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.
|