What was the last revenue run of a steam locomotive in the United States. Don Ball in one of his books states that the last steam operations in the US were on the same day in April 1960 by both GTW and Norfolk& Western. I just received a birthday present of John Leopard's book on the DM&IR which shows a DM&IR Yellowstone in revenue service on May 3, 1960. Frank King claims that DM&IR operated steam into the summer of 1960 in his book on the DM&IR. Is in fact the DM&IR the last class 1 to operate steam?
As far as I understand it, UP 844 has never officially been retired. I believe that it has been used in revenue freight service in the Cheyene / Denver area in recent years for break-in runs after maintenance. Does this count?
CC
The last US class 1 railroad to use steam locomotives regularly in revenue service was the Denver & Rio Grande Western.
It operated its narrow gauge lines with steam right up until they were abandoned in 1969.
The DRGW ran the Silverton line with steam until the line was sold in 1980.
I had my father with me; otherwise I'd be inclined to doubt my eyes.
In early spring of 1961 we saw a (N&W) mallet crossing a trestle just west of St. Paul Virginia. One wonders if the Norfolk kept a few around in case the diesel fleet came up lacking? But I was surprised because even though I was young, I had been told that the RR had dieselized late but thoroughly.
Mallet was carrying coal cars. This was not an excursion. - a.s.
844 notwithstanding - it's been my impression that there may be a difference between the "last planned" and the "last actual" steam run on any given railroad. It's quite possible that the last actual run was an unheralded substitution of a steam locomotive for a Diesel when something came up that prevented an assigned Diesel from doing its assigned task.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Last steam on Colorado & Southern was #638; Ran Denver to Trinidad in 1963 and then was given to the town as a display item (Stuffed & Mounted across the river from the soon to be levelled ex-ATSF Amtrak Depot....
What criteria are we using here?
Your question is to loose to answer. Many railroads kept usable power around for a while after dieselization and as you have seen sightings after official dates can occur. The GTW and N&W dates in all probablility refer to the last date a steam engine was still on the books and assigned for it's regaular purpose. Beyond that as a basis there will be much dispute.
Probably not official...and I did not have a camera...but I did see steam pulling freight on the PRR near Philly in 1965. Although I was just a little kid I'm sure of what I saw...
Which were the last railways to drop steam from the active roster?
Everyone focuses on the N&W, which is fine as its use of steam was storied. But, from what I can tell, it seems as though the IC and Nickle Plate kept them around just as long. Anyone care to educate me?
By the way, the Ohio Central is not a class one, right? I know it is often referred to as a regional. Although I have not had the good fortune to go observe that gem of an operation, were I a betting man, I would be willing to bet it hauled freight/revenue steam runs as recent as last year.
Gabe
P.S. I often wonder if I will ever see another steam engine on a class 1 main without a diesel behind it before my time on this earth is through. I sure miss that aspect of the 80s.
Ohio Central is FRA Class 3, and is not a regional in the AAR Classification either.
(The System is 10-Class III's under common ownership)
NKP operated a few steam switchers into 1960, IC may have operated steam into 1960. GTW operated mainline steam into 1960, and may have been the last US operator of steam on scheduled passenger runs. I'm not sure if Lake Superior & Ishpeming counted as a Class 1 at the time, but they operated seasonal steam power into 1962.
BC Rail was the last Class 1 in North America to have regularly scheduled mainline steam service. Starting in 1974, the steam train ran from North Vancouver to Squamish on the BCR mainline 5 days per week, 6 months per year until the steam program was cancelled in 2001.
gabe Which were the last railways to drop steam from the active roster? Everyone focuses on the N&W, which is fine as its use of steam was storied. But, from what I can tell, it seems as though the IC and Nickle Plate kept them around just as long. Anyone care to educate me? By the way, the Ohio Central is not a class one, right? I know it is often referred to as a regional. Although I have not had the good fortune to go observe that gem of an operation, were I a betting man, I would be willing to bet it hauled freight/revenue steam runs as recent as last year. Gabe P.S. I often wonder if I will ever see another steam engine on a class 1 main without a diesel behind it before my time on this earth is through. I sure miss that aspect of the 80s.
Gabe,
If You stay in Indiana, I wont promise you anything, but Union Pacific is not afraid to run the 844 or 3985 without Diseasel protection. In 2007 when the 844 came to the west coast on her Portland Rose Excursion the diesel was there to help coming down out of the Blue Mountains, assisting with dynamics. I spoke with a crew member in La grande, OR and that was the only reason for the diesel being there, they were confident of 844s abilty getting up the Mountains. The 800 and Challenger classes were both regularly assigned Passenger power from Huntington to Portland during regular steam service. WE camped at Viento State Park in 2007 specifically to see the 844, and she had sole charge of the train, and was doing a Fine job of it.
In 2005, I also watched the 3985 headed East along the Columbia River, near Blalock Canyon, again, unassisted and was I sight that I will remember for a LOOONNG time, and Hope to see again.
Here in Portland, we have a pair of Hometown Girls(SP 4449 and SP&S 700) that the BNSF has let loose unprotected in the past, and I haven't heard of anything changing in that regard.
You may have to "Head West Young Man" but there is still Steam running on the "High Iron" out here from time to time, and not a POWERED BOXCAR in sight.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
When UP 3985 went through Sioux City last fall, it didn't have a diesel unit for protection.
You are right and I stand corrected.
But I wasn't counting a tourist operation - only "real" railroad operations. But that doesn't change the facts and you are right.
Dakguy201 - Nice photo ! Thanks for sharing. - PDN.
I've read everyone else's comments regarding this subject, and while I am not in a position to provide an authoritative answer to the original question, I will point out that we are extremely fortunate that so much narrow gauge steam power has been preserved or restored and is kept in running order on both the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroads. And here in South Dakota we have a 2-6+6-2 mallet operating on the Black Hills Central, and that would have been unheard of some years ago.
The Lake Superior & Ishpeming was a Class 1 at the time and operated steam during the ore rush in 1962 for sure, and possibly in 1963.
There was an article in Trains about this subject a few years ago, they considered the Colorado & Southern as the last official Class 1 operation.
A short line that operated steam freight in the 1980's was the Crab Orchard & Egyptian in IL. They were not a tourist line.
John
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
Omaha, Nebr. - 2 May 2009
QUESTION: The "Last Class 2 to operate steam?"
ANSWER: When did the New York, New Haven and Hartford drop the coal fires at its Cos Cob generating station? OKAY! Yes, I know! It's not a steam engine, per se, but Cos Cob did generate the steam that made the New Haven's electrified zone run for many years.
2nd ANSWER: Didn't Conrail, Amtrak, and some New York metropolitan transit agencies operate 4-6-6-4 Challengers until the mid 1970's? They inherited those engines from The Pennsylvania Railroad if I recall correctly. I'm referring, of course, to a certain Raymond Loewy designed, boiler-equipped class of locomotives that ran among New York, Harrisburg, and Washington, DC.
3rd ANSWER: Sometime during the mid-1960s didn't the "Q" fire up a Mikado and a Northern and place them in service to shuttle road freights through some springtime flood waters in and around Burlington, Iowa? The reason they did that was because the "tired iron" could handle high water better than the ground relay switches found on any diesel locomotive.
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