less hands on work to keep running and could go longer between maintenance cycles.

[@Southern7002]

where that part on 0:52 from?

[@HostlerProductions]

Danger light 1930.

[@fishpop]

0:50 Steam engine sumo?

[@QLDrailfan798]

kind of, it's more like wrestling rather than sumo wrestling.

[@fishpop]

@@QLDrailfan798 Sumo is all about pushing the other person out of bounds. Wrestling is beating up you opponent enough that they stay down long enough to be pinned for 3 seconds.

[@QLDrailfan798]

@@fishpopah right well hmm idk then I'm no expert, I'm just some human being on the internet who likes steam engines.

[@fishpop]

@@QLDrailfan798 Fair enough Luv ^_^

[@theisraelilocomotive70414]

Where’d you get the footage at 2:05?

[@HostlerProductions]

Last of the giants part 3

[@theisraelilocomotive70414]

I was referring to the smaller standard gauge engine and its yellow coaches, one of which appearing to have no doors nor windows, rather than the Big Boy. Thank you for the note though.

[@STICKGUYMB]

What is 0:54 from?

[@HostlerProductions]

Danger lights.

[@spearn0x]

0:54

[@sunrise4productions17]

I’d be lying, If I had said this video hasn’t made me cry. It’s just so beautiful and so well crafted and it makes me mourn for a thing I wasn’t alive to lose. 🫡