His intense interest in his subject is infectious.

That young man has probably forgotten more than most know about steam engines. Enjoyed watching this...keep up the good work

As a 50 + year 'live steamer', I thank you for this video. (I built, modified and run a 1/8th scale Little Engines Atlantic, in the style of the ERIE Railroad). My Atlantic has been running since March of 1997,25 years. As I write this post, I am finishing up on installing a new boiler on my locomotive. ERIE #7597. Thank you again for this video. Sincerely, BF Ray.

Dude looks like Tom Cruise, talks like Jeff Goldblum and knows his science like Dr. Emmett Brown with a little Robert Oppenheimer thrown in. Well done young lad! Keith, you have one of the best youtube channels regardless of genre. Keep up the great work!

Keith the future of model steam hobby is in good hands.

Beautiful post, of a young man not only restoring mechanical history but faith in the younger generation.

Who instilled 50 years worth of knowledge in a 26 year old? Very impressive, can't wait to see more (of Alexander, not you) ;)

Always a pleasure to watch a knowledgeable man sharing that knowledge. Thanks for this. :)

Glad to see a Yank holding his own in the cathedrals of steam! Great video, good to see you on camera too Keith.

Bravo to both of you, I am smiling. And somewhat envious.

Woah. A. E. Karnes?! Did NOT expect him to show up in your videos! I am a huge fan of his art online on Deviantart, and could tell he was a very knowledgeable guy. Also, very cool to see your face in a video! You should do that more often...

Had the pleasure of meeting Alex at Claymills today :) Great man. He will be, if not already, an America Fred Dibnah. I wish him all the best in the future.

Amazing young man. So much knowledge. 👍

Flipping eck! It is rare event in life to be introduced to an artist and an engineer, but a shot of Mr. Keith Appleton all in one episode is something special. What an engaging and talented bloke!

It took about 15 seconds to realize that Alex is a genius. I remember Dad and crew getting the various diesel and steam generators synchronized after Hurricane Inex hit Guantanamo Bay. Dad had the smarts to have cables stretched across the roof's of the generating stations. They were anchored to big I beams stretched parallel to the buildings. When the dial hit zero, a Cuban worker closed the gigantical knife switch to hook all the generating stations together. After being connected, they all kept each other in synch. At the time, idiot here didn't realize how smart Dad was. He was a Navy Can-Do Sea Bee.

I must say. It is enjoyable to be able to hear this kind of discussion. A real joy to learn these things even at 30 years old.

The rare shot of you precisely conforms to your voice-induced mental image. Uncanny.

Thank you Mr Karnes for sharing the passion you have for steam engines.

Oh, it's that KARNES bugger. Shoulda left him hanging off the mail-crane back in Atlanta, when he tried to make off with a geared locomotive. Glad to see him involved with your work. He's a fine young man and someone who I would travel with all over again if given the chance. I can't wait to see more of the two of you working together.

IT IS QUITE A GOOD THING THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO TAUGHT HIM WHAT HE KNOWS!! I OWE MUCH TO THOSE WHO TAUGHT ME STEAM ! I RECEIVED AN SANTA FE RAILROAD DIESEL MACHINIST APPRENTICESHIP, AND MANY OF THE JOURNEYMEN I WORKED WITH WERE GREAT STEAM MACHINISTS! I DID PUMP THEM FOR ALL I COULD LEARN!

Really enjoyed that just learned something new about valve gear too

Oh It's that Alex bugger. I really should have rolled him off the crane at Phillipsburg, would have made a really hilarious splat at the bottom. Well Keith while he is in your care, be sure to supply it lots of Broccoli and bread, and be careful of large volumes of sliced cheese left abandoned around in his wake, he looses them a lot.

What a billion young man. Thank you to you both.

Glad to see such a passionate young man helping keep the interest alive. Nice post. Thanx.

that guy is a savant. amazing.

Fantastic video ! More please !

A very knowledgeable guy and nice to see him sharing his knowledge with you and us. Nice to see you on camera also.

What a fascinating video. It's great to see a younger person taking up the reins. Good to finally put a face to the name as well! Thanks.

Very interesting and watchable. Thanks

This was one of your best video's! Very personal and you were on the screen! Great job!

Thank you Keith for this video. I had no idea that: there were large steam engines still in regular service in this country (USA) and that there were any others gifted similarly to you in the art of steam engine maintenance and refurbishing. Your videos are fascinating and inspiring. Please keep them coming! My wife has also benefitted from these videos as now and again some of your girl friend humor dribbles into our friendly banter, like a dribbling draincock. Love your humor!

Wow Keith! That must have been a real treat, fascinating listening to him explain the workings from his perspective. I guess there wasn't a full bottle of Scotch anywhere to be found after your visit..lol Thanks so much for sharing with us.. Cheers!

A surprisingly different and enjoyable video Keith.

excellent

Wow, just Wow.

extremely interesting and informative. One of your best, sir! regards vic

American Fred!! What a cool dude.

Thanks for this video. . It answered a lot of questions that I had,, and some I didn't know I had. And thanks for the cameo,,, That also answered a big question.. I am a wood carver of sorts,, and when I get out of sorts,, I just may try a likeness... And that may be likely. 😀😎😆🤗😉

What... Dad on camera?! Surely not! Even I enjoyed this one! 👏

Excellent stuff!

very nice.

Wow. Wonderful. Amazing knowledge. Really great video. Thank you so much.

Thank You very much. And just 26 years old!

Keith you have a very skilled and interesting friend :-) thank you very much indeed for sharing!

That was an incredible video.

What a young man, unbelievable

At last, an explanation of the point of Walschaert's pendulum thingy I can understand. I think. Walschaerts has always been a brain ache, and I've always wondered what the advantage of the extra mechanical parts was over Stephenson's. I'd been confusing myself silly- and utterly failing- by trying to play the action of each rod and link in my head.

love your video keith, this one was great.

Hey again Keith! Really enjoyed this video yet again really informative and I personally think so if the camera work you do is pretty artsy. I also love your accent it’s easy to understand and relaxing (like a Yorkshire David Attenborough.) And Alexander is very talented knowledgeable and a very lucky man that’s my dream job haha. So I have been in touch with a few places who working on rebuilding “extinct” locomotives but they don’t seem to be offering any sort of employment or apprenticeship opportunities. Do any of the workshops who work on miniatures offer any opportunities I’m looking for? Or what about even abroad like Alexander, any opportunities over there? Sorry for all the questions, it’s just you seem to have heaps of knowledge on this subject, and it’s amazing your self taught never realised that!

Great video I really enjoyed it, thank you.

That loco at 4:10 is awesome.

I wonder if any of you have seen the Phoenix in waubeno wisconsin. If you haven't look it up it's amazing. I see it fire up every year.

More please!

Alex made a point there about all the books that are available. Sorry to say, but the books that my great-grandfather left to my parents have now been lost and no one knows where they went. My great-grandfather was a blacksmith and steam engine mechanic plus he was a dealer for portable and stationary steam engines made in England. After my dad died and we cleaned out the house as my mom was moving, I looked for them but could not find them. She doesn't know, but she said a lot of stuff from the old house was tossed out when we moved the first time in 1966. When I was young I loved looking at the diagrams and reading them. (I was 12-13 and didn't really understand them) but they smelled fantastic!

Thanks for this

👍🐿😎

I enjoy your videos of steam and it’s nostalgia . From a time when men were men , not cross dressers .could have done without hearing that

I can barely comprehend a 28 ft flywheel

Great video Keith, finally get to see what you look like. How did you two meet?

Wonder if he's available to help restore some full size locos... I can think of four mainliners in the states that need volunteers that actually know the job and equipment

This is similar to why I like Claymills Pumping station

Swindon Fitters' Boy?

Did he get a mac donalds happy meal for the cleaning ? ( just wanna know as i got 2 motorcycles he can clean too )

Same books too - yep LBSC was impressive

Karnes isn't wrong about american locomotives having shoddily applied paint. Was told Southern Pacific would paint their locomotives other than the Daylights, with a mop .

MCGINNIS MADNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VERY INFORMATIVE. Well done on the introduction of Mr. Karnes to us. And you are too scary to me, I see someone that resembles you in the morning when I brush my teeth.... I just don't know how he got so old so quickly!!

👍🚂🚂🚂👍

Mr. Appleton, can you direct me to Mr. Karnes address to purchase his line drawing ? thanks Ralph

The full frontal assault made me spill my popcorn. ;)

Seems to me a guy just doing things , No machining content - we can all talk the talk if you like that sort of thing .