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Steam locomotives were invented
in the mid-1800's and ruled the rails for a century.
Early locomotives were quite small, but evolution over the
decades created behemoth articulated locomotives of the 1940's.
By 1950, diesel locomotives of standard designs offered railroads
substantial operating cost savings, and by 1959 the steam locomotive
era was over.
Today, about 1200 steam locomotives
are preserved in municipal parks, museums, and private
collections. About 150 of those are considered "operational",
but many of these are in need of or undergoing major repairs
which can easily cost a half million dollars or more.
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