Added: 4 years ago
From: 1pease
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  • Does the William Mason ever pull cars?

  • It's beautiful!

  • The William Mason's restoration was truly one in a million! I mean, what movie has enough in its budget to fund the complete restoration of an 1855 steam locomotive? Truly magnificent. Its even more amazing when you consider the fact that she has most of her originality intact!

  • @SierraRailway Strasburg does incredible work, don't they?

  • TheStrasburg90

    They sure do! They ALMOST got the contract to build a new boiler for Rogers-built Sierra Railway #3. They drew the plans instead.

  • @SierraRailway I know, but they have enough going on there as it is. They still have #7312 in their shops, but they said that right now, they are going to put the time needed instead to ensure the working conditions of their other three locomotives. They also have 2 contract engines in their shops I believe, so those are obviously going to be higher priority...

  • nice shot. I remember seeing this engine in the disney movie, The Great Locomotive Chase, I was surprised when I found out the General was portrayed by the William Mason. she's a very beautiful looking engine.

  • Fine job keeping railroad history up and running. This wood-fired 4-4-0 might be a weakling compared to General Electric's latest CC turbo-Diesel-electric, but it pulled four cars on a tight schedule just fine in the 1800's.

  • It's too bad you can't hear the William Mason make the iconic chugging steam locomotives are known for in this video.

    The "chug" is one of my favorite things about steam locomotives, it makes it sound like a powerful creature slowly clambering itself up to top speed.

  • Why are the counterweights larger on the inside set of driving wheels? I never noticed that.

  • whoohaaXL

    Well, the whole idea of the counterweights in the first place are to balance out the weight of the driving rods and crank pins on the opposite end of the wheel. Since the lead driver has a longer crank pin and two rod connections, the counterweights are larger and of equal weight.

  • I remember this Locomotive from the 1999 film " Wild Wild West". Really beautiful locomotive she is. And Cockroach sucks, thats all I can say bout him

  • Seriously people, stop feeding the troll (Cockroach) and he will go away. When you give him a reaction, you're just encouraging bad behavior.

  • does mason burn wood? and didn't the Mason play the General in Disney's Great Locomotive chase? i just bought the dvd last week.

  • Nice locomotive

  • The oldest operating steam locomotive actualy resides at teh henry Ford Museum. The William Mason is the second oldest.

  • beautiful..think one will fit in my back yard? whats the turning radius on one of those suckers?

  • @baritonebynight lol should be many of them

  • Yo, Cockroach is a troll. He always goes to steam engine video's and types shit. Ignore him. "Woa, for he who hates the power of steam, sucks massive amounts of penis"

  • @whoohaaXL Homophobia not needed.

  • @baritonebynight Oh, but it soooooo is.

  • @whoohaaXL Nope. Let cockroach be the ignorant fool, don't you be.

  • Beautiful, she's a wood burner! Awesome.

  • I wish the USA would resume with train travel.

  • @aitch3 It's there, it's just not what it was. If only a company would give Amtrak some freaking competition, train tickets wouldn't cost so much!

  • some of these 4-4-0 type locos could reach speeds of 62 mph ,such was the case with #11,12,22,of the virginia and truckee.most people think that these little locomotives were slow and weak ,but nothing could be further from the truth,for their small size and light weight,they were quite powerful and fast.

  • Judging by the timber its been fired on this would make it carbon neutral! Lovely video of an early locomotive in use.

  • The William Mason played the part of The General in the 1956 movie, "The Great Locomotive Chase."

  • @JohnMGilbert Wasn't another locomotive completely destroyed during that? If I'm thinking of the correct movie, it ran off a blown-up bridge...

  • @guitboxchicken that was the 1927 Buster Keaton Comedy "the General" same basic story though.

  • Such a beautiful steam locomotive.

  • The funny thing about Steam vs. Diesel is how one steamer can tackle a heavy freight train that requires three to five diesels to pull. Steam power could have reached perfection to reduce emissions, but US RRs jumped quickly on the bandwagon-but didn't see the heavy price tags on diesels-that was 1 factor that led to the downfall of RRs in the US

  • Actually, diesels have more power, but I do agree that diesels took over too quickly. I love steamers way more.

  • It's diesel-eletric that have more power, diesel alone has traction issues with a lot of wheel slip.

  • More due to inefficiencies that diesels are more powerful. If we could get steam efficiency up to 25% it would equal in power to a diesel. Regarding wheelslip issues a lot of modern diesels have various inbuilt systems to try and minimise wheelslip these days.

  • Well I meant the diesels first meant to replace steam had the wheel-sleep from very badly designed transmissions.

    Either way steam is still the best.

  • Hey....Steam power rules :)

  • @seeker00777

    Yeah, steam power from around World War 2 does rule. This steam locomotive however looks like a toy. It couldn't pull its way out of a wet paper bag.

  • It looks like a toy because toy companies based it from this. The west was built by this loco it's was the only type the west had because it was reliable and fast with a top speed of 45M.P.H. It had more than enough power to get out of a bag I think it can pull ~1,000 tons.

  • is that wood or coal on the tender

  • Don't egg him on....He comes on just about every steam locomotive video on YouTube, and leaves the same comments like "Cut em' up, Melt em' down" and "They arent economical" and who can forget that old chestnut "My job in life is to torch steamers!". Its the same thing every video. Guess he loves expressing himself....Or playing with himself....Violently.

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  • Does she still run?

  • What's the builder?

  • Was it in "The Great Locomotive Chase"?

  • Why yes it was.

    She played the role of the "General"

  • Man, thats an awesome Locomotive. She's a beauty.

  • Hey Cockroach2008, your name is quite just, and I bet you have your business degree dont you? Well, if you would like to get into an argument with not just a railfan, but a PhD Mechanical Engineer and someone who also has a firm understanding of thermodynamics and a 2 year degree in Heavy equipment, then bring it on... I think steam will be the future, since it can eliminate Nitrous oxide emissions that everyone whines about, but not just locomotives, cars as well.

  • Hey Doc, I am part of a startup company that is going to build cheap, reliable, low emissions locomotives that run on biomass. We plan on cornering the market for "green" rebuilds and replacements for the old diesels the short lines are running. Drop me a line?

  • And tractors and stationary and there even was a plane that had a steam engine oh and of coarse ship, wow what a run-on sentence.

  • solve the range issue ...and a better fluidized bed and you may have something

  • What a beauty. I've operated a smaller scale American & it is a treat to see a standard gauge version operating. I really need to get to the B&O museum.

  • Biomass fuel- no imported oil. Build a copy of that locomotive with today's steam tech, and it will have lower emissions and operating cost than the greenest diesel. And carbon neutral too. Long live steam!

  • Your on my side

  • cockroach2008 is a bastard. we could put him into a locomotive boiler and cook a nice soup...

  • @Cockroach2008 FUCK YOU! Save The William Mason!And Your just jealous That nobody agrees with you!SPARE THE STEAMERS!

  • @Cockroach2008 WE WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH ANY RAILHATERS LIKE YOU GO DIE IN A RIVER ASSHOLE ALL STEAM LOCOMOTIVES WILL RUN OVER YOUR FUCKING BODY!

  • Don't Fret. Cockroach is just pissed because his mother was hit by a diesel just prior to his birth.

  • he went for an arse transplant but it rejected him

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  • @Steamer15hp mmm, scrap soup!

  • Long live the steam train, many fans are out there to keep 'em running. The stack is also known as a cinder cruncher that had a screen to keep embers from flying out and starting fires, also known as a sunflower stack.

  • whats with the big funlle

  • It's the smoke stack

  • Owner of this video just block coockroach

  • Reinforcements have arrived

  • @RailhaterPunisher ITS ABOUT TIME! XD

  • you sir, are a regressive. steam locomotives have just as much soul as a living thing, and in the mechanical aspect they are more useful than any modern machine could ever be.

    why don't you do something useful and use the cutting torch on that screwed up head of yours.

  • so your using fowl money to Justify Murder? Every railfan, anyone who has ever had the privelige of seeing a steam locomotive up close will vouch for me. Have you ever ridden a steam locomotive? The draft pulling through the firedoors, the rythmic chug of the pistons and valvegear, it practically talks to you. It will tell you "I am working too hard" or "I am taking it easy". Just look at britain's mainline steam, now that is some good sense right there.

  • failing huh? boy you are some obstonate piece of work. when all your cruel little theories come crashing down dont turn to the railfans for help. I guess some people are just born blind and deaf to the spirit of a steam locomotive. All I say is good thing there is more of us than you, and good thing these lovely engines are protected.

    If steam engines didn't exist, neither would this horrible old country which you mediorce futurists call home.

  • I laugh at you, scumbag. the environment doesnt need help, Co2 isnt even scientifically a greenhouse gas, so get you facts straight. And I see you resort to stealing pieces off of these wonderful machines? Better not try it on my railways, ever since the shay at Clarks had it's relief-valves stolen (and gotten back by the way), they have posted a watchman with a gun.

  • hey get this! the world doesnt revolve around money, or are you just too self-centered to see that? the armed watchamn is a volunteer and a good, trustworthy friend of mine. Not only would he never accept a bribe but that would only, for him and me, be more reason to shoot the bastard in the head.

    A respectable person never goes against the wellbeing of a steam locomotive. Also, Alot more locomotive pieces than those have been returned, and are staying where they belong.

  • Furthermore, I find it Ironic and kind of sad, for you that is, that you are having this futile argument with me on a video of an immaculatley preserved running steam locomotive! Just kind of a win/win for me, you really need to know when you've lost. just watch her take off at 1:09!

    Seriously, get your priorities straight, just because us railfans are better, more intellectual and more mentally complex than you is no reason to hate us. Since you can't beat us, join us!

  • Okay, so your humor is as crude as your mind, fitting!

    And if these things are such losers, than explain why Iowa interstate railroad is making more money with their QJ-class 2-10-2's than with their diesels?

    also explain to me how Union pacific 844 was able to do the job of 5 brand new SD-90 diesels and go 30 MPH faster? Oh that's right, you know nothing about steam or rudimentary thermodynamics, so you can't.

  • Actually sir it does. coal is cheaper than diesel fuel, steam engines are more reliable when they have competent crews, and you apparently DONT know anything for this reason: railroads are bringing back steam.

    Britains railways all around the country.

    the railway in Wolsztyn Poland has 16 operating engines which pull regular passenger and freight daily with no end in sight. several american railroads like the IOWA interstate and their QJ's, or UP and their 844 and 3985.

  • Suuuurree. They already have, dunce bucket. just as the video of 4449 and 844 shows.

    and they certainly do not look great in the warm red glow of a furnace. You certainly will be pissed off at this, you know the new steam locomotive in britain just built, 60163 Tornado, is going to mainline passenger and freight service?

    and our Climax engine #6 up at clarks trading post now has a BRAND NEW boiler straight from ontario Canada. good for another hearty 120 years of service.

  • dude, you dont have a heart, do NOT pretend to have one. you are one of these all Neo-American futurust bastards that has a septic-tank for a heart. and the coast of going maintenance on the machines is taken care of and then some by the revenue they generate and the donations from people like me.

  • HA! thats biggest load of crap I've ever heard. Hundreds of steam locomotives operate on NOTHING BUT volunteer time. NOTHING. The day you get your hands on a steam locomotive is the day that you change your mind and quit trying to defeat the invincible. Steam will go on through thick and thin, it has ever since Richard Trevithick slapped wheels on a boiler and ran it down the very first iron rails. It will continue to do so until the end of the human race.

  • heheh....sure. Beleive what you want, I got no problems with that, but don't be at all surprised when you turn out to be 100% wrong.

  • Haha, you really are sick.

  • I meant in the head genius. Your IQ must be pretty low too if you are that much of a literalist. please, dont make yourself sound even more stupid then you already are.

    Get your mind out of the gutter and see not only the potential, but the soul these engines have. Also see that they will never be scrapped.

  • Well, they certainly dont have bodily functions, but they do breathe and think just like any human. certainly not dumb, I know your just trying to get my goat, Not working.

    the only thing I feel is sorry for you!

  • sure kid, sure. just go on living in your isolated little world of social inadequacy and hatred. The very house over your head (if you have one) had it's materials hauled by steam trains once.

  • Have you ever heard the amazing story of Barry scrapyard I wonder? over 200 engines saved, preserved and running today out of that yard in a period of just years.

  • Precisely, a shining example. you were against the efforts, but they happened. they will continue to happen, no matter how much you kick and scream. No matter how you wish and will it to turn out badly for us, there will always be paint on the plating, fires in the fireboxes and pressure under the steamdomes.

  • folly huh? the money is building up!

  • Don't worry, I have plenty to throw around. wether it is fixing the engines themselves, or countering the damage people like you cause to their reputations. (Even though that can be done with statistical data, some conversation and good will)

  • man you just dont get it! ou cant remove the parts! Hypothetical situation, you removed the parts. they would find them and retreive them, and If they couldnt do that they would simply make new ones! and you couldn't carry off a several hundred pound valvegear, so that's not even worth bringing up.

    even if some pieces turned up missing, the engines would never be scrapped. Luckily we have no fears of pieces being stolen anyway.

  • And once again you are repeating yourself. get some new-material already, genius! very simple, read these four words: YOU-CANT-DO-IT.

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  • SHUT THE F*** UP! YOU B*****! YOU HAVE NO SOUL! YOU HAVE NO BALLS! YOU SHOULD BE RUN OVER BY A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

    Steamers: IT'S A TERRORIST! (You) FLATTEN IT! RUN OVER IT! WHOOSH STEAM AT IT AND SCARE THE S**T OUT OF IT!

  • He makes you sick right? Guess that why his name is a sh*t eating roach lol. But I just bought design plans for a 2-6-2T class NG4 steamer so he will never win EVER!

  • Right. 2-6-2T in NG4? that will be an interesting build! Cant wait to see the little lady when she's got steam up.

  • Yeah well the plans haven't come yet. It might be a while.

  • I would show an original black and white photo but as we all know youtube doesn't post links. :(

  • Oops I meant 4-6-2T not 2-6-2 sorry I was very tired.

  • You need to stop repeating yourself and get new material, 'cause right now, no one is taking you seriously, because you're constantly saying the same thing over, and over, and over. reatard

  • You do know that will never happen right? If there was a vote, the people wanting to preserve the locomotive would win. Besides, steamers are crowd pleasers, kids love em', people love watching them, and they draw huge crowds everywhere they go. Nice way make cash for the guy running them. Besides, we have enough metal for ship anchors already. Plus, 98% of steamers have already been scrapped. Was that not satisfying enough? I hate reading about those years, like every other sane person.RETARD!

  • Face it, the remaining steamers will not be scrapped. Even if they're reduced to non-operational museum pieces, they will not be scrapped. Obviously all you are doing is trying to get attention by posting crazy comments about events that will NEVER happen. So just shut up and get a life. Can you not find anything better to do?

  • Yeah and I found a web-site that sells the design drawings for steam locos and I'll make more steam locos so they will never be scrapped. :D

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  • @Cockroach2008 Which steam locomotive was it that ran over your fucking parents you prick? It'll snow in fucking hell before "the people" vote to scrap steamers. You don't know what the FUCK these engines mean to some of us. I'd like to see every last limb on your god forsaken body being worked by a cutting torch and hearing you yell for your pathetic life you prick!

  • Just flag him as spam.

  • RETARD!

  • I have a toy model that looks exactlly like that

  • I don't want to argue this, but the John Bull is the oldest operating locomotive, not her. Also the Atlantic at the museum could be operational, and she was built in 1836, so she would be third in American locomotives, and some where else on the world list. Long live the Bull, and the Mason!

  • The JB hasn't been run since what, the 60's? To operate today, it would need a form 4 and complete 15 year inspection, assuming FRA would even approve the lap boiler. That's a complete tear down and ultrasound. The museum might make that claim, but they would not be able to pull it out of the museum tomorrow and fire it up. IMHO, that's not very "operational". The WM was under steam this month.

  • She was last steamed in 1981, and I know what it would take to get one operating! The Bull can run! The Genoa can run and she is not certafied, many locomotives can make that same claim, and was she certafied when she ran in the 80's!? If she was she could still be, and if not I'm fine with her be "gone" for 15 years if we can see her under steam! Also I have heard the Eureka has a seam lap boiler and she is certafied, and I am willing to bet they could pull her down and run her right now!

  • Same has been said with Lion in Britain built two years later but as original parts would be likely to be replaced it it was overhauled it was decided to preserve it. Oldest still running are the Furness 20 and the two single fairlies on the Festiniog (Prince and Palmeston) all of which date from the early 1860s.

  • @railenthusiast88 Do you know any more than Wikipedia about Prince's abandonment?

  • @whoohaaXL I stand corrected about Princes title. It is the oldest operational narrow gauge locomotive in the world along with its sister engine Palmerston. Prince was abandoned when the Festiniog closed in 1946. There are plenty of books out there that detail the history of the line and Prince. Prince will hopefully be back in service in time for its 150th birthday. (I'm a volunteer on said railway) Great to see William Mason in steam though.

  • Nice loc, strange chimy, hot rot look.

    Good video!*****

  • are you sure its a runner, i cant hear a thing besides the whistle and the wheels squeaking (no offence)

  • With the throttle closed a steam engine is silent save for the noises you mentioned.

  • Despite the wood on the tender the William Mason has actually been converted to oil. Just so ya know. I dont know for sure but Im guessing its running on a reduced PSI.

  • Figures, that must have been foam wood I saw the crew throw into the firebox last fall.

    When Strasburg rebuilt the WM for Wild Wild West, the spark arrester in the funnel was restored, the cause of why it is more quiet than some (and yes, it's more or less drifting in the video). The conversion to wood took place at the same time. When I was up close to it last fall, they had it at 90lbs to move it down the track. Yes, it's been in a number of movies, including God and Generals.

  • What does 'drifting' mean? The only drifting I know of is car drifting, aka, handbrake turning, sliding, etc..

  • Throttle cracked for cylinder lubrication and moving through the use of momentum and or gravity.

  • Despite the wood on the tender the William Mason has actually been converted to oil. Just so ya know. I dont know for sure but Im guessing its running on a reduced PSI.

  • How many Western Films was this engine in?

  • The engine appears to be drifting, ie, no power, coasting. She would give some nice sharp chuffs under load, like any other locomotive. Fuel used has nothing to do with it. Check out the Inyo from the V&T, similar engine for working sounds.

  • Wow! I didn't even know they still had these running around! Although, it is a museum.

  • Oh, my God, that is one fine engine. Is there anymore video of her?

  • My understanding is wood burners are very quiet. When Strasburg rebuilt her for the movie, they converted her back to wood and rebuilt the spark arrester in the funnel. And of course she had no load on her. It might even be a little down grade at that point.

  • except for her whistle and bell, she is very quiet

  • She's still painted in her "Wild Wild West" colors, except that "Wanderer" has been replaced on the tender.

  • Lol! "It's going backwards!"

  • Wow she may be old, but it looks like she came out like she was just built.

  • I was there too! However, I can't post my video becuase it looks a bit crappy.

  • she has one sweet sounding bell

  • You must've been there same day I was!

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