Steam locomotive production

Early 20th Century

Early 20th Century locomotive production in the USA included units made for both domestic and export markets. Foreign market production increased significantly during and immediately after World War I. In the following table (from Wright, 1930), the years 1905-1911 include Canadian output and the years 1912-1929 include both Canadian output and equipment built in railroad shops.

Locomotives Built in the USA 1896-1929

Year

Domestic

Foreign

Total

1896

866

309

1175

1897

865

386

1251

1898

1321

554

1875

1899

1951

514

2465

1900

2648

505

3153

1901

-

-

3384

1902

-

-

4070

1903

-

-

5152

1904

-

-

3441

1905

4896

595

5491

1906

6232

720

6952

1907

6564

798

7362

1908

1886

456

2342

1909

2596

291

2887

1910

4441

314

4755

1911

3143

387

3530

1912

4403

512

4915

1913

4561

771

5332

1914

1962

273

2235

1915

1250

835

2085

1916

2708

1367

4075

1917

2585

2861

5446

1918

3668

2807

6475

1919

2162

1110

3272

1920

2022

1650

3672

1921

1185

638

1823

1922

1303

231

1534

1923

3505

280

3785

1924

1810

226

2036

1925

994

291

1285

1926

1585

185

1770

1927

1009

167

1176

1928

636

111

747

1929

1022

139

1161

Total Production

The middle of the 20th Century marked the end of large commercial production of steam locomotives in North America. Estimates of total production can be broken down into two time periods based on the period before and after the creation of American Locomotive Company in 1901. The following table provides a summary of this production and in some cases represents estimates rather than precisely known values (Bruce, 1952). A detailed list of manufacturers shows many of the larger producers.

Summary of Steam Locomotives Built in the USA 1831-1950

Class of Builder

Prior to 1901

1901-1950

Total

30 Builders of more than 100 units each

61520

99130

160650

63 Builders of less than 100 units each

1350

0

1350

70 Railroad Company-Shop Builders

7130

5870

13000

Total Production

70000

105000

175000

See also

  • Timeline of United States railway history
  • History of rail transport in the United States
  • :Category:Rail transport timelines
  • Historical sizes of railroads

References

  • Table 3, partial excerpt.

  • Table I, with corrections to Total column. This reference cites annual review issues of Railway Age as The Primary source the table.