History Question

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rvs053063

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Just a quick question. What became of the tens of thousands of steam locomotives that populated the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Were they all melted down and recycled? Sent to scrap yards and desert graveyards like planes? Just curious and I couldn't find anything on Google.
 
Simply speaking, most steam engines in the US were scrapped after they wore out, or replaced by more modern steam engines, or quit being used altogether when railroads converted from steam to diesel power in the 40's and 50's. The locos were worth too much money as scrap metal to just sit in desert graveyards like airplanes. Some were donated by railroads to museums and municipalities that put them on display. Some of these have been restored and are operating.

One exception was the Union Pacific Railroad, which never retired #844. The UP also kept several steam engines stored in roundhouses for many years before finally donating them to museums and parks.

I'll try to find my issue of Trains listed and discussed US steam engines which have/had been restored and are/were in excursion service.
 
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Just a quick question. What became of the tens of thousands of steam locomotives that populated the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s? Were they all melted down and recycled? Sent to scrap yards and desert graveyards like planes? Just curious and I couldn't find anything on Google.
Hello,
I’m not sure how other countries disposed of their steam engines but here in the UK our steam engines were sent to Barry Island in Wales where they were cut up and the scrap was recycled, thankfully, quite a few people had the foresight to realise that many of those scrapped engines could be saved, many enthusiast raised money and bought those old engines and with that the preservation movement was started.
Here’s a sad pic of engines awaiting the chop at Barry Island.
DE085731-1874-4DE7-969B-748A3C6F5325.jpeg

Link https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/locomotives-graveyard-hundreds-old-trains-14908147
 




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