Soo Line steam train locomotive 353 barks up hill at Rollag MN

[fluoridekid]

The little engine with a great big heart and what gorgeous sounds. Love those chime whistles and the steam. Awesome! :D

[BUICK925]

it is soo cute

xD

[N617A]

i am a train guy myself i must say this locomotive is very good!!!!!!!! diesel electrics in comparison are more modern... people not used to this sound... i also have to ask werent steam locomotives stronger then a diesel electric with NO B units? i know there heavier but i dunno about stronger.

[Gunny761]

@N617A Yes, generally the steamers were more powerful than the diesels of the 1940s. The New York Central railroad actually ran a test that proved this in 1946. Their individual E7 diesels generated only 2,000 horsepower each, but could be easily lashed together to provide more power. Their Niagara 4-8-4 steam engines generated 6,700 horsepower each.

[Gunny761]

Whew! Few things say "Get off my rails" like those SOO 6-chimes! Thanks for the video!

[DarkriderXZ]

Will she be operating this year?

[prosperabovehaters]

when you guys are taping why don't you stop chasing the train and just let it pass.

[spencermcgrew]

@prosperabovehaters Because the locomotive was pulling its guts out and it would be an enormous auditory loss to not do it.

[NonFerrousBueller]

@spencermcgrew Have to agree with prosper... If you don't have a Steadicam, just hold still. The Doppler shift of a passing train is a wonderful thing, shaky footage is not! Thanks for taking the time to post the video though.

[spencermcgrew]

@NonFerrousBueller Thank you for your input. I agree that the shaking is distracting. My goal in posting this video was to raise awareness of steam. That I'm having this conversation with you today seems to indicate some level of success toward that end. However, there still remains much work to be done. I urge you--and anyone else interested in history and film--to take some time to record these giant beasts. Future generations will appreciate the gesture.

Regards,

Spencer

[NonFerrousBueller]

@spencermcgrew Search for this video - s6Q072tuF7M

(Youtube doesn't allow posting of links, sorry)

Cheapie steadicam.

Keep filming!

[paullubliner]

@prosperabovehaters: Sounds as though you are a beginner. It's called a "pacing shot." Has been for a while. Over 100 years.

[sandycorgi]

Really nice video - keep up the good work

[gowron277]

Cool video glad we had Micheal J Fox to do the camera work

[4freespeech]

Those teakettles were stronger than they

looked. If the camera-person could only

hold the camera STILL!

Makes me feel like I'm gonna hurl.

[NathansBackwoods]

Pennsy road had an 0-4-0 with similar tractive effort, about 30,190 punds, i want to get one of those, this is cool too.

[erikals2]

is this a coal burning engine

[motomann110]

yes hand shoveled

[quatfro]

Can someone tell me what a Ripkin rod is? I've looked it up and there appears to be no reference to it on the internet whatsoever!

[spencermcgrew]

It differs from the original Walschaert gear in the motion that is given to the lap and lead lever. Instead of being connected with the cross-head, the lap and lead lever, G, is here joined to the connecting-rod by means of a lever- arm and link. The swaying of the connecting-rod has the effect of hastening the motion of the valve at certain points of the stroke, thus giving a more advantageous movement to the valve, especially for the starting of heavy trains.

[paullubliner]

@spencermcgrew Does that make it an all square set up?

[rwundrock]

Is that a "Ripkin Rod" I see on the valve gear?

[spencermcgrew]

Yes it is actually. In an article in the Soo line historical and technical society about the 353 it described it as an in house improvement developed by one of their engineers that they added to basically all locomotives they owned. Apparently it improved steam expansion and the company's bottom line.

[Friskens]

Why oh why would you remove the boiler insulation and also remove the superheater?

[trainlover479]

they should take locomotive up to my area. the tracks in my area havent seen steam in 70 years

[oilpatchgirl]

What a beautiful old train!! I wish they still ran on the present rails...that was a RIDE back then! Thankyou!

[durangoandsilverton]

SACRAMENTO VALLEY HISTORICAL RAILWAYS

we have the yolo short line 1233, shes a 0-6-0. we had vandals though we had stolen some parts from it. :(

[wippydobo321]

hey when will u reoperate #123 what happened to her

[durangoandsilverton]

when did you guys start your organztion. sorry for my spelling

[dreambuilders48808]

Really awesome!

[Kleman09]

how many miles of track do u have?? I thought there was something missing on the loco. great vid and loco.

[spencermcgrew]

the circuit is about 1.25 miles long. As far as the locomotive, the superheaters were removed and bypassed. The boiler jacketing was also removed.

[SkipW]

Excellent, & Thanks for the Report on the Progress!

[Scioneer]

Good job helping with getting her going again. Steam Locomotives are the coolest.

[trainlover479]

i just LOVE STEAM LOCOS and i agree with you

[jmchessman]

Roll On #353!

[wsuraifan]

Great Video.

[dutchtrainmanserie22]

Awesome video 5*****

[scorekeepn]

Only resource we don't import is coal...these machines will be barack soon

[DanielVolker]

What??

[Hammondlover2]

Good work!

[4freespeech]

It's old but quite smart technology that a steam locomotive makes its highest torque and horsepower at the lowest speeds, just the opposite from gasoline and diesel engines.

[spencermcgrew]

Great point and I don't think it can be emphasized enough. Also at this show is a Prony Brake, it is alot of fun to watch. When they belt up a 2 cylinder steam traction engine they can really lug those. Single cylinders not so much, they have a dead center that prevents ultra low speeds.

[spencermcgrew]

Horsepower requires work to be done over time. Even with immense torque (the work factor)if the RPM is extremely low (the time factor) very little horsepower is produced.

So although a steam engine will produce maximum torque or turning effort at stall the horsepower will be absolutely zero.

[nkippert]

I love the sound it makes at approx 2:25, it gives you goosebumps.

[claudetienne]

where was this footage takin

[spencermcgrew]

At a steam reunion in western Minnesota, about a half an hour drive from Fargo ND.

[magicalmachines]

I've started talking about the steam engine on my website, I'd be grateful if anyone could take a look and give me their advice

[meteofan]

this is probably one out of two operational steam locomotives which survived in Rollag.

[ParanormalStateRocks]

gorgeous absolutely gorgeous

[meteofan]

wonderful machine.

[ratecoudo]

it has 2 irons pulling the last wheel it is cool all of them are like that.

[dieselman1988]

i would like to see th view fom the cab of the fire bx and the conttrols as it is running down the track

[spencermcgrew]

I can do that. I did record from the cab last summer but I was disappointed with the quality of it. The cab is really big and its hard to show everything.

[makinawdandy6699]

I'll tell you a true story. My great uncle worked for many years on the Canadian National Railways. He worked in a small town in norther Ontario. One very cold (minus 30) winter day, the toilets, sinks, plumbing etc. in the station froze. What did they do? They brought the locomotive up to the station house. Then they hooked the plumbing pipes up to the locomotive.  They let'er rip... Can you guess what happened? It was like a bomb went off.

[Tonytambe]

Strong Train

[PLSteamer]

You call that a small engne!?

[Shalinar45]

I'd love to hear this guy REALLY open up the throttle. This is another one you could call "Big Noise From Winetca"

[brainman214]

Nice Alco steamer!Ii used too see simmiillar oones by my house on the old L&N Grranite sub here.Thanks for sharing

[chadwickdf8b]

nice steam engine!

[ernietube1]

If you want to see a real smoke show , go to-

Garretts- Double AD 60 Class with Coal Trains near Newcastle

[sente33]

why there so much black smoke ?

[ernietube1]

They used poor quality high shale content coal. Cheap and nasty ! Also full steam pressure, no cut off, so most of the steam energy went up the stack.

[spencermcgrew]

It makes for a good movie though :P

[ernietube1]

Its a great little loco. Your involvement with its restoration is commendable.

I am not sure about not having a brick arch, Certainly would make firing difficult as radiant heat from red hot brick contribute much to ignition of coal. Still, I guess I am being too critical. Like not having boiler insulation.

In Australia, we apparently have very strict regulations on boiler operations. We would not get approval to operate any steam loco with these operational short cuts.

[spencermcgrew]

In the beginning of the video the black smoke is from the fireman adding fresh coal to the fire, in preparation for the climb up the hill. This locomotive does not have a brick arch so we try to avoid adding coal when the engine is laboring. You may notice that near the end of the clip the smoke turned black again, indicating that more coal was being added.

[ernietube1]

I edited Belbin'x videos to-

Garretts- Double AD 60 Class with Coal Trains near Newcastle

ernietube1

watch?v=T6gEjZYFs0M

[fordwillkillyou]

awesome i just rode on that today! im uploading a video of my visit.. my trip was really impressive

[ernietube1]

This is what I mean-

3801 3830 Blue Mtns Steam Express

YouTube regference is-

watch?v=Fln-56u7G5E

Couple of Pacifics with a fairly light train tackling first of 1 in 33 grades.

[WhyAyeMann]

nice. *5 dude!

[ernietube1]

Thanks for reply. The reason why both USA and Aussie used simple not compound engines was purely economic. Coal was "dirt" cheap while in France and other European countries this was not the case.

The main problem with Garretts was the long steam exhaust lines which were prone to leak at the flexible joints. Both types enjoyed their period of success. I would love to see a "Big Boy" in operation- must be enormous. I would settle on seeing again a AD60. One is being restored in Canberra.

[ernietube1]

For a real steam loco action, see double headed articulated Garretts,. Go to my video at-

ernietube1

Garretts vs 1960's Diesel Electric Locos on 1 in 40 Bank.

Sorry, I find the USA steam loco whistle to be too piercing. I was brought up with the lot beefier sound of New South Wales Government Railways locos.

Great video, thanks.

[spencermcgrew]

I checked that out thanks for the link! Its interesting that for the most part in America we adopted the "mallet" type articulated without compounding where most other countries advanced to the garret articulates. They seemed to work well for us silly Yankees though

PS I love the syncopated exhaust of articulates as the beats come in and out of time it adds a certain feel to the sound.

[WhyAyeMann]

how is this not real loco action?

[ernietube1]

I like to see any loco pushed to its limit. Full throttle, no cut off pulling a heavy train up a steep bank.

West of Sydney. the Blue Mountains line from Valley Heights to Katoomba has long stretches of 1 in 33 grade which in steam days required a banker on all trains. Even if I remember right, for class 57 then NSWGR most powerful non articulated loco. As a kid, I use to love a train ride to Katoomba because of the noise and fumes from the struggling locos. I will post some video from Bilbin.

[Sampug394]

That Steamer is Sweet! IT has a hell of a Whistle too! :D

[dragonhighlorde]

This was a good vid. Just some camera problems I noticed. Looks like you had a problem with the lens as there were black edges around the picture. But a good vid otherwise.

[jastat]

steam trains are cool. It's a shame that they are uneconomical to run when compared to more modern trains

[CSXRP]

Emd and GE units are better than steam engines in my opinion.

[franklinterrier]

EMD almost, GE, HELL NO!!!

[CSXRP]

HELL YES!!!

[mngrr]

Get a real whistle! lol!

[spencermcgrew]

it has 2 whistles, watch the whole thing through.

[ghunter182003]

That thing nearly cost me my hearing!  Little bastard!

[wildwx99]

man, that train is cool as heck!!!! thanks for sharing

[jagjumper]

WMSTR-Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in rollage mn

[ocalicreek]

What is "WMSTR"?

[jagjumper]

Dude this place is awsome I go here every year during labor day and i ride on that about 6 times every year plus watch all the old tractors in use. Great Place.

[dgr8zod]

Cool to see these 0-6-0's back on the rails. Several hundred thousand were built, but you can count the ones remaining nearly just with your fingers. Ticks me off the only L-5 left on the planet is rusting away up in Snoqualmie.. One of three built. And, there are only two L-9's left. Good job, and I know what it takes to put one of these back to working order.. I was in on the first half of the restore of the NP 1364 S-4. Supposedly, some 30 years later that will be finished..

[Alek9997]

Wow that engine is pulling thresher

[sprichbeeke]

What a beauty!! And fantastic that you participated in making it run again!!! Bravo!

[York22]

Beautiful sight. I wish these wonderful engines still reigned supreme on America's railroads. Imagine what a sight it would be in small towns and big cites across America from sea to shining sea.

[acoustics101]

I love the sound of 3 chime shortbell whistles! It does remind me of the little train on Petticoat Juction.

[CSX6000]

Nice whistle! Good to see this engine under steam.

[videoblast]

GRAET POST

[PreacherSly]

PETTICOAT JUNCTION!!!! LOL

[PreacherSly]

I love the sound of an old steam engine...the chug and the whistle. AWSOME!

[spencermcgrew]

Agreed! 4 power strokes per revolution= v8 engine

[power600]

18 years old and got a steam engineer licence...Là, chapeau bas.

I'm 41 and i'm only a truck driver (in France).

What a nice steam loco.. You have fun when you drive her, I suppose.

And nice video. I watch it again and again and again and... :)

[onetowatch111]

So you're 18 now and already rebuilt a steam locomotive. Sir, you've already accomplished my life's dream. (I'm 33!) Good job.

[spencermcgrew]

yes sir. Earlier this December I got my steam engineer license. I drove her in 2003 and a couple more times last summer but now I'll be able run shifts on her. I'm pretty pumped. Thanks for watching and have a happy new year

spence

[HHS76]

*LOL* Right! You are wrong on many levels: That would be After Effects, not Photoshop - if you had a few hundred hours of time on your hands to do the masking. This is as genuine as it gets. I have had the honor of ridding in the cab of the 353 on a lap of the WMSTR grounds in Rollag.

[alanp021]

Nice video! My son and I enjoyed watching it. We hope to come to Rollag next year as he loves steam tractors.

[spencermcgrew]

Wonderful! I hope to see you there

[longhairwayne]

lightningdork is sadly mistaken.This engine was part of an anual steam exhibition in Mn.this is most likely a drive along as the steamer along with exhibit equipment loaded on was leaving the show.spencermcgrew done a fabulous job recording this and many thanks are renderd.Beautiful job on catchin the different whistles being used.

[longhairwayne]

As for the whistle,the steamer is an 0 6 0 switcher.These rarly left the rail yard so the puney whistle was standard.For the engines that did some shunting,the American whistle was an ad on as alot of early Americans objected to the yard whistle.

[spencermcgrew]

the big whistle is from a mountain class

[longhairwayne]

The whistles that were added on reflect the timeframe of the most popular and most avaliable at the time.

[spencermcgrew]

How do you mean?

[longhairwayne]

This engine was probably built around the turn of the last century.Being a switcher,the yard whistle was standard issue.Years later,when pressed into over the road service,the engineer would add his own whistle that he liked or even tuned his self.These were usally the most popular and most avaliable when installed.Given the whistle sounds like a mountain class,it was probably installed around 1936 or later.If the engineer left it there,it was probably his last engine to be run.

[spencermcgrew]

Ah I see. Thanks for that tidbit. The builders plate says it was built August 1920 at the Schenectady plant of ALCO

[wallyworld]

excellent! sfx were first class. thanks for posting.

[BNSF5608]

amtrakf40? YOU LIVE IN MINNESOTA!?!? You have never told me this, where the heck do you live at?

[xxmsaxx]

my daughter has watched this video a million times ....shoot me please im tired of this damn train whistle :S

[RichardSwayne]

Good job

[gschjetne]

To me it sounds like the engineer just blows the whistle at random. Or is there some system to it, like in Europe?

[spencermcgrew]

There were a number of crossings for pedestrians

[spencermcgrew]

the whistle pattern he is blowing is the "grade crossing signal", in most of europe as far as I know, the whistles are much higher pitched and blown much less often

[SteffanLlwyd]

American whistles sound better. But you are right. European railways are all fenced-in, so less of a need for sounding whistles. In Wales the tradition was to SW (Sound Whistle) continuously for any train leaving town with newly-weds on board. We got married Sept 20 1975 and got a diesel horn all the way from Aberystwyth to Ynyslas. 11 miles of two-tone warbling!!!! Anybody know who was the driver that day (up Evening Mail train)?

[apeppink]

That lil' thing had a superheater? I never knew anything that old and small would've had one.

[spencermcgrew]

Thats something else ain't it! lol

[SteffanLlwyd]

But no boiler cladding! Just raw plate 'n' round head rivets!! Looks good.

[kav442s5]

well i think thats the 1st time i have seen an ALCO steamer running, but I drive ALCo locos here in australia, its just a pity that they went out of business in the 70's because they built such reliable machines like that 0-8-0, noisy little bugger it is....gotta love it but!

[mythicky]

What is it about steam locomotives that is so hypnotizing? I love em and I always will. They are so alive as the groan and chough. You can hear them breath and sigh.

[SteffanLlwyd]

I think you answered your own question very well.  I think it is probably deeply psychological... primordial, or something?!

[dougieplus]

great sound ,thanks for sharing .

[roadkill3030]

It sounds amazing !!!!

[spencermcgrew]

no need for them, laziness, other reasons

[mafarnz]

Why did they take the superheaters out?

[JOYOUSONEX]

Great video, following the train like you did. Takes me waaay back to when I was a boy!! Thanks!

[BigDAS]

Powerful little pony. The engineer must have had that reverser on the top notch the entire way.

[jasher353]

Not even close. Even with a full load, 7 cars and appx 600 passengers, you never need to get out of the company notch unless you want to make noise and make the maintence crew crabby.

[amtrakf40]

I live in MN and always have wanted to check 353 out, but Rollag is so far from where I live!

[30ball]

where's the boilers and cylinder insulation?

[jasher353]

Bad, nasty stuff removed long ago. For our use the heat loss isn't a problem.

[Robkat3751]

Yes it is no problem without the insulation and jacket however if you have to get up there while the locomotive is hot you are dealing with metal surface tmeps near 400F. That is uncomfortable and dangerous.

[spencermcgrew]

its usually very windy when we run her, so heat isn't really a problem.

[tcarr22239]

Where is this Locomotive located?

[spencermcgrew]

It is located at the western minnesota steam threshers reunion. (WMSTR) in Rollag MN

[spencermcgrew]

Rollag Minnesota, 56549