Keith Rucker's Vulcan gets its saddle tank back

The 1917 locomotive takes shape again at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, with a replacement cab being built off-site.

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Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org Story of November 9, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

Vulcan Locomotive Restoration: Installing the Repaired Saddle Tank

Video summary

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0:44Rucker explains why a saddle tank locomotive carries its water directly above the boiler.
2:17The repaired tank sits upside down on a trailer, with replaced metal sections and internal tubes.
6:23The old cab's rust damage explains why a replacement is being fabricated off-site.
11:13The saddle tank is back on the boiler, though installation required an extra removal to address a leak.
14:52An evening update shows the domes reinstalled above the freshly painted tank.
16:21Remaining work includes white striping, temporarily refitting the old cab and further test runs.

Sandblasting exposed holes all over the Vulcan's saddle tank. Now the repaired tank is back above the boiler, giving Keith Rucker a satisfying moment: "Well, that's starting to look like a train."

His locomotive update was the most watched of two new uploads, reaching roughly 46,000 views. The tank's return wasn't quite a straight lift into place. A small leak near the steam dome meant taking it off again before completing the installation. By the evening update, the tank has fresh black paint and its domes reinstalled. The video is sponsored by American Rotary.

The cab is another matter. Rucker shows rust along the old cab's gutter and sides while a replacement is being fabricated elsewhere. For now, the plan is to refit the old one temporarily and get the locomotive out for further testing. Several viewers discuss the value of seeing this work up close, while others reassure him that he needn't film every stage of the restoration.

The other new upload, "The Calvary Arrived: Weekend Shop Maintenance & Lista Cabinet Restorations", brings things back to the shop. But the channel's strongest daily draw is an earlier job: "Frozen Solid! Massive 4-Jaw Chuck Restoration", attracting about twice the locomotive video's daily views.

Subscribers were unchanged over the week, and daily views are below their usual pace. Among nearby DIY channels, Davey Struggle had a substantial week, while Programming Electronics Academy was quieter. Rucker's own week supplied two distinct scales of restoration: shop cabinets on one side, a century-old locomotive on the other.

Published on Trari

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What viewers say

Thanks for taking us along with the repair of the locomotive. Many of us will never have a chance to have direct experience with a locomotive.
@brianlittle3452See it on YouTube
No need to apologize about not being able to film everything. Like you said it would be disrespectful to those that are on the clock. Always enjoy whatever you are able to show on the locomotive project!
@bobtorrence3461See it on YouTube
It looks great Keith. You've done a lot of amazing work on this locomotive and I appreciate the extra effort in sharing it with us.
@springcreekfarmerSee it on YouTube

7 more comments

She is coming together nicely! Thank the team for me , I am a retired engineer who holds a First Class unlimited license so really like to see these historic engines kept in service so the younger generation get to see them operate!
@petegraham1458See it on YouTube
What a tremendous amount of hard work you are your dedicated co- workers have put into this old girl to get her running again. What a story she could tell of her many years of service. Thanks for taking us along on this interesting project.
@ellieprice363See it on YouTube
Thanks, Keith. I enjoy following along with rebuilds and what it takes to complete them. Whatever video you can catch, I will watch. Great job, as always.😊😊
@transmitterguy478See it on YouTube
She's looking fantastic! Keep up the great work! Can't wait to see her fired up again

I agree with you on the time change too!
@jameslott7850See it on YouTube
I feel your pain Keith. During my working life, during winter I would leave for work in the morning in the dark, and come home in the evening in the dark.
@mattthescrapwhispererSee it on YouTube
The owl at the end was voicing his disagreement about time changes.
@rickv1007See it on YouTube
I really have enjoyed your locomotive series! I've learned so much from you in the process. What a cool hobby! What a huge amount of work!
@Ray-wd4epSee it on YouTube