While reading a recent issue of "Classic Trains" it had an article about steam in 1944, and how that was the final year when steam was still the primary motive power. Nothing new there, but what surprised me was the number of steam locomotives in operation.

According to the article there were 350 steam locomotives in operation in 1944. I was surprised at that number, I would have guessed a lot more. Considering all of the shortlines and mines and quarries and the like.

Where did they arrive at that number? Is there some place that shows the number of steam locomotives in operation each year?

That has to be an error in the magazine. A large railroad like the Pennsylvania alone probably had more than that.

John

Economic Data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank shows there were 39,681 steam locomotives on 1-1-1944 and 38,853 on 1-1-1945. Peak was 65,006 on 1-1-1924.

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/A0155BUSA481NNBR

Phil Mulligan

I believe that the 350 refered to the number of "significant" new steam locomotives built that year.