Michael Says for January 3, 2014 - Steam Locomotives

Eugene V. McKim, Sr. - Locomotive Engineer

@ 2014 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. In early January 1957: the last standard guage steam locomotive in regular operation on the Southern Pacific Railroad was retired. At that point the SP railroad became fully dieselized.
     At one time my grandfather Eugene McKim, Sr., drove those steam locomotives but as they were retired there were more engineers than seats to drive them. So he did other things involved in pipefitting and mechanical work retiring also in 1957.
     Steam Locomotives were cheap and rugged and could go over large distances over cheaply built and maintained tracks. In the United States, large-scale manufacturers constructed locomotives for nearly all rail companies, although nearly all major railroads like the Southern Pacific had shops capable of heavy repairs. Steam locomotives required regular, and, compared to a diesel-electric engine, frequent service and overhaul which was fine when steam was the only alternative.
     So it did not make any sense to run steam when there was diesel. Fifty six years ago the last oil can was put up and the only steam is small excursions like Durango Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec in Chama, NM… thus is progress, eh?

Michael Says for January 3, 2014 - Steam Locomotives