Preserved steam locomotives

Something I have wondered for a while is; which country in the world has the highest number of preserved steam locomotives?
I`ve always thought it was Britain "the steams Mecca", but is that the fact?

Knut

 

Australia certainly has a good number. I have a suspicion that because it is a country that has great reserves of the raw materials needed for steel production, the scrap value has never been that high. Many locos were plinthed in parks rather than cut up at the end of steam. However, "extant" is one thing, "steamable" is quite another! Britain would certainly win on a "steamable" criteria versus Australia.

 

What about the USA? The size of the country and the number of locos would suggest a fair few, but the early chang3vto diesel, about 10 years before Britain may count against this

 

Whilst it's not a totally reliable source, the various Wikipedia lists preserved steam would indicate the UK is well in the lead.

 

*update*

"More than 600"

http://www.australiansteam.com/

 

That includes narrow gauge as well. So is the question standard gauge only or to include narrow gauge?

 

Very murky waters there in regards to Australia, given the three different "standard" gauge widths!

 

Germany seems to have a vast number too.

Steven

 

Checking on Preserved railway stocklist for UK only
Standard gauge
581 steam locos.
984 Diesel and Petrol locos
156 Electric and Battery locos.

Total 1721

Narrow gauge
Steam 541
Diesel / Petrol 1931
Electric and Battery 542

Total 3014

Miniature
Steam - 452
Diesel / Petrol - 345
Electric and Battery - 132

Total 929

Grand Total 5664

No idea as to what status without going through every record.

 

I`m thinking of both gauges together.

 

Oh my god, that`s absolutely stunning.

Thanks for your information Sir!

Knut

 

Surprised that there’s so many electrics

 

I don't think there are. I suspect the search of UK locos brought up such as the Cl. 87 sold abroad plus a lot more that would not be classified as preserved, including a lot of Cl.73.

 

Just checked the list and it does include those sold abroad as well as a number that have been scrapped.
If that is the case why are they listed?
However the main list number can be further adjusted by the addition of Broad Gauge - mainly Irish.

Broad Gauge
Steam - 39
Diesel - 40
Electric - 2

Total 81

Grand total 5745

All with the proviso that I do not know the condition or status of the locos or the information listed.
I suppose you could further increase the amount by the amount of model engines there are or is that going to far?

 

I have to be honest for me, it is not just a question of numbers but are they runners ? A steam locomotive working is far, far more interesting if working than one static in a museum
I have seen lots of locos in Museums both in Britain and other countries and you always end up thinking, well if only I could see it in steam ? Also Britain is probably unique today that you can go to multiple events and see 10 or more steam locomotives running pulling trains on a single heritage line.

 

Having a quick add up there are only 50 preserved electrics, as the rest are scrapped/hire firms/departmental/cab only/stored etc.

 

It would be interesting to know how many steam locomotives there are in China. I believe Japan also has an active steam preservation scene.

 

I know that also Russia has a vast number of preserved steam locomotives.

 

I went to China on a steam holiday with my parents in about 1990, Then there were literally thousands of steam locomotives in daily use. Many places we went to in the North East and there would be steam hauled trains passing you every 10 minutes, big freights and passenger trains, many freights were double headed. Loco yards with 50+ locos on shed all in normal use not preserved. It was like the 1950s.

The only thing was there was only about 4 different designs of locos in use and all painted the same, probably about 2/3rd of them just one type the QJ 2-10-2, but now I bet there are very few that still exist and probably non in use. The Chinese don't seem to have any concept of wanting old stuff. They almost see them as an embarrassment that they haven't modernised that bit yet. There were Diesels being introduced and in Beijing there was no steam even then. I remember there was one place we went to that was a junction with lines coming from different directions so there would be steam loco hauled trains coming at you from about 4 different directions.

 

In very round terms, I calculate that there are over 400 preserved standard gauge steam locos in China. In addition, there are a number of extant non-runners whose status is not clear. There are one or two industrial locations still using steam, but very little now.