Iron Horse Pulls Heavy Load

January 7, 2006

The steam locomotive was invented in England in 1797.

U.S. Railroads used steam locomotives from their inception in the early 1800s until the 1960s, when improvements in diesel power made diesel-electric powered rail locomotives a more cost-effective choice.

Steam locomotives worked hard and easily produced enough tractive power to grip metal rail tracks, and pull heavy loads. But, over time, steam powered locomotives presented a difficult problem for the railroads. The production, maintenance and upkeep of steam locomotives were very specialized and became increasingly expensive for the railroads. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was no longer cost-effective for large U.S. railroad companies to maintain and run these powerful iron horses.