Locomotive and Railway Preservation

Hello! My name is Steve Brist.

These pages are about my hobby, railroad preservation, including the history, restoration and operation of historic railroad equipment. In particular, these pages discuss steam engines and their unique role in America's technological history.

I missed the steam era. The last steam engines built in the United States for domestic use were part of a group of 45 0-8-0 switchers built by the Norfolk & Western Railway. The last of these engines, Engine 244 was built in December, 1953. I was born in January 1954.

Even though I only saw steam engines in regular service on one railroad, I have had the opportunity to learn about steam, help restore old railroad equipment and fire steam engines at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, in North Freedom, Wisconsin. In these pages I will tell you about the railway preservation movement, how you can learn about railroad and locomotive history, where you can visit and ride antique railroad trains and even how you can learn to restore or operate railroad equipment.

Link to Forney's Catechism of the Locomotive (off site)

You Can Become a Volunteer

Learning about Locomotives and Railroad History

Finding and Riding the Trains

Firing A Steam Locomotive

Locomotive Simulators

Some Railroad Museums in Wisconsin

Links to Other Historic Railroad Sites on the Web

Locomotive Builder's Photographs

Engravings from Locomotive Advertisements from 1878

A Tour of the Lima Locomotive Works

A Lima Locomotive Advertisement from 1948

Instructions for the Preparation and Maintenance of Locomotive Fires

52 Ways for Saving Coal