Steam engines almost come alive, the sounds they make are deep and mysterious. The external moving parts are fascinating to watch, the engineering that makes them work is amazing. They are a balance between control, and explosion, harnessing immense power. My father talked about going the station when he was a child, and the engineer climbing down and carefully placing pennies on the tracks, and then flattening them in a spin of the drive wheels and then handing them still hot from the pressure to the kids who gathered to watch.
Ah yes, clean and green public transport.
ReplyDeleteThe working parts amaze me, because they were designed in the 19th century. Just amazing. The visible parts are wonderful to watch when they are in action.
I've never thought about it until now. Why can stationary steam engines be next to silent with just a soft hiss but train steam engines are not.
I have a childhood memory of the Cash song.
Steam has a particular sound to it. We use low pressure process steam in the honey processing plant, until my grandfather retired. One of my early morning duties was firing the boiler (oil fired.). Hearing it come to life, knowing when to turn on the circulation even without looking at the gauges.
DeleteI do like the sound of the steam engine. It is kind of peaceful.
ReplyDeleteWe did a steam train tour a few summers ago,
DeleteWe used to put pennies on the tracks for passing train engines to flatten too. Of course, in my day, they were diesel engines, not steam. I'm not THAT old, lol! Although some days it seems like it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun video!
ReplyDeleteLots of great content on YT
DeleteI've never heard this version of the song. I have Jerry Reed's rendition on a greatest hits cd. The other version is by Roy Acuff, naturally. I do love watching trains except when stuck in a long line of traffic because a long, long one is passing. It's fine when one's not in a hurry or has a full bladder. Woo-woo!
ReplyDeleteLots of grade crossings in this country.
DeleteI am not at all familiar with Mr. Cash's songs. I grew up with a father 'keen' on trains so I know something about them at least
ReplyDeleteClassic southern opera - some really good ballads
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