Steam Trains and Engines

Steam engine trains have had a long and colorful history dating back to the earliest attempts to adapt the steam engine for use on then newly constructed railroads. The accepted method of locomotion over those early railway systems was by the means of horse drawn carts that were designed to fit onto the rails. Numerous inventors saw the need for a faster and more efficient means of locomotion and they turned their attention to the steam engine. However, many business owners were skeptical of the value of these bulky, noisy, hissing machines.

Traditionally, steam engine trains have always been customized for the specific railway system that they were to be used in. The exception to this custom was in World War I, when steam engine trains were built according to the specifications of the USRA standard. The Pennsylvania Railroad were known for its preference for the Belpaire firebox, while the Delaware and Hudson Railroad was distinguished by their elaborately flanged smokestacks. Other than these modifications though, steam engine trains generally retained many of the same basic characteristics.

In the United States, specialized manufacturers usually performed these modifications, although virtually all railroads had the capability to perform heavy repairs and some even had the facilities to construct entire steam engine trains on site. It was also common practice in those days for railroad companies to sell steam engine trains to other railroad companies.

Not all of the modifications performed were due to the owner’s preference however. Steam engine trains required periodic maintenance in order to keep them running in optimum condition. In the process of these service and overhaul procedures, which were usually done according to government-mandated schedules, new features were added and outdated parts were replaced or removed. Parts of the engine that were prone to wear were also replaced or upgraded.

While more modern forms of locomotion have long taken over and largely replaced the use of steam engine trains all over the world, the continuous rise in the price of diesel fuels worldwide has prompted a reevaluation of their viability in today’s energy landscape. No concrete attempts have as yet been made to bring back steam engine trains into regular commercial usage, but with the continued rise in the price of fossil fuels that may yet become a reality.