Steam locomotives of the 21st century

Common card · No. 304698

Despite the advent of electric and diesel locomotives in the mid-20th century, steam locomotives continue to be used and constructed into the 21st century. Steam locomotives constructed in the 21st century fall into two broad categories: those that use advanced steam technology to be commercially competitive with diesels; and those built to more traditional designs for hauling tourist trains. Even locomotives in the second case likely use some modern methods and materials. These include welded boilers, to simplify construction, and roller bearings to improve reliability. For health and safety reasons and laws, asbestos is not used for boiler lagging and is replaced by other materials, such as glass fibre. If the locomotive runs on main lines, safety systems such as the Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) and an On-Train Monitoring Recorder (OTMR) must be fitted.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Rob Morland, Manager Project Planning, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, CC BY-SA 3.0