This should be a epic year for steam locomotives. Probably the best year since steam ended. Lets hope we can all ride the trains this year.

Think back for a moment. Let's say a decade ago, someone told you by 2021 there'd be a UP 4000 capable of running on the main lines, a second tank mallet at Black Hills and C&O 1309 in steam, you'd tell them they were insane!
I'm not familiar with the people involved, but I'd doubt they'll 'start the clock' on an engine they can't run anywhere. They have almost no track on which to run it, sadly.

Make no mistake, 15 is being worked on and has had regular progress, as much as the current restrictions for the pandemic will allow. But the progress so far has been slow for pretty obvious reasons.
When people boarded trains before we got shut down in 2020 by the state (which shut down all non-profit museums), those who asked me about 15 were told that they should not expect it to run in 2020 and I'd also add, "and don't bet much on 2021" either. That's not to say that I'm telling you all it can't happen, as anything could change...

So, there have already been a couple additional locomotives that have been brought up that were missed, and there are some more that I realize I missed before. So, here's an update (already).

[Also, I decided to include the websites to any of the organizations/railroads/tourist lines that could use donations to either help maintain their steam locomotive(s) or aid in the restoration of their steam locomotive(s). This is by no means an attempt to pressure anyone to donate. I'm just attempting to make it a little easier for anyone who would like to donate to any of these locomotives. If anyone knows a donation link for any of the locomotives that don't have one listed, please feel free to provide it.]

Highlights from 2020

- Probably some of the biggest news in 2020, the East Broad Top Railroad was purchased and will be brought back into service. In addition, EBT 2-8-2s #14 & #16 are being worked on and will be returned to operation. Many of us never thought EBT would get a third chance, and I know we’re all so happy to be wrong about that. Congratulations all around! I can’t wait to see the place when everything is up and running.

- In a surprising development, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad showed us Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 #1309 fully steamed up, and she moved under her own power for the first time in over 60 years. Congratulations, WMSR! You succeeded and got #1309 running again. You should be very proud of yourselves. Hopefully, the test runs will go well, and “Maryland Thunder” will be pulling passengers very soon.

- Denver & Rio Grande Western (Durango & Silverton) 2-8-2 #493 was returned to service, and the D&S crews made several successful runs. [Thanks o484]

- Florida East Coast 4-6-2 #148 was successfully restored to operation, and she made multiple successful runs. It is amazing that U.S. Sugar has been able to do what most people had written off. Congratulations, U.S. Sugar! I can’t wait to see #148 hopefully pulling trains again soon.

- Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. 2-6-6-2T No. 108 was been restored at the Black Hills Central Railroad. I can't wait to see her in action once tourist operations can start.

- Northern Pacific 0-6-0 #924 was successfully fired up at the Northwest Railway Museum, and she even managed to pull a few trains in 2020. Here's hoping we see more about her in 2021. [Thanks o anderson]

- Little River Railroad 4-6-2 #110 had her 1472-day rebuild finished, and she was able to pull the Christmas trains in December 2020. Well done, everyone. You did a great job getting her finished up and running again.

- Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 #20 was successfully rebuilt, reassembled, and she operated in 2020. Excellent job to all who played a role in her return to operation. You did a magnificent job. [Thanks o anderson]

Currently in 2021

- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 #2926 is on the verge of being fully restored and operable. She will be quite a sight when she's finished up and fired up. http://www.nmslrhs.org/Help/howtohelp.php

- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 is finishing up her rebuild, and she should be operable very soon. https://www.sbrhs.org/donate/

- Boston & Maine 4-6-2 #3713 is still being restored at Steamtown, and, with some luck, we will see her run under her own power in the not-so-distant future. I know she will look really nice, but, personally, I hope they install the "earmuffs" (small smoke deflectors) on her again at some point. http://www.project3713.com/support-3713/

- Reading 4-8-4 #2100 is steadily getting closer and closer to finishing up her restoration, and what a sight she will be. It will be a truly wonderful day to see her in her former glory again. https://www.fireup2100.org/donate/

- Reading 4-8-4 #2102 has had her restoration proceeding very nicely (and mostly under the radar), and it appears that she might be operable early this year.

- Union Pacific 2-8-0 #428 is now getting some more focused attention on her restoration (since J. Neils Lumber Company 3-truck Shay #5 now up and running and Frisco 2-10-0 #1630 still operating well). I think this ol' girl has been very patient, and, now, she's going to be getting a lot of TLC. https://www.irm.org/up428/

- Canadian National 2-6-0 #91 is continuing to be restored by the Middletown & Hummelstown as time and finances permit. It will be nice to see her up and running again.

- Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis 4-8-4 #576 is currently being restored to operation, and the NSPS has been good, steady progress with #576’s restoration. I'm so glad that things are going so right for her, and what a beauty she will be when she's finished. https://www.nashvillesteam.org/donate/

- Alaska Railroad 2-8-0 #557 is moving even closer towards operation. Best of luck, guys, and keep going strong. http://557.alaskarails.org/support/index.html

- Maine Central 4-6-2 #470 is continuing to move along very nicely with her restoration. I can't even imagine how beautiful she will be once she is up and running. https://www.newenglandsteam.org/getinvolved

- Grand Trunk Western 2-8-2 #4070 continues to move along with her restoration. While she is still quite a ways from being finished, here's hoping it won't be too long before she's running down the rails again. https://www.midwestrailway.org/article/restoration-4070

- Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern 0-6-0T #65 was taken into the shop on New Year's Day 2019 that , and it appears that she is going to be restored back to operation. Congratulations, WK&S! I'm so glad you're bringing her back to steam, and I hope her restoration goes by as smoothly as possible.

- St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) 4-8-4 #819 is being discussed as being restored (VERY slowly) to operation as time, money, and volunteers allow. I do hope she is able to get up and running again one day in the future.

- Union Pacific (Heber Valley Railroad) 2-8-0 #618 is still moving along steadily with her restoration (as best as we know) as resources are available, and the plan, depending on how things go, is that she could be operational in the near future. [Thanks burbri45 & xboxtravis7992]

- Great Western 2-8-0 #75 has been down for quite some time, but, like UP #618, she is slowly, but surely, undergoing a very through rebuild. Hopefully, it won't be too long in the future before we see her under her own power again. [Thanks xboxtravis7992]

- Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 #223 has been in restoration for 20 years now. Her tender is basically complete (minus some miscellaneous components) and painted. At this point, the emphasis of the work will be on the locomotive (with the drivers & axles being the main goal for this year). Unfortunately, in 2019, the restoration crew was locked out from where the locomotive is housed, and restoration work has been brought to a stop. Although the situation doesn't look good at this time, here's hoping things can be resolved and restoration can resume. [Thanks burbri45 & xboxtravis7992]

- Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 #1385 has had steady work done on her restoration throughout the year. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer before she's fired up once again. [Thanks John Risley] https://www.midcontinent.org/category/cnw-1385/

- Western Coal & Coke 4-6-0 #1 has just recently had its restoration to operation restarted after 12 years. Here's hoping that she will be running again one day. https://www.midcontinent.org/category/w ... nd-coke-1/

- Pennsylvania 4-4-4-4 #5550 is still steadily being constructed. She is currently well over 30% complete. [Thanks NS6770fan] https://prrt1steamlocomotivetrust.org/station/

- US Army/Navy S100 0-6-0T #5002 began her restoration at the shop of Brett Goertemoeller, owner of BMG Railroad Contractors, LLC. They made fast progress early (including performing the ultrasound), and it looks like it might not take too long before she’s running again if things continue at this pace. [Thanks airforcerail] https://www.armysteam.com/

- New Hope Valley 0-4-0T #17 is very close to having her restoration finished and should return to service in the near future after being out of service for ~2 years while undergoing its mandated FRA work. [Thanks Evan] https://www.triangletrain.com/donate/

- Cliffside 2-6-2 #110 appears to be undergoing an operation restoration that has managed to slip under the radar. Hopefully, they can get a little more attention to the locomotive and get her running again one day. https://www.triangletrain.com/donate/

- Western Pacific 0-6-0 #165 has its tender completed, and the boiler repairs are getting close to being completed at the Portola Railway Museum. [Thanks o anderson] https://www.wplives.org/steam.html

- Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington 0-4-4T #10's new boiler should be completed and installed in the near future. [Thanks elecuyer]

- The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway appears to be preparing to build a new steam locomotive (2-4-4T #11). Hopefully, they will be able to have this new locomotive constructed and operate one day. https://fundrazr.com/build11.2020?ref=a ... VfKnB4rxaG

- Northern Pacific 4-6-0 #1364 has also been receiving some work up at Toppenish, Washington. [Thanks Les Beckman] https://nprymuseum.org/help-out/

- Santa Maria Valley 2-8-2 #21 appears (based off of their website) to be progressing along nicely in her restoration in Astoria, Oregon. [Thanks Les Beckman] https://www.astoriarailroad.org/index.html

- U. S. Army / Virginia Blue Ridge Ry. / Morris County Central Railroad 0-6-0 #4039 (VBR #5) is also making progress. The new boiler is almost completed over in Colorado, and the boiler tubes were shipped from Whippany to Colorado in 2019. The original plans were to install them once the boiler was shipped to Whippany and mounted on the frame, but that changed in 2018. A new cab has been constructed, and the tender has been completely rebuilt, along with all the appliances. Once the new (welded) boiler is mounted, the final assembly can take place. [Thanks Al Holleuffer] (P.S. How have things been? I haven't heard from you in a few years.) https://www.dynamicticketsolutions.com/ ... ations.cfm

- Chicago & North Western 4-6-0 #175 has already begun to receive some serious work from SRI. She will be a very nice addition for them when all is said and done. [Thanks Les Beckman] https://michigansteamtrain.charityproud.org/Donate

- White Pass & Yukon 2-8-0 #69 might also be running in the near future (for the first time since 2013). [Thanks JohnHillier]

- Washington & Lincolnton 2-8-0 #203 has had her boiler ultrasounded and should be receiving new tubes this year. Hopefully, she'll be running alongside Southern 2-8-0 #154 again soon. [Thanks RookieFireman]

- San Antonio & Aransas Pass 4-4-0 #60 should be further evaluated (and hopefully have her boiler ultrasounded) along with the newly acquired 2-truck Shay Oregon, Pacific & Eastern RR #112. {Personally, I hope I can see #60 operate in the not-so-distant future.} [Thanks RookieFireman]

- Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad 2-6-0 #5 is continuing her restoration in Nevada City, CA. The 1960 "Quickfire" Dixon boiler installed by Universal Studios will be replaced with a replica boiler (and closer to the original) that was built for a sister Baldwin 2-6-0 locomotive, "Glenbrook." The Carson & Tahoe Flume & Lumber locomotive in Carson City has been restored with modern repairs to its existing boiler. [Thanks o anderson]

- US Army #4023 / Virginia Blue Ridge #9 / New Hope and Ivyland 0-6-0 #9 / SMS #9 is still undergoing an extensive operational restoration at the SMS shops in Bridgeport, NJ. That being said, she passed her hydro earlier in 2020. Hopefully, it won't be much longer before we see her under power again. [Thanks Mgoldman]

- Oregon Railroad & Navigation 4-6-2 #197 is slowly, but steadily, undergoing a lengthy operational restoration by a group named the "Friends of the OR&N 197". [Thanks Mgoldman]

- White Pass & Yukon 2-8-0 #61 is an outside-frame locomotive that once was in the Skagway River as rip-rap. Stathi Pappas, the current owner, and his Stockton Locomotive Works are slowly working on this project as time is available. A lot of work has been done on this locomotive, and I can't wait to see how good she will look when she's finished and operating again. It’s great to see another locomotive getting yet another chance at life. [Thanks Brian Norden]

- The Virginia & Truckee 2-6-0 “Lyon” is a full size standard gauge wood burning replica steam locomotive being built by the Mason City & Clear Lake Electric Railroad Historical Society. The locomotive was donated (earlier this year) to the Nevada State RR Museum at Carson City, NV for completion. I can only imagine how wonderful she will look when she is finished. [Thanks Mgoldman & Alexander D. Mitchell IV]

- Southern Pacific 2-8-2 #786 continues to make slow, but steady, progress in her restoration to service. The Strasburg shop has also done some past work for the group. [Thanks Les Beckman] https://www.austinsteamtrain.org/donate-786-fund/

- Nevada Northern 2-8-0 #81 continues to have work done, and donations for her restoration are still coming in. She has been steamed up and, hopefully, it won't be too much longer before she's able to power herself again. [Thanks Brian Norden] https://nnry.com/pages/pick-your-part.php

- Spokane, Portland & Southern 4-8-4 #700 is proceeding very nicely in her rebuild, and they are expecting her to return to service very soon. [Thanks Les Beckman]

- Canadian National 4-6-2 #5080 has been “sold” to the Aspen Crossing Railway Corporation “…where it will be resurrected within two years and get her back on track”. It appears that as of March 18th, 2019, the project is getting underway in regards to moving the locomotive and tender. [Thanks Mgoldman]

- Mississippi Central (Wilmington & Western) 4-4-0 #98 is down for her 1472. Hopefully, it won't be too long before this beautiful "American" is running once again.

- Cummer & Sons Cypress 2-6-2 #104 is currently attempting to raise donations to begin an operation restoration for the locomotive at the Florida Railroad Museum. https://www.facebook.com/FIREUP104/

- Soo Line 2-8-0 #2425 was purchased by Mineral Range Railroad in Michigan for restoration. Has anyone heard anything about her since 2019?

- Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 #2716 is proceeding along with her restoration very nicely, and they hope to have her operable in the near future. [Thank you, soups] https://kentuckysteam.z2systems.com/np/ ... ampaign=1&

- Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade 2-8-2 #15 has been down since last year when it was discovered that multiple repairs needed to be done. Earlier in 2020, the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum received $154,000 from the state of Washington's supplemental capital budget. Hopefully, once work can resume on repairing #15, she might be operable in the near future. http://www.chronline.com/news/chehalis- ... ef459.html

- Boone & Scenic Valley 2-8-2 #8419 is undergoing her 1472 SDI. The railroad is still trying to raise funds to complete #8419's rebuild and have her in service again as soon as possible. https://bsvrr.com/wp/get-8419-steaming-in-2019/

- Holmes Eureka Lumber No. 4, a two-truck Climax, is under restoration at the Roots of Motive Power, a railroad and logging museum in Northern California. They are hoping to have her operational in two years. Here's wishing them the best of luck.

- Southern Pacific 2-8-2 #745 is undergoing her 1472 SDI. Any donations to the Louisiana Steam Train Association to aid in #745's return to service again would be greatly appreciated. http://www.lasta.org/sp-745/

- Canadian National 4-6-0 #1392 had a tube replaced this winter and more recently passed her hydro at the Alberta Railway Museum. Hopefully, it won't be long before she's moving under her own power again. [Thanks SD70dude]

- Southern Pacific 2-6-0 #1744 was purchased by the Pacific Locomotive Association, and they plan to restore her to operation. #1744 hasn't run in quite a while, and I hope the PLA are able raise all the funding needed to return her back to steam. [Thanks David Dewey] https://www.ncry.org/donate/

- Nevada Northern 4-6-0 #40 went down for her 1472-day rebuild. Hopefully, it won't be very long before "The Ghost Train" is running once again.

- Canadian National 4-8-2 #6060 appears to have started receiving some work on her latest restoration. "The Rocky Mountain Rail Society that owns the locomotive up in Alberta, Canada has decided to commence work on the 4-8-2 even though not all of the funds for her restoration are currently available." [Thanks Les Beckman] https://6060.org/donations-page

- Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain 2-8-0 #38 "is progressing on a low priority basis with passenger cars consuming more of the capital dollars at the moment. Firebox repairs should be completed in 2021 at which point we will turn our attention to the running gear." [Thanks Alan Maples]

- Arcade & Attica 2-8-0 #18 is down for repairs, and any additional contributions to her repairs would always be appreciated. https://235ffd4e-b927-42a2-a3c0-685f180 ... d979ac.pdf

- Southern 2-8-0 #401 was taken down for her 1472-day inspection at the start of 2020. Any contributions to her rebuild would be greatly appreciated. http://www.mrym.org/donation.html

- Saint Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 2-4-2 #5 has recently gotten new wind on getting her reassembled and cosmetically restoring her (with an operational restoration being possible at a later point). https://www.number5project.com/?fbclid= ... zEI4P3MXlg

- Coronet Phosphate 0-4-2T #6 is under restoration at McHugh Locomotive in Fairless Hills, PA. Hopefully, her restoration won't take too long. Updates on her restoration can be viewed in the thread "The Train the Wouldn't Die." [Thanks tomgears]

- Southern Pacific 4-6-2 #2479 has been under restoration for quite some time. Hopefully, she can be finished and operated again one day. https://ctrc.org/about-ctrc/donate

- Long Island 4-6-0 #39 is still trying to raise funds for her restoration by the Strasburg Railroad. Hopefully, she can have her funds raised and be restored someday soon. http://rmli.org/our-collection/lirr-ste ... motive-39/

- Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 #152 has been under restoration for quite some time. Hopefully, she can be finished up and pull passengers again someday soon. https://www.kyrail.org/restore-the-ln-152/

- Polson Logging 2-8-2 #90 is being saved and restored by the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Hopefully, she will be up and running one day. https://www.savethepolson90.org/

I know that AoSR is continuing to work on their locomotives, but I don't have a clear idea on where they stand with their projects at this time. If anyone has more detailed information on any of these locomotives that they are safe to share, please feel more than welcome to do so.

When I first started making this list back in 2019, it contained only 14 steam locomotives under restoration to operation. Now, the list of locomotives returned to service/being restored/being rebuilt since the list started sits at well over 4× the original starting number. That was truly amazing, and it really brings a smile to my face to see so much steam moving towards operation again.

If there are any other steam locomotives that started (or are still undergoing) an operational restoration, please feel free to list which locomotive it is (and roughly where things stand, if you know). Likewise, if you know any additional details (that can be shared) for any of the locomotives already mentioned, please feel free to inform me. We could always use more good news in regards to steam.

{Lastly, while it isn't currently being restored, U.S. Army / TVRM #610 was pushed into the shops around September 2018 for evaluation on the feasibility of possibly restoring her again. With no official word from TVRM (that I'm aware of at this time), I guess we'll see what happens.}

Doe River gorge should have their crown operational sometime later this spring

As for the AoSR, they are doing an extensive rebuild on Yreka Western #19 (The locomotive in the movie "Emperor of the North"). Their latest roundhouse report gives a brief overview of their plan to restore it to running condition.

https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/ro ... nter-2020/

Also, not mentioned is Buffalo Creek & Gauley #4 which is in Cass, WV awaiting an operational restoration. I don't have any inside information on it's current status, but the 14 mile Cass to Durbin line along the Greenbrier River is awaiting completion of a bridge to make it usable again. A historic 200-year flood washed part of it out in 1985 and most people figured it would never be restored. Cass has several operating geared steam locomotives which are great for mountain use, but would be too slow for the river line. BC&G #4 was bought with the intention to use it on this line.