Whether in elegance of design, efficiency, the lives of the crew, the romance or just the wild amount of often forgotten designs from days of yore, what are your favorite eras in steam Locomotive development? This is mostly tailored for Americans, but cite your country of origin or even the nation you pick as you make your pick and perhaps explain why.The Experimental Era(1804-1828)The Beginning (1829-1845) when the first proper railroad companies began to form, think of designs like the Planet, Rocket or Best friend of Charleston. Rough, pioneering and adventurous, everything was being thrown at the wall pretty much. 1845-1860 (Age of Builders)The age of iron. imagine the 4-4-0 American, first gen teen wheelers, early camel backs, iron boiler and wooden cab era , also antebellum America. 1861-1895(Age of Distance)More refined 4-4-0’s, slowly improved performance with better track quality, higher boiler pressures, consolidations and early experimental compound locomotives are beginning to appear. Final era of brightly colored locomotives (in America ) 1890-1905 (New Century)The zenith of 4-4-0 construction and design, the beginning of all steel construction and design for locomotives being standardized, many engines are starting to reach top speeds of 80 to 90 miles an hour by this stage. New designs include the 4-4-0 “Atlantic” 1914-1934(The Age of Power)The pacific starts to make its appearance, as well as other larger wheel layouts such as Hudsons and Northerns. After ww1 rolling stock grows larger thus demanding larger locomotives. Streamliner age(1934-1945)The most graceful era outside that of the later and mid 19th century on an aesthetic level for steam locomotives, bright and colorful liveries return as companies pay lavish sums to have their passenger engines streamlined in art deco styles. 1946-1960 (The Twilight years )The end of steam but a few good faces emerged in this era.
I myself Cite the wild period between 1829 and 1845. So many insane ideas were thrown at the wall then, and yet we have so little surviving photographic (for obvious reasons ) and even lithographic imagery of locomotives and coaches from that era. It’s pretty humerous to see some of the wild ideas we had. (American here )
USA1930s-end of steamJust like big steam engines, especially articulateds. Simple as
>>2007050the later years; the bigger the bettterhttps://youtu.be/bh6GW_eymrM
Probably the later 19th century. Lots of elegant locomotive designs, as well as the rise of speed itself. This was especially true in britian.
Geared locomotives. I like that a new idea was tried with how to transmit the power to the wheels.
The streamliner era was gorgeous, but I also have a fondness for that turn-of-the century era when you still had little engines, but some were getting bigger
>>2007070This is true. Those last few steam engines still inspire awe
>>2007050The alternate universe where the Breitspurbahn was built.
I’ve always liked the super colorful and highly ornate aesthetics of the mid/late 19th century in America. This being before they just started to paint everything black to not have to wash these things daily.
