When did the last steam locomotive operate in revenue service?
According to an article in the Winter 2006 issue of CLASSIC TRAINS, J. David Ingles says that the last Class 1 to operate standard gauge steam in the USA in everyday operationwas the Colorado & Southern, which last operated its 2-8-0 # 641 on Oct. 11, 1962. Second to last was Lake Superior & Ishpeming in “summer” of 1962. In a letter to the editor in the Spring 2007 issue of the same magazine, Les Beckman reports that the last daily revenue steam locomotive was at Northwestern Steel & Wire, in Sterling, IL, in 1980. • My [ father | grandfather ] used to work for a railroad. I am trying to research his life. Do you have any information about that railroad or its employee records? You would not believe how many times I am asked this question. I am beginning to think that everyone had a grandfather who worked for the railroad. I am not a historian so I am unable to answer your questions. My best advise is to locate that railroad’s historical society. They often have good historical docume
