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Mainline Steam In the USA-Past & Present.

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Mainline Steam In the USA-Past & Present.
Posted by W. Dancey on Thursday, June 27, 2013 4:06 PM
As I'm sure many of you know, mainline steam locomotion in the United States was phased out and dead by the 1960's, with very few small railroads retaining steam power. Since then, many railroads and even individuals have started to retain historical steam locomotives and operate them around the country. I have never seen a comprehensive list of past and present mainline steam operations in the USA. Any steam locomotives operating on a mainline railroad from 1975-present, regardless of fate or ownership, should be included! For example of something that operated in the past, NORFOLK & WESTERN 1218, and present operations like MILEAUKEE ROAD 261. Even ongoing restorations for mainline excursions! I'm a young guy so I'm not sure what's run before! ~W. Dancey
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Posted by eagle1030 on Thursday, June 27, 2013 5:22 PM

N&W 611, 1218

UP 844, 3985

SP 4449

SP&S 700

ATSF 3751

Reading 2100, 2101, 2102, 2124

NKP 765, 587

PM 1225

Southern 4501, 630

PRR 1361

SLSF 1522

Just off the top of my head.

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Posted by Firelock76 on Thursday, June 27, 2013 6:27 PM

If you're llking for a good book on the subject let me suggest Jim Boyd's  "The Steam Locomotive- A Century of North American Classics"

In addition to being a very colorful history lesson ol' Jim gives a very comprehensive view of mainline excursion steam post-1975, and some small local performers as well.

The book was published by MetroBooks in 2000.  I doubt it's in print at the present time so you may have to do some searching, 

Sorrry, you can't have mine!

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Posted by eagle1030 on Friday, June 28, 2013 7:24 AM

Firelock76

If you're llking for a good book on the subject let me suggest Jim Boyd's  "The Steam Locomotive- A Century of North American Classics"

In addition to being a very colorful history lesson ol' Jim gives a very comprehensive view of mainline excursion steam post-1975, and some small local performers as well.

The book was published by MetroBooks in 2000.  I doubt it's in print at the present time so you may have to do some searching, 

Sorrry, you can't have mine!

That's actually where I got a fair number of those locomotives.  I managed to find that in a library in pretty good condition.  As Firelock said, it's a great read and a must for anyone interested in mainline steam.

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, June 28, 2013 11:32 AM

What, no 759?  No 5632? 

Must be a younger generation...

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Posted by selector on Friday, June 28, 2013 11:41 AM

Are there not a couple of Soo steamers still resonably viable, if not running?  There's a N&W 2-8-0 as well, I think at Strasbourg?  It is #475.

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Posted by erikem on Friday, June 28, 2013 2:59 PM

N&W 4-8-0 perchance?

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Posted by eagle1030 on Friday, June 28, 2013 3:05 PM

Overmod

What, no 759?  No 5632? 

Must be a younger generation...

And proud of it.

I couldn't remember 5632's exact number for the life of me.

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Posted by Firelock76 on Friday, June 28, 2013 4:53 PM

Overmod

What, no 759?  No 5632? 

Must be a younger generation...

Mr. Jim covered those too.

I should add that Jim's last words in the book are an interesting prediction:

"Will the 4012, or 4018- or any other Big Boy- ever run again?  Absolutely.  Why?  Like Mount Everest, because it's there."

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, June 30, 2013 12:33 AM

But  let me point out that the number of operable steamers in the USA, I would estimate about 75, including

geared, narrow gauge, wood-burners, etc, is still only one-tenth what runs in "The Old Country," Britain, where one out of ten people is a railfan.   Any USA railfan visiting Great Britain can count on a mainline  steam excursion just about every weekend, plus the hundred or so steam museum operations!

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, June 30, 2013 10:30 AM

Quite true Dave.  I suppose the British know that next to parliamentary democracy the steam locomotive was Britain's greatest gift to the world, and they're very proud of that!

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Posted by friend611 on Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:15 PM
Additions:
N&W 4-8-0 475
Southern 2-8-0 722
Lois
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Posted by samfp1943 on Monday, July 1, 2013 5:47 PM

eagle1030

N&W 611, 1218

UP 844, 3985

SP 4449

SP&S 700

ATSF 3751

Reading 2100, 2101, 2102, 2124

NKP 765, 587

PM 1225

Southern 4501, 630

PRR 1361

SLSF 1522

Just off the top of my head.

I know it has not happened yet...

    BUT what about the potential for the return of a 4-8-8-4

                  on the UP RR...The 1408   4018     Bow   [ Thanx RME !  ]

     Sure has been quiet in THAT corner of the kingdom...Bang Head

                       Anyone have any news there???  [ Nothing but crickets!]

 

 


 

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Posted by Firelock76 on Monday, July 1, 2013 9:01 PM

Well, as the title of the great book said:

"All Quiet On The Western Front"   Or maybe the original German's closer to the mark: 

"Im Westen Nicht Neues,"   or  literally,  "Nothing new in the West."

If anyone knows anything they ain't talkin'.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, July 1, 2013 9:51 PM

samfp1943

I know it has not happened yet...

    BUT what about the potential for the return of a 4-8-8-4

                  on the UP RR...The 1408       Bow    

     Sure has been quiet in THAT corner of the kingdom...Bang Head

                       Anyone have any news there???  [ Nothing but crickets!]

I do have to say that you might hear crickets for a considerable time before you see "1408" run again.  I was, in fact, lamentably unaware of even the existence of that locomotive.  Do you have any pictures of the state of the locomotive at present?  ;-)

Now 4018, that's a different story.  (And I want to see more about her very recent move!)  But the likelihood of that locomotive being the one chosen for restoration to operating conditions ... well, that topic has been done essentially to death on other threads in this Forum.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 6:32 PM

Overmod

samfp1943

I know it has not happened yet...

    BUT what about the potential for the return of a 4-8-8-4

                  on the UP RR...The 1408    [4018]   Bow    [Thanx, RME !] Mischief

     Sure has been quiet in THAT corner of the kingdom...Bang Head

                       Anyone have any news there???  [ Nothing but crickets!]

I do have to say that you might hear crickets for a considerable time before you see "1408" run again.  I was, in fact, lamentably unaware of even the existence of that locomotive.  Do you have any pictures of the state of the locomotive at present?  ;-)

Now 4018, that's a different story.  (And I want to see more about her very recent move!)  But the likelihood of that locomotive being the one chosen for restoration to operating conditions ... well, that topic has been done essentially to death on other threads in this Forum.

MY BAD!  Dyslexia is a burden... I had the numbers, they were just out of order.  4018   will change the post for those that do not read backwards and scrambled. Smile, Wink & Grin

 

 


 

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 6:53 PM

That little 1 was just making a break for it -- as Snagglepuss used to say, "Exit, stage right!"

Do you really think 4018 will be chosen over 4014 for the project? 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 8:39 PM

For a list of surviving steam locos try:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/

In the FIND box enter "operational".  Alas, the list is not just limited to mainline steam.

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