Steam Trains
Tuesday, 15th January 2008 by James Turnbull
Originally developed over 200 years ago, the steam train is easily one of the world's greatest inventions, as it revolutionised both goods and passenger transport.
By the 1970s the steam trains had to give up the commercial and transport railways to make way for more efficient diesel and electric trains. However, many people still long for those days of "proper" trains and so there is a surprisingly large market for heritage railways, where you can experience rail travel of the past.
This first shot is of the Swanage railway in Dorset, where you can ride the steam train through the Isle of Purbeck. They'll even let you drive it, if you pay enough...
Our second steam train is just about to enter Swindon, home of the Steam Railway Museum. This engine is the SR 850 “Lord Nelson”, which was retired by British Rail in 1961.
Over the years there have been numerous attempts to "bring back steam trains". Technology has advanced far enough that Hornby can make "00" gauge working model steam trains, but projects involving including electrically produced steam, solar steam and the "21st century" 5AT have all failed to get off the ground.
More Wikipedia information on Steam trains and the hobby of "Live steam".
Thanks to Dee, CoychurchJohn and TOMBAL.
That’s not the Watercress Line ‘cos Corfe Castle is in Dorset… It’s actually the Swanage Railway – http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/ And Lord Nelson is (probably) passing through Swindow on a Rail Tour for enthusiasts…
The Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, PA runs steam locomotives on small excursions. You can see their station (along with several cars and what appears to be an engine or two) on the north side of the road: View Placemark (39.981950,-76.159450) No trains actually steaming at the moment, though. On the south side of the road is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
Probably isn’t steam (not too well up on trains) but has the Orient Express been seen on google maps yet? Just wondered.
@Phil: Thanks for the corrections, I’ve updated the post.
No offence, but color-wise the first picture of Swanage Railway also looks like it has been taken during the age of steam trains. And there is actually a second train here: https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=50.620152,-2.029343&z=19
I live not two minutes from what is claimed to be the oldest railway in the world currently in use. I’m not 100% sure the claims are founded, but their website seems to think so:
http://www.tanfield-railway.co.uk/cms/
Tanfield Railway used to run coal down to the river Tyne from the local collieries back when the region was a big coal producer. Nowdays, a steam train runs along the few miles of remaing track every Sunday, and opens over Christmas for ‘Santa Trains’. I remember back when I was 6 or 7, I had a birthday party on the train!
Another attraction close by is the ‘Causey Arch’. The oldest surviving rail bridge in the world (Once again, ‘apparently’. – i’m not a historian :D).
And FINALLY – Just a few more minutes along the road, you’ll come to Beamish Museum. Given, it doesn’t have a steam train, but it does have the worlds longest ‘period’ tramway!
Links: Tanfield Railway: View Placemark Causey Arch: View Placemark Beamish: View Placemark
[Unfortunately the Beamish shot is half zoomed in, and the other half doesn’t have the required imagery – But if you follow the track around to the West you’ll get a better view (And at the North end, theres also some sort of vintage car/bus parked outside the buildings!)]
Not to be pedantic, but you have put the link to “stream” trains as opposed to “steam” trains.
Other than that, good finds!
Oops, that “live stream” not “live steam”.
Here is what I believe is a steam train near Livingstone Zambia: View Placemark (-17.7619,25.7069) The resolution isn’t very great but I know that a steam train does run along that line (for the benefit of tourists.) There are still steam trains in commercial operation nearby in Zimbabwe but I couldn’t find one in Google Earth. It must be on the low res section of line or stopped at a station and not steaming.
What is the kind of wall, just on east and west of the corfe castle, near the first steam train ? I’ve searched for military limit on the county of dorset, but i’m not an historian.
Do somebody knows anything about that “adrian wall” for the south of wales ?
Stuck in Gloucester station on deviation while Brunel’s tunnel was worked on yet again last year, we were overtaken by an Intercity-125 unit in Hornby colours. Life imitates art…
Ernest, please zoom to your desired image, press “show link”, and copy the Address Box contents to your reply, as I know the area but don’t know what you’re on about. Corfe Castle itself covers the entire surtface of a volcanic plug just north of the station.
https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=50.63992,-2.059089&z=11
The line crossed by the Corffe Castle.
It is clearly visible by plane, difficultly while zooming.
The line that ernest mentions is probably the Purbeck Hills. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purbeck_Hills
Glad to see you’ve recovered from the Cookie monster’s “What next? A preserved steam railway somewhere…” remark!
@Martin Beamish Museum had a steam railway when I visited it including a fine replica of Locomotion No 1. The ‘vintage car/bus’ is probably a tram.
@Phil Lord Nelson appears to be running light engine (or at least just with it’s tech support coach) so I don’t think it can be a rail tour
Damn didn’t notice the Grocer’s apostrophe (or should that be Grocers apostrophe) until just after I hit submit.
There’s also a train at Kingscote on the Bluebell Line: https://www.googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=51.102761,-0.048312&z=19
We have several steam trains still running on lines in Hampshire, Dorset and the isle of wight. They are the apple of the eyes of those who run the lines and loved by the thoasands of leisure users who get to travel on them