Are there any steam locomatives still in use in the U.S.?

Question

I remember (barely) some steam strains from when I was a small boy and I know at one time they still used thme on steep grades in the mountain west. Does anyone know of a website or just know if and where steam tarins are still used in the U.S.? I don't mean the ones used as attractions, but used as workhorses.

Answer 1

While not actually used in regular service, one locomotive is still technically on a freight railroad's active roster, Union Pacific #844, a big 4-8-4 Northern Type that is the only steamer to never be retired from a Class I roster.

On a similar note, while now only a tourist railroad, the Strasburg Railroad is the oldest operating line in the country, dating back to 1832, and has operated steam locomotives during most of its 175+ year history (it was turned into a tourist line in 1958).

In any event, for active freight service, steam locomotives are simply too maintenance intensive which is why diesel-electrics replaced them beginning in the 1940s (not because they were not powerful enough).  One last note about steamers used on tourist railroads, they occasionally do photo shoots hauling freight cars.  Even though it's only for show it's still interesting to see.

Answer 2

none at all.  there are diesel loco.'s that do all that heavy lifting now a days.  the only time u'll see a steam loco is at an attraction.

Answer 3

Don is correct, there are a number of restored steam locomotives in excursion or passenger type runs and a few taht operate cross country over mainline tracks from time to time.

The U.P has some, the City of Portland (Oregon) has one, there are others too.

I seriously doubt there any in use as workhorses, those type of railroads would be interested in profit from moving freight and diesels are so much more economical that steam for a profit based railroad would be out of the question.

Answer 4

Their is one steam locomotive that is still in use in the U.S. Im pretty sure it is used for an amtrak train.

Answer 5

There are no steam locomotives in use for regular hauling purposes.  There are many steam locomotives left, but they are used for tourist trains and similar purposes...

I believe that the only country that regularly uses steam for regular hauling purposes is China, and even there most have been replaced by diesel-electrics and pure electrics.

This website lists all of the surviving steam locomotives in the US by state, and how each is used.

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

Answer 6

If there are any, they aren't advertising the fact.   A few years ago, I road on the Strasburg (PA) RR, and I seem to remember them saying that they occasionally hauled some freight, not just tourists.  If they do, that would make them an operating steam railway.  Unfortunately their web site makes no mention of that.  I guess you could call them and ask . . .



I'm old enough to have very distinct memories of steam locomotives.  My grandparents lived in Altoona, PA, and when I went to visit, we would often travel to Horseshoe Curve and watch the steam locomotives struggling up the mountain.  A heavy train might have three locomotives pulling and one or two more on the back pushing to make it up the grade.  Awsome sight for anyone who loves steam power - black smoke rolling and cinders flying.  After cresting the grade, the pushers would come back down the grade and wait to the next train to shove up the mountain.

Answer 7

The Grand Canyon RR still runs steam engines every day. But that is a passenger line. I never heard of regular freight train steam still in use. They were very capable of pulling heavy trains. But they cost way to much to keep and operate over what diesels do.

Answer 8

None in regular service, only for tourist or rail enthusiast purposes.  I also like to look at steamlocomotive.com.  They try to keep a list of every existing steam locomotive in each state, and the operational ones are marked.

I have seen photos of the U.P. steam engines being used for regular hauling, but obviously they're just showboatin'.  That's a good thing.