It really is just stunning that people could visualise the complex layout of the mechanism, and put it all down on paper, by hand. Then build it.

She's 110 years young now (2019).....I've been on board many times for the self guided tour but I had NO idea she was fully operational like this.....What a work of art !!!

In the thirty years I lived in San Francisco, I never went aboard Hercules at the Hyde Street Pier. But many times I went aboard the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brian at Fort Mason, about a mile west. She had a triple-expansion steam engine as well; about five times larger. Sometimes on Saturdays they lit the boilers and you could go down in the engine room and watch the huge engine running at idle, the prop churning the water. I bet I did it fifty times. I never got tired of seeing that huge engine running.

Started with Titanic 5 years ago and finally ended up here. Steamships are majestic mesmerizing machines built from a time that resonates the soul by its authenticity.

And to think this was designed and built without computers or CAD systems. What a work of art. It sound like a living creature and it has a soul.

“The Tugboat For it’s size is the most powerful craft afloat, and the Star Tugs are the power behind the docks and waterways that make up the Bigg City Port, This... is TUGS”

1000 hp, but enough torque to jumpstart planets...

Just enough boat to keep its engines floating.Definition of a tug boat.

I like it that the young kid is helping. Growing up I had a wide variety of experiences that helped me become a better all around person.

I do love how quiet a giant steam engine can be. It is so spooky and beautiful. And what a beautiful tug boat as well!

“and Hercules, my ocean-going tug.”

It is good that there are some young guys looking to learn. There will soon be no one around who worked steam in the day. -Veteran '66-68

It’s hard to believe this is the very same tugboat that almost got pulled underwater by the Battleship USS Oklahoma, while towing the Oklahoma back to California

It's wonderful that there are people who have such appreciation and "love" for vintage and historic boats, homes, cars, etc.

A beautiful sight , i have great respect for those who spend their spare time repairing and maintaining these ancient cultural memories .

What a great name for a tugboat. Must be a thrill to sail on her. She is an absolute work of art. Like watching a ballet seeing that engine everything else functioning.

Varnished woodwork in engineering spaces. WOW!

Wow and built in Camden, New Jersey when it was an industrial town and not a burnt out hunk of urban decay like it presently is. I grew up there and it amazes me that Camden once turned out beautiful things like this tug.

I believe my brother built a model of this very boat many years ago. It was a commercially available plastic model kit. I never knew anything of the history of the boat or its significance, being an old steam tug. Really nice seeing this historical machine. Thanks for posting.

What clowns gave this thumbs down. Sad. This is floating preserved piece of history

Looks like the Jeremiah O'brian. Very cool to see these old ships being maintained and ran. I had the pleasure to work aboard the Jerimiah O'brian here in San Francisco, we live set the boiler safety valves for coast guard certification of the vessel. It was an honor to be able to work alongside the volunteers who were retired WW2 vets.

At the 18 min 5 second Mark , I want to set my deck chair where the connecting rods are dancing with each other and the engine is hammering out its powerful cadence. I need time to absorb the absolute complexity of a machine built and operated largely by hand when the minds of the engineers that designed this marvel were connected directly to a straight edge and a number 2 pencil.

Might not be fast but possibly can tow a small moon around. Love it.

TUGS really put on effort on big city/new York tugboats

Thanks for the video. Fascinating. As a boy in the 1960s, my girl friend's father - Phil Davies was a tug man in Port Phillip, which is a large bay where the city of Melbourne, in Australia is located. Very important role he had. He has passed on many years ago but his role back then kept people safe.

I'm a retired Boilermaker and I love stream engines. I only got to walk by the Hercules as the park was closing while I was there. Wish I lived close so I could volunteer . Thanks for the video.

Fascinating the insights of the working of the Starfleet Tug's

MODERN TUG: "I just brought in a 40 unit raft of full barges!" HERCULES :"Hold my beer!"

I heard a couple of references to the movie " The Sand Pebbles" starring Steve McQueen. A great movie about a Navy gunboat. Steve actually learned how to properly operate the steam engine on that boat. "Hello engine, I'm Jake Holman".

The gorgeous wood paneling in the engine room is out of this world. I've never seen a more beautiful machine in my life!!!

And some people wonder where all of our ingenuity has gone. Well, there it is. It took pure genius to get us to where we are today.

More than a hundred years and the tug is STEAM going

It's mesmerising yet somehow horrifying as that engine comes to life...

The steam engines need tightened the packing or repack. I operate this kind of steam engines and they never leak steam like this. Need a little maintenance here. Reminds me of good old times!

Scotty, I need steam now! Captain, I need 30 minutes, I canna defy the laws of physics!

The age of steam powered engines brings joy to my boiler

So nice to see such a beautiful piece of history restored and preserved in running order.

That horn sends chills down my spine!

This is awesome to watch. I just love watching steam engines in action. I have several model steam engines but nothing can compare to this.

Lovely to see these old ships restored and running.

It really looks nice nice condition for its age Great to see it is still around Good to preserve history for future generations to learn about

Her whistle at 12:09 sounds like a Pennsy 3 chime Nathan. This tug is just pure class all the way!

Manning this baby takes dedication and love.

I started my 38 year career at sea on the steamer Champlain, operated by the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company on the Great Lakes. That was the mid-1970's. This vid sure does bring back memories! Thanks a lot!

Light off procedure is almost the same as it was on my ship. USS St. Paul CA-73 Year built was 1944 . As a Boiler man 3rd class I worked in # 3 fire room. (65-68). I'm sure it gets hot in that Tugs engine room in the summertime. I remember fire room temp temperatures as high as 150-170 deg. While in South East Asia on my ship. We did have recip Main feed pumps but everything else was steam turbine. Video brings back so many memory's . Thanks for sharing

Hello Wesley, thanks for the reply. I recall several years ago heading up to Port Carling, Ontario to see the annual antique and vintage boat show. Chris Craft, Greyvettes, small steam boats, etc. etc. A labour of love. Shifting gears...my wife and I went, a few years ago, to a wonderful wildlife art show in the village of Buckhorn, Ontario. Beautiful wildlife art and bird carvings that you'd swear would come to life. lol. One artisan was building an authentic birch bark canoe. So great to watch him at work. Good to know that these skills are being kept alive. Stay safe, sir. Regards, Bob in southwestern Ontario, Canada

I shall never watch this video without thinking of TUGS and saying to myself ‘Good Morning, M’dears!’

A few years ago I had the opportunity to ride on the SS Brown, a Liberty Ship that also has a triple expansion steam engine (as did the Titanic). The engine room of the Brown was about the coolest place I've ever been. Seeing that and this video helps me appreciate how amazing those engines are... and, I'm afraid, also why Diesels took over.

Am I the only one who sees a reminder of Tugs?

So great to see a young person helping and learning the history!!!

Incredible engineering Amazing what was designed and built with no computers, no automation. Castings, forging, correct metal alloys, huge amount of labor and knowledge. She is beautiful. Thank you for this video

Ages since I served on a steamship. Thank you. I can even smell and hear.

That tug boat in the picture reminds me of the cover picture of "Toot-toot the Tugboat" a book I loved to read as a kid.

Congratulations to everyone keeping the beautiful old tug Hercules afloat and operational. And thanks for posting the great video.

I love this big monsters of steel coming slowly a live and than the are unstoppable

it's alive IT'S ALIVE !!!!!!! FANTASTIC VIDEO

I started thinking of Hercules from TUGS. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just excellent! I'm a volunteer looking after a steam tug in Two Harbors, Minnesota. 1,000 HP steam screw Edna G, built in Cleveland in 1896. Hand-fired coal burner, double reduction, with jet condenser. Had a crew of 4 when working...is in cold dry layup now for 40 years. Nowhere as spacious as Hercules.

A Symphony of Motion, My father left the sea because of these. His idea of a Symphony of the Sea was acres of canvas taut on yard arms rounding the 5 Capes.

Train that next generation, don't let this knowledge die.

Amazing how quiet it seems for how huge it is.

Woohoo! Last time I saw Hercules it was a floating wreck. Great restoration!

THis is a marvelous vlog, thank you for sharing it. It reminds me of my situation, old age, leaking prostate, late to run and pee, and when I do quit peeing I’m out of steam! But, I am going to subscribe and give a high five because this is a very detailed documentary about a steam operation in a boat. Not a mountain of techno talk to make us lose interest. Again, THANK YOU!

My wife and I were volunteer crew aboard the Arthur Foss in Seattle for about a decade (the boat that "Tug Boat Annie" was filmed on). Not steam, but that 1934 Washington diesel was something to play with.

if you screw up, it can blow up.

I can't get over how quiet and smooth that engine runs.

Beautiful piece of work. Thank you so much for recording and preserving this history.

This...is TUGS

Hey! I know this, it’s Hercules from TUGS. Aside for, that, amazing little machine. Reminds me of the SS. Baltimore. Just about 45 minutes from where I am. Both look stunning,

I loved the reference to the Steve McQueen movie, "The Sand Pebbles." "Main stem stop wal". Too funny.

I was an inquisitive child in the 50s, already interested in all things mechanical. We lived at a lock&dam on the upper Mississippi, and all the towboats were steam. Two things I remember, the huge fresh air stacks, and the massive amount of black smoke these tows put out as they departed. Then in the 60s, steam was replaced by deisel, I cherish those days.

Nice video, gives a feeling of being there. Enjoyed the Sand Pebbles reference (main steam stop walwe).

Great Sand Pebbles reference lines in this film I caught onto. "Hello Engine, I'm Jake Holman."

Wow that ship is truly a work of art

This gives meaning to the old term "Under her own steam" Just love all things steam driven. Thanks for the video!

28:00 and now you know why that kid is called a Wiper ! All us old gray hairs are gonna die off, and he will be the last man standing with the arcane knowlege to safely run this beast from the past.!

Love the Sand Pebbles references throughout the vid: “Main stem stop wowve”!

Thank you for posting. I was there when Hercules was brought to Hyde Street. It’s been my favorite for a very long time.

WOW, that's a whole lot of movin' parts !!

that is really cool.. thank you.. Massive machine :)

I'm amazed how quiet they are

you were so funny when you said nice cool air is coming from the vent. )) It was bloody hell in there when she was crossing Atlantic... I'm sure ) Thanks for the vid its one of my favorite now👍

a massive technical leap forward from the good old horse and cart/sails and oars. Not to mention, totally elegant and oh so Victorian.

Call the plumber, there are water leaks everywhere..... :D

I need to hear the foghorn to put everything into perspective!

Man and his amazing machines

Amazing, absolutely amazing. So much technology and advancement from boiling water. What a bygone age.

Excellent quality of filming, especially in engine room (strange luxury of the upper level, with its wooden panelling on walls), useful captions and audio commentaries, this should be an example for many documentary. I regret that we only see few images of the ship itself, and no view of the bridge and accommodation, and no view of the tug on its way (I'm sure it can move by itself)

I really hope that during this somebody said "let's get this thing going m'dears"

Very cool! Thanks for sharing the Hercules with us.

Just very fascinating to watch, My wife's Grandfather and my Godfather/Uncle were both Steam Turbine Engineers the 2 of them only met each other because of me the Granfather worked for. A Power Company his entire life and my Uncle. Was involved as a project manager for a company that designed and built the steam turbines at one point Jay Leno did get in touch with my Uncle and asked him if he could build a turbine for one of his Steam vehicles , Jay had a set of the design drawings and factory blueprints and my Uncle was able to help him out with his resources Jay did give my Uncle some autographed pictures and a nice Thankyou letter that my Uncle had framed and displayed in his "Mancave" / personal garage along with some other cool things from his life ! When my Uncle got the first call from Jay Leno he actually thought it might be one of his buddies prancking him at first untill Jay. Convinced it was really him calling from California i do not remember the exact car my Uncle told me it was for but i do recall my Uncle telling him how he could probably get it built but had no idea what the specs would be and that most of the units they built were around 30 feet long or bigger thats when Jay told hm he had the drawings from the original car in his possession

bet that feels great on a cold morning

One little steam Tug boat has more class and character than most modern day cruise ships!?

This is only the real life steam tug that only carrying his name over the tugs

Amazing. So glad it's being maintained.

I could watch those rods go around for hours

"hello engine." me: XD

The little tugboat that could. Beautiful. Well, it's not really little.

Excellent documentary, thank you.

She should be working and earning her own keep.