Recently Trains Newswire has reported that on November 15th SOO 1003 had gone cold indefinitley, maybe forever. This week we learn that Filmore & Western #14 was returned to life on December 5th. Over the last 10 years, has there been a net gain or loss of functioning steam power?
How many run at least somewhat regularly? How many are ‘stored serviceable’ ? (I’m thinking of Grand Canyon’s stored steamer)
I believe steamlocomotive.com has a listing of extant steamers in any state of repair in N. America. Included is all sorts of information, even some photos. They even list known engines immersed in lakes for the past 70 or 80 years. I know of at least one steamer that lies deep in Kamloops Lake in south-western BC. I can’t answer your first question, but I would expect it to be slightly negative, perhaps by as many as 5-10 engines over the past 10 years. Crandell
well… the economy is pulling us by the tail. so very few steam excursions on the mainline can happen.
unless they have the gut to work hard and pay that extra money. and around 2012 ( which the world will NOT end in by the way) the price will probably double millions. but if you where a guy like warren buffet, it will not be too much of a drag.