. >> reporter: the tired chef chris carl ton, corpus christi, texas, sought much more than just sceneryen you look out across this country side, you think you would ever want to come across this thing in a horse or a wagon? >> you know, it gives you a really thoughtful mind of how those people made those decisions. back 100 years ago, what made them come this way. and obviously endure what is this unbelievable splendid dangers. >> reporter: in its time, the steam engine was the peak of high-tech. the 1800s version of the 747 or the space shuttle. >> you look at a computer now and, well, some wires go in or some signals go in and some stuff comes out. but you can't tell how it works inside. here, if you look at a steam locomotive, oh, this route is hooked to that piston. and when that moves, this turns. when that turns, then this does that. and you can walk yourself through it. >> reporter: those who drive them say they have the rhythm and the soul of a living thing. for 24 years, carlos lalamas ha been an engineer. the job millions of children dreamed of doing. >> we do this on a regula