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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 170 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.
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