When did the last American steam train operate in service?

Answer 1

If someone from the UK may intervene. This news item appears in the latest edition (dated February 2007) of Railway Magazine (p10), the UK's premier magazine for matters relating to railroads:-

'Two ex-Chinese Rail QJ class 2-10-2steam locos, Nos 6988 and 7081, have been brought by the Railroad Development Corporation and now work on the Iowa Interstate Railroad, USA'

Answer 2

There are less than 50 steam trains still running in the U.S., mainly tourist attractions. Then about 20,000 Diesel engines (first introduced in 1940); only about 100 electric trains. Europe uses mainly electric, very few diesel.

Trying to pinpoint the very last time that a steam engine train made a commercial/industrial revenue run with which exact R/R = someone witnessing/substantiating that had to make it an event worth notoriety via some media form, documentation, whatever. When was the last Model T used as a daily vehicle, when was the last treadle sewing machine used in a factory setting, when was the manual typewriter last actually used to conduct business. ??? All are still around and used. No one set up fanfare for that 'tool' when it went out of general operation.

Answer 3

Yes, this is all very interesting I'm sure! But nobody has yet really answered the question - and I'd rather like to know the answer myself. So, when was the last occasion that a steam locomotive hauled a normal revenue earning train on a US railroad (not an enthusiast/tourist special)? Also, when was the last one in industrial use?

Answer 4

Depends on what is meant by "in service".

Most class 1 railroads were completely dieselized in the late 50's, but there were some exceptions on some properties where steam survived into the 60s, working quarries and gravel pits, etc. Some military bases still employed steam into the 60s as well.

Answer 5

Union Pacific has 2 steam locomotives that they operate yearly on Officer Specials and Show trains. They are the UP 3985 a 2-6-6-4 Challenger Big Boy Locomotive.
Picture: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=162447

And the 4-8-4 class 844 which recently completed a run through the southern states on a tour.
Picture: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=152675

Also videos can be viewed at the following address:

3985: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUCUa_gzmU
844: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07hC_8lQDt0

Answer 6

They are still operating on a limited basis. Mostly as tourist excursions.

Answer 7

One still runsin New Jersey and one in New York.