As I’m sure many of you know, mainline steam locomotion in the United States was phased out and dead by the 1960’s, with very few small railroads retaining steam power. Since then, many railroads and even individuals have started to retain historical steam locomotives and operate them around the country. I have never seen a comprehensive list of past and present mainline steam operations in the USA. Any steam locomotives operating on a mainline railroad from 1975-present, regardless of fate or ownership, should be included! For example of something that operated in the past, NORFOLK & WESTERN 1218, and present operations like MILEAUKEE ROAD 261. Even ongoing restorations for mainline excursions! I’m a young guy so I’m not sure what’s run before! ~W. Dancey
N&W 611, 1218
UP 844, 3985
SP 4449
SP&S 700
ATSF 3751
Reading 2100, 2101, 2102, 2124
NKP 765, 587
PM 1225
Southern 4501, 630
PRR 1361
SLSF 1522
Just off the top of my head.
If you’re llking for a good book on the subject let me suggest Jim Boyd’s “The Steam Locomotive- A Century of North American Classics”
In addition to being a very colorful history lesson ol’ Jim gives a very comprehensive view of mainline excursion steam post-1975, and some small local performers as well.
The book was published by MetroBooks in 2000. I doubt it’s in print at the present time so you may have to do some searching,
Sorrry, you can’t have mine!
That’s actually where I got a fair number of those locomotives. I managed to find that in a library in pretty good condition. As Firelock said, it’s a great read and a must for anyone interested in mainline steam.
What, no 759? No 5632?
Must be a younger generation…
Are there not a couple of Soo steamers still resonably viable, if not running? There’s a N&W 2-8-0 as well, I think at Strasbourg? It is #475.
N&W 4-8-0 perchance?
And proud of it.
I couldn’t remember 5632’s exact number for the life of me.
Mr. Jim covered those too.
I should add that Jim’s last words in the book are an interesting prediction:
“Will the 4012, or 4018- or any other Big Boy- ever run again? Absolutely. Why? Like Mount Everest, because it’s there.”
But let me point out that the number of operable steamers in the USA, I would estimate about 75, including
geared, narrow gauge, wood-burners, etc, is still only one-tenth what runs in “The Old Country,” Britain, where one out of ten people is a railfan. Any USA railfan visiting Great Britain can count on a mainline steam excursion just about every weekend, plus the hundred or so steam museum operations!
Quite true Dave. I suppose the British know that next to parliamentary democracy the steam locomotive was Britain’s greatest gift to the world, and they’re very proud of that!
Additions: N&W 4-8-0 475 Southern 2-8-0 722 Lois
I know it has not happened yet…
BUT what about the potential for the return of a 4-8-8-4
on the UP RR…The 1408 4018 [bow] [ Thanx RME ! ]
Sure has been quiet in THAT corner of the kingdom…[banghead]
Anyone have any news there??? [ Nothing but crickets!]
Well, as the title of the great book said:
“All Quiet On The Western Front” Or maybe the original German’s closer to the mark:
“Im Westen Nicht Neues,” or literally, “Nothing new in the West.”
If anyone knows anything they ain’t talkin’.
I do have to say that you might hear crickets for a considerable time before you see “1408” run again. I was, in fact, lamentably unaware of even the existence of that locomotive. Do you have any pictures of the state of the locomotive at present? 
Now 4018, that’s a different story. (And I want to see more about her very recent move!) But the likelihood of that locomotive being the one chosen for restoration to operating conditions … well, that topic has been done essentially to death on other threads in this Forum.
MY BAD! Dyslexia is a burden… I had the numbers, they were just out
That little 1 was just making a break for it – as Snagglepuss used to say, “Exit, stage right!”
Do you really think 4018 will be chosen over 4014 for the project?
For a list of surviving steam locos try:
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/
In the FIND box enter “operational”. Alas, the list is not just limited to mainline steam.