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[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainmadman

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

There are only a handfull of steam loco's out there, they are hardly the problem anymore.

thats not the point there being destroyed via sraping what would you say if i said i will destroy all diesels eh! [}:)]

Interesting, when I read the topic for this thread, I just assumed that you were asking if steam trains should be abolished, and I assumed that you were thinking that they should or should not be abolished based on polution.

Abolishing something and scrapping something are two totally different things in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

[?][?][?][?][?][?][?]To abolish you need to either destroy or srcap the things you are abolishing eg. STEAM TRAINS but i don't want to know about that i want opinons on what people think about the topic.[8][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?]

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm quite sure that all along all of us were thinking that you were referring to steam locomotives being abolished from running (as in main line excursions or tourist service), perhaps due to high insurance costs or safety risks or pollution or whatever. But as far as steam locomotives all being sent to the scrapyard, that's absolutely ridiculous! There is absolutely no reason whatsoever why such a thing should be done! It makes no sense at all! Steam locomotives are pieces of history and part of our heritage and are loved by millions-railfans and non-railfans alike. In this day and age in modern developed countries in places like North America and the UK, where you live, nobody scraps steam engines anymore. In fact, many people are very angry that so many steam locomotives were scrapped years ago and as a result are trying very hard to take good care of and preserve what we have left. There are even some new steam engines being built, like the 5AT and SLM projects. In some poorer and/or underdeveloped countries where steam engines have been used in recent years, there are some that are in danger of being scrapped, but that is simply because the people who are in charge of the scrapping don't care about the historical importance of steam locomotives and are only concerned about making a quick buck from what they see as rusty scrap iron. Wanting to abolish steam locomotives has absolutely nothing to do with it. If you want to have an intelligent conversation about the advantages/disadvantages of steam locomotives, we will be happy to-that's what these forums are all about. But, making wild suggestions like this that have no merit to them is going to get you nowhere.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainmadman

QUOTE: Originally posted by macguy

There are only a handfull of steam loco's out there, they are hardly the problem anymore.

thats not the point there being destroyed via sraping what would you say if i said i will destroy all diesels eh! [}:)]

i'd say your loopey.

[trainfan1221]

Of course not! Steam is part of history and great to see in person. There just aren`t many places to run them anymore.

[Anonymous]

okay, most of these are aganits it but is there anyone in this forum that thinks that steam should not be abolished

[Overmod]

Is this supposed to be a question in semantics, or an objective query about whether or not mainline steam (like Heritage ops in Britain) should be preserved?

I note that the original question contains a negative assumption: 'does anyone think that steams should not be abolished.' I think it might be difficult to find someone on a rail forum who DOES think that steam should be 'abolished' -- although it might be quite a bit easier to find operating people who don't want steam operations on their lines at particular times.

Should steam operations be abolished? No, of course not.

Should steam be permitted on high-traffic lines? Depends on speed capability, reliability, and relative lack of track-damage propensity. (See the 5AT project) Also depends upon anticipated service, adequate insurance (particularly in the United States!) and the level of organizational planning shown by the operating organization.

Should steam be permitted on heritage railways and private lines? Of course. (Naturally, that's my own opinion and not holy writ...)

[Anonymous]

No, Steam trains are important to our history. To the enviromentalist these trains are not in huge numbers and overall are not that pollutive. Probaly compared to a jet airplane these steam locomotives most likely produce less pollution.

[Anonymous]

God.

I would just love it if America somehow reaquainted itself with that old prediliection for making bigger, faster, and better looking Locos once SUV/truck driving becomes no longer feasible.....

They don't even need to be steam engines per se....just modern trains with all the technology and ameneties we have now, but with the wonderful look of a locomotive...it would be like, I don't know....train Hot-rodding?!

[Anonymous]

YES.....[#wstupid].
BNSFfan.

[overall]

Railfan magazine has a list of all active steam engines left in North America. There were about 150 of them.

George

[Anonymous]

no steam trains are important to our history and will never be forgot.

[Anonymous]

I dont think they should take away all of the steam. They hold history. They are important, they helped in many wars.

[Anonymous]

Abolish steam trains? No.
The question does bring up an interesting sidelight on museums, though. Lots of museums have static displays of steam locomotives, as well as diesels and electrics. The problem is that they also have the displays fenced off and walled off so that you can't actually see inside them. Nor can you actually touch them, either. You might as well buy a Kalmbach book for all you can learn about why a certain locomotive is displayed.

Frankly, a steam locomotive under glass is about as exciting to see as a drop forge hammer forever frozen in time. It's just another piece of industrial equipment. What gets the hearts and minds of people is watching the thing move... or being able to sit in the engineer's seat and imagine what it might have been like to run that beast.

Erik

[starwardude]

LONG LIVE THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![^][^][swg][tup][:)][;)][|)][zzz]