The Norfolk & Western railroad was Americas last holdout for steam - in 1954 every locomotive on its roster was steam powered. Yet, by 1960, every N&W train was diesel powered. This is the amazing story of the American railroads switch to diesel locomotives as told through the history of the Norfolk & Western. Warden tells how and why they switched to diesel, identifies N&W steam locomotives, the trains to which they were assigned, and the diesel locomotives that took their place.

In the history of the steam locomotive Roanoke Machine Works played a key part. Take a look at this important economic center of the New South. Roanoke Shops has been an indispensable part of the Roanoke Valley and the Magic City for more than 125 years. Founded in 1881 as an independent company, Roanoke Machine Works built new locomotives and cars for the Shenandoah Valley and Norfolk & Western Railroads. Situated between the picturesque Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains, the facility caused an economic boom in the nearby village of Big Lick and the surrounding area. By 1891, Big Lick had become Roanoke and had emerged as one of the most important economic centers in the New South. Today, Roanoke Shops employs skilled craftsmen who provide the highest-quality overhauls and repairs to diesel locomotives. This book takes a look into its history, particularly at production during that exciting and enchanting era of the steam locomotive.

Ninety photographs with captions present the activities of the Norfolk and Western Railway, the last major railroad in America to use steam power. Most of the photographs were taken at night, and Thomas H. Garver's afterword includes description of Link's methods of flash photography.

This collection of pictures contains 300 photographs and a minimum of text. The sights, smells and sounds of steam come alive in this book as the waning years of steam railroading throughout the United States is presented. Many roads are included such as the AT&SF, B&O, CN, CP, C&O, CB&Q, Milw., C&NW, RI, Rio Grande, NYC, Pennsy and many more.

The thrilling story of the last, and greatest, generation of steam railway locomotives in regular main line service: a story of invention, skill and passion, Giants of Steam reveals how the true advocates of steam's glory days pushed its design and performance to remarkable limits, taking these powerful and beautifully designed machines to new heights against a backdrop of the political upheavals and military conflicts of the mid twentieth century. Glancey tells the stories of the greatest of the 'steam men', the charismatic engineers who designed these machines and put them to use. Giants of Steam also reveals how steam design has continued to progress against the odds in recent decades, while enthusiasm for the steam locomotive itself is far from burning out.

Nostalgic writing combined with vintage photographs celebrate the unique joys of steam trains.

This book gives an overview of N&W steam locomotives operating in the period 1930-1960, with emphasis on the three classes that were the backbone of the fleet in that era: J Class 4-8-4s, A Class simple articulated 2-6-6-4s and the many Y classes of 2-8-8-2 compound articulateds.