[4K] Lava Train! US Steel's Molten Iron Torpedo Trains In Action!

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  • čas přidán 17. 07. 2021
  • Yes, I know molten iron is NOT lava. But it's a cool title, right?
    On March 16th and 17th, a friend and I spent hours standing outside US Steel's Edgar Thomson plant in Pittsburgh, PA documenting these incredible operations. This is by far one of the coolest (if not the coolest) thing I've seen in my years of recording trains.
    The trains move pig iron (product of smelting iron ore in the blast furnace) at speed through the mill to the BOP (Basic Oxygen Process) shop where it will be dumped and turned into steel for America's infrastructure.
    Steel is the world's most important resource today. Just about everything uses steel. Cars, ships, buildings, bridges, railroad tracks, the trains that run on said tracks, airplanes, and even your refrigerator. Although most steel is imported from other parts of the world, some projects such as government installations may only use American-made steel.
    While the industry slowly fades away in the United States, a few mills are still going strong. Edgar Thomson, the birthplace of American steel since 1875, still produces just under three million tons of steel per year.
  • Auta a dopravní prostředky

Komentáře • 77

  • @bella_5762
    @bella_5762 Před 3 lety +20

    train

  • @user-yd9bj3bs8g
    @user-yd9bj3bs8g Před 8 měsíci +4

    Used to drive molten metal trains for British Steel in the 1970's. Brings back many memories!

  • @jamesmorton8431
    @jamesmorton8431 Před rokem +3

    That little switcher gets a workout shuttling those cars back & forth 😮

  • @scotabot7826
    @scotabot7826 Před rokem +5

    Wow, one man and a Radio Control Locomotive!

  • @butchieray
    @butchieray Před 2 lety +8

    I worked at the ladle house at ET. We were responsible for the Steeler Hall Of famers names on the 360 series 250 ton ladle. I used to paint those ladles back and gold

    • @dougloughner
      @dougloughner Před 7 měsíci +1

      the 360 series were ured in duquesne works in the early 1980s

  • @IHVA-ir9gp
    @IHVA-ir9gp Před 2 lety +6

    Pulled 361 sub from #2 door in the boiler shop. 1 and 2 door were the car shop where we repaired subs back in the 80's.

  • @Nethanel773
    @Nethanel773 Před rokem +5

    Thanks for putting this up.

  • @davidschick6951
    @davidschick6951 Před 3 lety +12

    I’m amazed how fast the ET trains move on mill property. And the CSX train was pretty sweet too- too much power and too few cars, which is just how I like it.

  • @ArchTeryx00
    @ArchTeryx00 Před 2 lety +5

    One subtlety to watch for is a blue flashing light over the cab. I believe that's the remote warning light - the switcher is acting as its own idler, shielding the operator from the heat by being run by remote control. It's a requirement that any remote control loco have some sort of warning to indicate it's being operated by remote. That's USUALLY a flashing light on the roof, but these already have those flashers to increase visibility, so the remote warn is over the cab window instead.
    The scrap train was a really neart find - assuming the other switcher wasn't at the front, it is extremely rare to see a loco in a pushmi-pullyu arrangement!

  • @paul06660
    @paul06660 Před 2 lety +6

    I love the sound of those old switchers being pushed hard. I grew up with that sound close by my house growing up. Its sad though BNSF dont use them in my area anymore.

  • @CriticoolHit
    @CriticoolHit Před rokem +2

    _"Watch out watch out watch out! Came outta nowhere!"_ I needed that laugh.

  • @user-yd9bj3bs8g
    @user-yd9bj3bs8g Před 9 měsíci +1

    Memories of hot metal trains in the UK. Particularly Sheffield. Worked for British Steel Corporation and was trained to drive those trains as well as my steel making duties.
    Great memories. All gone now.

  • @stevemckeown4120
    @stevemckeown4120 Před rokem +2

    Excellent video I model the Union RR in N scale and ET

  • @bb-ov3pi
    @bb-ov3pi Před rokem +2

    The heat from those Littles must play hell with the bearings on the trucks through heat transfer.

  • @satchuck
    @satchuck Před 3 lety +5

    9:40 always remain alert near the tracks and I'm awake now!

    • @beeble2003
      @beeble2003 Před 2 lety +1

      Better still, stay far enough from the tracks that you don't need to be alert. I'm not sure what all that shouting was about. The person taking the video appeared to be standing well back from the line; if somebody else was closer, they should have been told to get back long before any train showed up.

  • @denjhill
    @denjhill Před rokem +4

    I'm guessing that a derailment and rollover of one of those molten metal wagons would be catastrophic.

  • @gigteevee6118
    @gigteevee6118 Před 3 lety +4

    Wow, the night shots are like something out of Mad Max!

  • @6777Productions
    @6777Productions Před 3 lety +5

    I have an old friend who used to work on the CRW up in Cleveland. Never got to see any of those hot bottle trains in person, but that'd the heart of the industry, the true blood, sweat, and tears of true railroading. Wonderful documentation!

    • @GORT70
      @GORT70 Před rokem +2

      Good lord….that yellow switcher is 1 year younger than me.

  • @DENVERRIOGRANDEMAN21
    @DENVERRIOGRANDEMAN21 Před 3 lety +4

    The most 4k action that I seen on a railfaning video

  • @Jhihmoac
    @Jhihmoac Před 2 lety +5

    Even when the finished product rolls down the mainlines on steel trains to points afar is impressive! Slabs upon slabs of material going to rolling, forming, forging, shaping, stamping, etc. plants all over the place!

  • @kevinrichards3288
    @kevinrichards3288 Před 2 lety +3

    I like those switcher engines.

  • @davidstorm8879
    @davidstorm8879 Před rokem +4

    each torpedo holds 360 tonnes and 3 torpedos to a train, it was my day off, when one torpedo exploded killing 11 men, god rest their soles at British steel appfrond-works Scunthorpe UK

  • @jrkuzel3786
    @jrkuzel3786 Před 2 lety +5

    i like your video and you did a good job on that video

  • @brucybabyy7355
    @brucybabyy7355 Před rokem +4

    wouldnt want to derail those cars.

  • @Ken-Kaef
    @Ken-Kaef Před 29 dny +2

    Thanks for posting I gave the 1000th like. I noticed the driver using the remote control.

  • @section8usmc53
    @section8usmc53 Před rokem +1

    The WWE wrestling overdub caught me completely off guard, and was perfect. Hilarious ! 😆😆😆👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @Mikezulka
    @Mikezulka Před rokem +4

    This is so awesome 👏

  • @rustyrailspikeproductions

    As of writing this comment I am currently reading a biography of Andrew Carnegie so it was really cool to watch this video. I wish I could quote a interesting fact or something but I’m afraid I have not read that far yet. Thank you for sharing this video with us!

  • @tomp8871
    @tomp8871 Před rokem +2

    I seen this before, Black Crow?? Can't recall but great vid

  • @chipc4936
    @chipc4936 Před 2 lety +3

    Very cool!

  • @georgetompkins5438
    @georgetompkins5438 Před 2 lety +3

    great video

  • @anthonyshepard9606
    @anthonyshepard9606 Před 3 lety +4

    : These guys don't mess around moving this molten metal. All aboard. 🐢 🚂 🐢 🚂 🐢 🚂 😃

  • @ScottTaipaleRail
    @ScottTaipaleRail Před 2 lety +5

    Fun video to watch, nice action and sounds!

  • @MikeB3542
    @MikeB3542 Před 2 lety +2

    Nice tribute to "Mean Joe"

  • @RameshKSingh-gp2mx
    @RameshKSingh-gp2mx Před 2 lety +3

    I like small locomotives more than the normal locos

  • @parts323
    @parts323 Před 3 lety +3

    The Union Railroad switchers seen operating in the video are all MP15DCs.

    • @towny72
      @towny72 Před 2 lety +2

      Except the URR 3 seen spotting scrap at the BOP, SW1500

  • @nightrider6769
    @nightrider6769 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Injured the workings in the yard pretty cool.

  • @mccoy79productions66
    @mccoy79productions66 Před rokem +2

    this is awesome!

  • @taslimchoudhary1253
    @taslimchoudhary1253 Před 3 lety +4

    Nice
    Coverage
    🌵🌵🇮🇳🌵🌵

  • @AKawalski
    @AKawalski Před rokem +2

    Is this Braddock? Awesome video 😊

  • @TriGogglin
    @TriGogglin Před 3 lety +3

    Impressive video, plus the info you had on the trains, was awesome. Never seen anything like it.

  • @JohnnysTrainVideos
    @JohnnysTrainVideos Před 3 lety +2

    Great video...

  • @A3Kr0n
    @A3Kr0n Před rokem +3

    What? Who? Oh, the video is over. I was lulled to sleep for awhile!

    • @CrossbuckProductions
      @CrossbuckProductions  Před rokem +1

      Thanks for the feedback. I will be sure to never post a video again so I don't bore you once again.

    • @alfrednawrocki8061
      @alfrednawrocki8061 Před 5 dny

      ​@@CrossbuckProductions Well, I sure enjoy it !! I grew up on the west side of Detroit !!! I even had a few trips to the locomotive shop on Zug Island in the mid 70's!!!

  • @Slipperyisimproving
    @Slipperyisimproving Před rokem +3

    Hot stuff that's definitely some hot stuff. Molten steel melted down for construction purposes. Most of the steel that's melted is for manufacturing purposes. These trains can handle the heat if the molten steel. Catching action of US steel plant railroading.

  • @ag3365
    @ag3365 Před 2 lety +3

    2:10 what is mean that blue flash light on cab of switcher locomotive? and others colours?

  • @RonStanek
    @RonStanek Před 2 lety +3

    The controllers actually stand on the end of the molten torpedo cars, going up the track?
    I would think first of all, it wouldn't be allowed because of safety.
    And then because of the sheer heat of that those cars must be throwing off?

    • @beeble2003
      @beeble2003 Před 2 lety +3

      Out on the mainline, it's a legal requirement to have somebody at the front of the train who can call for the movement to be stopped if the tracks are obstructed (obviously, in most cases, that's the engineer, with the locomotive at the front of the train). I don't know if that applies on closed-off private property such as this. However, even if it's not legally required, it's still a good idea to follow established best practice for whatever industry you're in. As for the heat, I guess it can't be too bad or they wouldn't be able to stand there. The bottles are insulated, and there's the mounting mechanism between the operator and the actual bottle.

  • @RRConductor7
    @RRConductor7 Před 3 lety +5

    Fantastic video! What camera/lens set up were you using? Went from super up close up super wide in the same shot. Well done.

  • @NorfKhazad
    @NorfKhazad Před 2 lety

    Damn, I need to get out there and film this in HDR.

  • @ChainsawFPV
    @ChainsawFPV Před 2 měsíci

    Very cool. So what happens then there is an "accident", and the train has to stop, causing the molten steel to cool in the tanks? It must have happened at least once in the past. Can they re heat them and make the steel flow again, or does it become a giant paper weight?

  • @railbuilderdhd
    @railbuilderdhd Před rokem

    That’s a great video. Do you have any of the ire crane bridge?

  • @kylephillips150
    @kylephillips150 Před 2 lety +3

    Question to op? What street is this that you are viewing from? If u don't mind me asking. I'm a bit of an industrial freak and also work in a mill outside of Pitt myself. I would love to go get a view of the mill and bottle cars myself. Thanks

    • @lynne6417
      @lynne6417 Před 2 lety +2

      I believe it is off of 11th St., the road that leads to Braddock Lock and Dam.

  • @marktompkinstreasurehunter4363

    That plant is not actually located in Pittsburgh. It is a little east of Pittsburgh.

    • @kelvintorrence5994
      @kelvintorrence5994 Před 2 lety +1

      Mon.valley works used to haul steel coils out of there daliy in my tractor trailer.

  • @YossiaNorth
    @YossiaNorth Před rokem +1

    0:58 you mean torpedo-ladles, right?

  • @georgeberg2106
    @georgeberg2106 Před 6 měsíci

    How many tons of molten iron does each car carry, and do those cars ever cool down to normal temps?

  • @tucobenedicto109
    @tucobenedicto109 Před 3 měsíci

    So they only use one person a remote control and no engineer, and seperate conductor?

  • @Weldtecrack
    @Weldtecrack Před 2 lety +2

    Killer raw industrial American steel making /railroad representing Braddock Pa /western PA ! I mean if the RC supercharged 645s pushin bottle cars don’t do it for you then you need to check your pulse . Buy American made steel . 🇺🇸.

  • @davidstorm8879
    @davidstorm8879 Před rokem

    uk they are called torpedo's not subs i used to work on the British steel internal railroad as a loco driver [USA, engineer]

  • @old_bayrailfan5312
    @old_bayrailfan5312 Před 3 lety +2

    MMID has a new engine, I recommend you chase

  • @tonyowens7887
    @tonyowens7887 Před rokem +1

    Well I'm not wasting my time on this for it to be at night

    • @CrossbuckProductions
      @CrossbuckProductions  Před rokem +5

      Sorry to waste your precious time bud. If you had actually watched the video, less than half of the footage is at night. But I guess that was too much work for you since your time is so valuable.

    • @tonyowens7887
      @tonyowens7887 Před rokem +1

      And my time is just as valuable as your my friend

    • @johnwatson2952
      @johnwatson2952 Před rokem +2

      Ran a locomotive at U S Steel Fairfirld Alabama 24 years the lights are are to tell the remote control operator the status of his engine when he is not in the cab. Green Light means the engine is in forward travel. Red is reverse. White is idle and yellow is automatic brake is applied. Auto brake is the brake for the car not the Loco. Hauled a lot hot metal and slag. Good job in winter. Hot in the summer. With fire retardant clothes

    • @AKawalski
      @AKawalski Před rokem +3

      The night footage gives amazing contexts for the glowing molten content of these subs. Try a bit of humility, the content here is awesome and educational. 😊

  • @psychiatry-is-eugenics
    @psychiatry-is-eugenics Před rokem +3

    1:52 11:24 sad that one person has to do that job by himself . USS has more paper pushers than workers .
    And they wonder why they are struggling to make a profit