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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 150 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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