B&O Steam Days and a Cab Ride on the William Mason (in HD)
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- On a calm, nice October 13, 2012, Big Jim Video Productions visited the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, in Baltimore, MD for their annual Steam Days event. Running this day were #25, 4-4-0 "William Mason", the oldest steam locomotive currently operating in the United States, and the St. Elizabeth #4, an 0-4-0 tank engine. The St. Elizabeth pulled hourly trains from the museum down to the Civil War encampment site, where the William Mason was running back and forth along a display track. To make this day even more special, I won a contest online to be able to get a cab ride in the William Mason - the only operating Civil War-era steam engine in the country. Enjoy this rare footage from inside the cab of the Mason, and enjoy the video!
If anyone was curious, The William Mason was used in The Great Locomotive chase with Fess Parker. It was used as The General
Yep. I watched that movie over and over again when I was a kid and I recognize all the sounds the train was making in the video. Particularly the bell.
It was also used in Wild Wild West
@@user-mz1lj4tn7o NYT?
Sure LOOKS The Part-
@@isaacmr.trumpetmanbobonis The movie or the tv show ?
I like the leather couches in the cab. They showed a lot more concern for the crew than UK railways of the time, where you'd be lucky to have a cab at all. What a lovely pressure gauge too, like an antique barometer.
It's a very cool ride - a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me!
Amazing to see a 19th century locomotive in operation. Living history. Great video.
OMG! A B&O 0 4 0 saddle tank switcher was my very first HO model set! Had no idea there were any running! Too cool!
Absolutely! I'm not sure what her current status is though, they haven't run her in a few years AFAIK...
@@Bigjimvideo According to what I've heard from multiple friends of mine, she's still kept in operable condition in her shed despite her 1472 inspection, Lafayette unfortunately suffers the same fate as her as she awaits restoration to run again, last time they ran was in 2015, 5 years have gone by for both locomotives and no update was given about their fate whatsoever. As of now, Steam Days is still officially cancelled and put into the history books after William Mason sadly retired from an expensive problem that wasn't affordable to fix as you and many others have mentioned, I guess in the meantime, we'll have to stick around with the grim and boring diesel locomotives throughout the future until further notice, it breaks my heart for the museum not having enough money to restore the William Mason, Porter 4 and Lafayette back into operable conditions due to expenses. Let's face it, diesels aren't as magnificent as steam
So sad that No.25 is now out of action and may never steam again, she's an absolute beauty and a real piece of American railroad and Civil War history.
I agree - although never say never...
Maybe she'll steam again soon.
That's because her flues expired, Nickel Plate 759 which ran with the High Iron Company also went through the same breakdown in the early 70s
A true real engineer right there. No Westinghouse airbrake. Just the throttle and the Johnson bar. If he had a train attached. There would be brakemen on top of the cars. For example. One toot of the whistle. The engineer wants the brakes on the cars set. Two toots, the engineer wants the brakes released and that he was moving forward. Another great thing is the Johnson bar is a form of steel locos dynamic brake. Throw the Johnson bar in the opposite direction of travel and slowly apply throttle. Marvelous skills by the engineer
What a fine engine the William Mason is.
is1943 yep
I'd couldn't agree more.
WOW What a beautiful train! I love the whistle, too!
It's definitely a beauty - I can't wait until she's running again!
@@Bigjimvideo what whistle does the Elizabeth use?
You've got some great scenes here. What a beauty the William Mason is. And the musicality of the saddletank's whistle is pleasing.
Thank you! She is a beauty, I hope one day she will run again. Same for the St. Elizabeth, I hope she'll be back one day soon.
4-4-0s classic american steam train. Awesome video!!! Favorited this.
The William Mason is a treasure and a masterpiece!!
Indeed it is!
What a treat, thanks for the post. To think of all the folks in the past who have stood in that cab, the places they went, the sights they saw. Old stuff makes me think - all the people that have lived and died in the life of that engine, yet it still looks and runs just fine. Somethin' ain't right.
The ole steam whistles give me goose bumps every time. Awesome video.
Thanks a lot! I feel the same way when I hear it too,
many years ago, prior to signing up a volunteer, on the first public run after returning from the "Wild, Wild West" movie shoot, it was still in the movie livery I had the opportunity to ride in the cab and be the fireman on one run. Man o man, I had a grin like a kid in a candy store the remainder of the day.
I agree. Considering the history it holds. I do have a DVD of the General when it returned to service. I don't know the year. It showed the engine when it was hauled to the shop. It was a mess. It shows the special trips it took with it's coach, and it even shows a special event featuring the General. GM's EMD was celebrating the 25,000th diesel they produced, a brand new GP-30 Low-Nose.
A very special locomotive! Quite something to look at.
I need to go to steam days sometime, these engines are beautiful! Thanks for the post!
They are beautiful! Except they don't have "steam days" anymore - since the William Mason doesn't operate anymore and is only a static display, they don't really run any steam locomotives anymore at all.
@@Bigjimvideo According to what I know from a friend of mine in Ohio and an employee from the museum, Porter 4 just finished her 1472 inspection, she should return to steam pretty soon, as for Lafayette, she's gonna be the next in line from what I've heard. As for the William Mason, despite his retirement, I hope someone eventually gets enough money one day to solve his firebox problems or whatever caused him to retire and getting him running again, who knows, that person may be me when I'm older;), all we could do is wait patiently for the pandemic and the protests to die down and hoepfully we'll see steam again here at the B&O in the near future. Let's face it, the Diesels are never as facinating as Steam, Diesels are grim, cheap and boring, only railfans would say otherwise.
@@Bigjimvideo that really sucks :/
@@Bigjimvideo Guess the Nevada State Railroad Museum is the only one operating Americans of similar era in the form of Inyo and Eureka (even if there an 1875 product and Eureka being narrowgauge)
I was in the cab later that day. Yes, it only was running alone and not pulling cars. The track is owned by CSX and the period cars don't have modern brakes, so it is not allowed to pull them or have passengers anymore. However, this engine is the second oldest running engine in the world! spectators are riding in the train pulled by the tank engine on a parallel track. So, we raced them side by side for a short distance. She just had her boiler overhauled, so she is in top working condition.
i like very different trains and we need to enjoy them while we have the freedom
Definitely!!
Watching these loco beauties makes me feel I'm in Fantasy land.
The Museum does run steam after all. This is something i never thought Id see
The DVD had many other videos on. But the one featuring footage of the General was called "Return Of The General Locomotive". Copyright year 1962. The video is here on CZcams.
What's fascinating is that William Mason is using a chime whistle here, if that's original then the Baltimore & Ohio must have been among the first railroads to use them, since many 1850s-70s engines used single note or "hooter" whistles.
I LIKE IT FOR IT'S HISTORY.
Me too!!
It's definitely a beautiful engine, for sure. Thanks!
Very nice video. Probably one of the most unique cab rides you can get. What a gorgeous engine.
Gotta love those minimalist controls.
the excellent ride back in time.
Thank you!!
Big Jim- Nice engines and vid. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I'm glad you liked the video!! I've got some other 4-4-0's in my videos as well...
From Chiledigo: greetings. Very nice video Thanks for the job !
Sorry for the mistake ... From Chile I say: greetings. Very nice video Thanks for the job
Thank you very much for the nice words!
Maybe one day the museum might decide to put her back in steam again. But until that day happens she remains on display.
It would be nice if they did! Maybe one day.
I love that #4 Saddle tank engine and her whistle. 😊😊😊😁😁😁
For the engineer and fireman those are very luxurious seats lol!
Oh absolutely!
Very nice! It was cool to see this in action...
You gotten the most perfect side by side angle shot at the ending.
Ah ok. Yeah, but its a testament to the men that built her that she's still surviving and operating to this day...
That is incredible that the "William Mason" still operates. The backhead sure is simple compared to even an 1875 4-4-0, let alone a modern steamer like the 844.
I know - I'm glad that they're working on it in the shops too, to keep it running for a while to come.
Eh Inyos blackhead is almost as simple it just has the added feature of a lubracator and a few "aftermarket" air brake attachments.
Thank you very much!
Same B&O Locomotive used in the movie Wild Wild West with Will Smith. Posting as the Wonder.
Indeed it was!
Well, Old William mason is a 4-4-0 type, he is at the roundhouse in Baltimore, Maryland.
Great video. I remember the event like it was last week
I love that tank engine in the beginning :3
Pepper Brickolini Me too! I hope they get it back in service soon.
THE NUMBERS MASON!
Thanks very much!
they can never stop history
I remember exactly what I was doing that day, it was my birthday haha
Awesome!!
I hope that there will be enough money to restore the William Mason to operating condition again and that it's current "static display" is simply a long sleep.
I think it's not only about money - but also desire and whether they want to alter any more "historical fabric" (up for debate as to what's still left from the original locomotive vs things that have been replaced before).
When I was there, that is what I was told. I was told that that is what the FRA calculations say she can operate at as the boiler is probably the original
Thanks!
No clue what the whistle is on william mason my guess is a B&O 3 chime.
Wonderful catches and show.
I really wish I could, one day!
Why do the William Mason and other Wild West 4-4-0s have seats?
Good question. Perhaps that's just how they were built back then.
Wow. No air brakes. I realize the William Mason was built before the invention of the air brakes, but I thought for sure the FRA would require them to be installed.
Nope, I'm not sure if there's an exemption for her, there may be - but since she's not coupled up to anything, and only running at reduced speed, I don't think there's an issue.
B&O william mason deserves to be heard not silence!
I may never see her in operation for myself, nor will I see St. Elizabeth saddle tank 0-4-0 probably ever run either.
Never say never (to either, especially the latter)...
Love the 25!!!
+vettebecker1 So do I - I can't wait for her return to service!
+Big Jim Video Productions According to the Museum, there are no plans to return her to steaming capability for the foreseeable future.
So do I. Hopefully they will get her back in steam again. Someday maybe.
But until that happens she remains on display.
I couldn't believe they have did that to her.
The whistle 💖
I love the "Willam mason" locomotive and her whistle and bell. That's The best locomotive in the museum.
I think it's definitely one of the best...
10-13-12, the day I turned 17!
Is 4 still operational
For now, no. Needs some work and money to get back up and operating, it's not too high on the museum's to do list right now.
Yup - she's not used to pull trains or anything - just to move slowly up and down their tracks...
Why do they run it at such low pressure?
It's a very old engine, they were trying to keep as much historical fabric on the locomotive as possible. Besides, this was the extent of the work the locomotive would be doing at the museum, so why push it further?
Great video Jim.
Please guys! William Mason is a steam locomotive, not a steam train! But she is very beautiful and so unlike anything we have in the UK or mainland Europe. Long may she [he?] steam.
William Mason is he, not she! If you give him a female gender, that would be hilarious!
I realy hate being the technical type, but weren't all engines prior to 1870 single chime whistles, or was there a few exeptions?
I’d love 💓 to ride in the cab 🚕 of a steam locomotive 🚂 myself.
It's an awesome experience each time I get to do it!!
Or also another idea they could put one coach.
Very well done video. Nice job, indeed.
Was Linn Moedinger in the cab?
holdon, what's that 0-4-0 from?
St. Elizabeth #4, was originally built for its namesake hospital in Washington DC, pulling coal hoppers from an interchange with the B&O that were used to heat the hospital. It was also used after that at Ft Eustis and the US Army and their training railroad...
@@Bigjimvideo oh. cool!
I didn’t know the B&O RR Museum had running steam engines.
Back in 2012, they did - and for a few years after that. Then, the William Mason was due for her 15-year/1472-day inspection, and the railroad didn't deem it cost-effective to do all the work required to get it fixed up again. After that, they ran steam for a couple more years (October weekends, mostly) and haven't in the years past. They say it's too much work to re-train volunteers, do the inspection work and get the locomotive (the tank engine, mostly) ready to run for one month of weekends out of the year. Operating steam may return in the future, but who knows.
@@Bigjimvideo Oh
what pressure are they operating the mason at???
Happy belated birthday!
Yup, just back and forward...
hey, is this loco a sistering loco to the #3 general?
+Jeffrey Ellis Probably not. The William Mason was built by the Mason Machine Works in Taunton, Mass. while the General was built by Rogers, Ketchum and Grosvenor in Paterson N.J. They both have the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement common to locos of that period In fact, the William Mason did play the General in Walt Disney's 1956 movie "The Great Locomotive Chase".
Any information on the #4? Is it a Porter? Year of manufacture? Thanks, Steve.
She's a Porter built in 1950.
Nice video Jim..pez
super ! hyper cool ! :) vraiment jolies ces locomotives !
Thanks!
God bless USA !
well this is weird one of my ancestors names was william and my name is mason wow ironic
Lol you'd never know that the beautiful William Mason is rolling through the west Baltimore ghetto....
Indeed...
I'm assuming that older steam locomotives had those wide funnel stacks in order to prevent hot embers from lighting trees on fire, right?
+puxorb To be totally honest with you, I'm not sure. I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable could chime in with that answer.
+Big Jim Video Productions to allow more Ox to flow into the fire
That's correct. In 1913 or 14 my hometown of Tallulah Falls burned down due to the "balloon stack" being replaced with a normal smoke stack ?
I meant to put a .
Woodburners usually had wide funnels because of the large amount of ash. They did not block up as quickly. The gauze in a fuel or oil filter is much larger than the fuel pipe for the same reason.
I think they should restore the general, another civil war era 4-4-0 to operating condition, I'd love to see it run!
ToonLink682. It was restored decades ago and is on display. Come to Georgia, just don't steal it this time ;)
I might want to use the general for my railroad.
Your welcome:) Whats it like Rideing one of these? whats the top speed on both trains? like the speed their allowed to go and speed they can go.
I'm no historian, but it seems like there wouldn't have been too many railroaders in the 1850's wearing Orioles caps @ 1:56
I imagine none of them had HD camcorders as well. :)
Immersion ruined 7/10
Thats ok. I bet it was awesome! Good video.
About 70 psi if I read that gauge correctly.
And that's a good thing!
she only operates at 75 PSI? The william mason?
Where were they running ? There's not a lick of green around Mt. Clare...
The William Mason is gorgeous, but it's nice to see the "little Joe" too...
Both my grandfathers worked at Mt. Clare, one in the Erecting Shops, the other in the Blacksmith Shops.
If william mason was pulling a train they would have to put a lot of weight on the coaches enough for her to stop. Maybe some bricks and stones and two brakemans at the back of the train.
I was on that train that day :)
The Wanderer! coool
Indeed!
Some major chording on that first whistle.
Isn't it now illegal to ride on the tender footplate?
Does the William Mason still have her original boiler, a turn of the century replacement or was it replaced with a modern welded boiler? I know the FRA will throw a tantrum over riveted lap seam boilers these days.
+Chris Ross No. Like most pieces of machinery, parts wear out and have to be replaced. I have heard the boiler has been replaced (the original ones had straight boilers, not "humped" ones. The driving wheels are not original. The tender is not original- it's one they scrounged up for the Fair of the Iron Horse in 1927. It's like the fellow who said he had the same hammer for 30 years. It's had 4 new handles and 3 new heads, but it's still the same hammer!
would 5300 and 5400 have coal and water to make them steamed again.
Most likely no - considering there's no operating steam at the museum as it is now.
is that a saddle tank?
+grettagrids Yes that is!