...and, no, I don't mean mussels at the local upscale seafood restaurant! I'm talking trains, locomotives, LIVE STEAM!!
Romantic. Exciting. Beautiful. They are the subject of countless stories, the star of many films, and they have been praised in many a song for years. Even those who haven't heard the Hank Williams song describe the whistle as a sad, lonesome sound.
Back in their heydey, there were many steam locomotives. From the beginning to the 1940s, much the same technology was used. Then came WWII, and a halt on locomotive manufacturing went into effect. Many of the old steamers continued to plug along dutifully, forced into extended service by the lack of steel. Many more were scrapped for their metal content. And then, after the war was over, diesel technology developed for submarines was incorporated into locomotives. The steam era was on the decline. Most of the remaining steam locomotives were scrapped. Some of them were purchased by movie studios in Hollywood, only to later be destroyed for the purpose of filming a train wreck scene. Some were destroyed in the same manner for the sake of entertainment at county fairs.
Over time, many of the few remaining Hollywood locomotives ended up on backlots or in storage, neglected. Most had fallen into disrepair, and no longer in operable condition.
Then there came the people with insight...some visionaries who could see that the steam locomotive was rapidly becoming an endangered species. A few lucky locomotives (and I mean FEW) were either kept in operating condition or restored by people who had a passion for steam locomotives.
These are the ones I love to see. And I have the upmost admiration for the dedicated people, most volunteers, who keep them going.
Here are a few of the locomotives I have had the pleasure to experience, still operated under LIVE STEAM!!
Nevada State Railroad Museum's #8
Steam Locomotive Links
California State Railroad Museum
Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum
Donald Nute's Steam Locomotive Collection
My Wish List-Operating steam locomotives I'd like to see
Spokane Portland & Seattle 700 Third largest operating steam locomotive in the U.S.
Southern Pacific 4449 The world's only operating streamline locomotive.
Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad They have an operational Shay, Climax, AND Heisler!
Shasta Sunset Dinner Train AKA McCloud Railway-in addition to their diesel engine, they also have operational a 1925 Alco 2-6-2 and a 1914 Baldwin 2-8-2.
Yreka Western Railroad Their Baldwin 2-8-2 is currently in the process of
boiler work, but looks forward to running again in 2006. It has had to substitute for YWRR's diesel at times and has
hauled freight as late as 2001!