Abandoned Steam Engine Brought Back to Life! - 1908 Industrial Time Capsule

Watch as a steam engine installed in 1908 comes back to life after sitting abandoned for 85 years! Our friend Alex Karnes will be our guide to the workings of this beautiful machine, as well as to many of the other mechanical antiquities that can be found within the walls of the water works.

We and Alex would like to thank everyone at the city of Woburn who made this possible, including Mayor Scott Galvin, City Engineer Jay Corey, DPW Deputy Superintendent Leonard Burnham, Plant Operators Scott Johnson and Jon Morales, and the Woburn Fire Department. Additional thanks to John Roderick and Frank Killoren.

JOIN US ON:

Thanks to Musicbed for providing the music in this video.

0:00 Introduction
1:02 Sponsored Message
2:06 History of the Waterworks
8:13 The Logbooks
13:02 Building Overview
20:46 Starting the Boiler
23:22 Waiting for Steam
30:38 Signs of Life
33:40 Warming Up
44:37 The Engine Runs
1:01:38 It's Like a Friend
1:06:14 The Whistle
1:08:07 Golden Evening
1:16:02 Alex Signs Off

MB01ID5JJXGISDL

[cthriftfl]

I think Alex is a bigger find than an old steam engine. Brian and Michael help this guy find a platform with youtube. We need more of him.

[DEADPEDAL]

Alex has a sharp intelligence and an absolute dedication to detail. A very proper person.

[mattwietlispach]

Alex is like one of those very rare teachers you would have in high school who TRULY loved what he was teaching and loved getting the students stoked up about whatever it was. You want to share his passion. I can only imagine how awesome all those huge derelict power plants you guys toured when they were operational like this.

[member]

Alex should be protected at all costs, his knowledge and passion is unmatched.

[kentslocum]

This is quite possibly the very best advertisement for a city I've ever seen. Any city looking to improve their public image should take major pointers from the way this restoration was handled.

[servopie]

We must protect Alex at all costs. What a humble soul.

[itsTomate]

I want a directors cut of Alex’s ramblings. It’s so amazing listening to someone who A) knows what they’re talking about and B) very passionate about what knowledge they have. This is a big moment in his life and you can feel it in this

[nikfs]

The little breaks he takes while talking just to catch his breath. It’s like he’s holding himself back from explaining everything at once. I love people like this.

[BradinSiouxCity]

The way Alex takes long pauses while thinking of the proper way to explain something shows how serious he is about educating everybody about this. It's impressive.

[thedallastexan]

Being an engineer, this brought a tear to my eye to see the labor of love and care and attention to detail. Cheers, Alex.

[fonkbadonk]

It is absolutely magical to see how Alex literally becomes more and more alive with the engine getting more and more operational. I feel like he IS the engine.

[cameronaberdeenuk]

Alex> an American of the best sort. National Treasure status.

[vazk-thret]

I feel like if Society were to collapse, Alex would be one of the first dudes to start rebuilding it, his almost religious respect for engineering and machinery is something I share, and I feel like there're some things we've forgotten as a society that he's helping us remember.

[olliebeatz]

This quickly turned into one of my favorite episodes. I really enjoyed Alex explaining everything in a hyper detailed fashion. The world needs more people like him.

[MrMike-fnhi]

The enthusiasm Alex exhibits borders on obsession. We need more people in this world like him and the team. Alex is as much a treasure as this pump house. I admire his drive and dedication to do whatever it takes to preserve this plant. We need more preservation of history! We are far too dismissive of older technology. As a plant engineer I am shocked they received approvals to do this. My hats off to the City for allowing the preservation and restoration. Thank you for bringing this to us!

[tayyabibx]

this deserves national heritage protection. And should be preserved and maintained (preferably by people like Alex who prefer to follow their passion over money).

[TroyOnymous]

Alex is a prime example of a guy like many of us who seems to have been born in the wrong era, but he's made the best of it by bringing this beautiful engine back to life through hard work and dedication so that the next generation has a working example of how things used to be. Fantastic filming by the Proper People on this too, the shots captured and story told here are magnificent.

[JeffBolen]

I just turned 70. My Dad was a high pressure steam engineer. He taught me to run various steam engines and plants. I loved this video. I wish more people would appreciate our history.

[kellyscars]

Alex's passion is unparalleled. I've never seen an old man trapped in a young person's body. This guy has clearly lived past lives before!

[Robmacdiesel]

I’m an architect and public works director. This is the best YouTube video I have seen in a long time. Alex is awesome and I absolutely love his personal drawings. I would pay money to visit this museum. Great video!