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Grapevine, TX - The Tarantula locomotive braving the elements on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Richmond, VA - Engine number 2732, a Chesapeake & Ohio Kanawha type locomotive, on display at the Science Museum of Virginia. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Scranton, PA - The gleaming steam locomotive CN 3254 pulling out of the station at the Steamtown National Historic Site. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Skagway, AK - The White Pass & Yukon Route railroad's Mikado 2-8-2 steam locomotive on the tracks in front of the depot in Skagway. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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San Juan, CO - A steam locomotive negotiates the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge San Juan extension. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Clemmons, NC - A gleaming Illinois Central RR No. 3525 0-8-0 locomotive on display at Tanglewood Park. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Durbin, WV - A vintage locomotive rounds Raven Corner during one of Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad's Mountain Rail Adventures excursions. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Saginaw, MI - The Pere Marquette 1225 locomotive caught in dramatic perspective. The engine is operated by the Steam Railroad Institute. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Curriers, NY - An Arcade and Attica Railroad steam locomotive looking resplendent at Curriers railroad depot. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Kingman, AZ - Locomotive 3759 from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway on display in Locomotive Park. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Portland, OR - The impressive Southern Pacific (SP) 4449 at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. This the only surviving example of SP's GS-4 class of steam locomotives. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Galveston, TX - A Southern Pacific steam engine #314, built in 1892 by Cooke Locomotive Works, on display at the engaging Galveston Railroad Museum. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Dunsmuir, CA - The Willamette steam engine was the preferred locomotive on many logging railroads in the Pacific Northwest. Today, this example sits at the Railroad Park Resort, one of only six left in existence. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Niles Canyon, CA - A 2472 locomotive huffs and puffs across the bridge over Alameda Creek at Farwell on the Niles Canyon Railway heritage track. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Virginia City, MT - A polished 4-4-0 American type locomotive, a V&T No. 18 "Dayton" built by Central Pacific Railroad Company, displayed at the Virginia City Depot. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Georgetown, CO - The scenic Georgetown Loop Railroad is nestled high in the spectacular Rocky Mountains. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Lynnville, TN - The stand out attraction at the Lynnville Railroad Museum is a fabulous 1927 Prairie type 2-6-2 steam locomotive. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Sacramento, CA - The Polar Express in full steam chugging along near the California State Railroad Museum. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Lawton, OK - The Museum of the Great Plains has on display a cherished 1926 Baldwin Locomotive, located in front of the Elgin Depot. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Pensacola, FL - The city has on proud display the historic "Pride of Pensacola", an ex-Frisco Mikado-type steam locomotive. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Sacramento, CA - Must-see exhibits at the California State Railroad Museum include the CP Huntington, one of Southern Pacific's first locomotives. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Cumberland, MD - Western Maryland Railway Scenic Railroad operates passenger excursion locomotives that run between Cumberland and Frostburg.  (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Charlotte, NC - The impressive Gainesville Midland RR No. 301 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive on permanent display at Freedom Park. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Cass, WV - The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park features this beautifully restored behemoth. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Felton, CA - The Roaring Camp Railroads were once used to ferry lumber down from the mountains. These days, the steam engines carry the public. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Bretton Woods, NH - The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, the Mount Washington Cog Railway is still in operation and takes intrepid visitors all the way to the summit.

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Hancock, MI - Exhibits at the Quincy Mine include steam locomotives, and visitors can ride the Quincy and Torch Lake Cog Railway. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Durango, CO - Journeying on the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railroad affords passengers spectacular views of central Colorado. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Strasburg, PA - Steam engines have been running along this line since 1832. Round trips on the 4.5-mile track take place almost year round.  (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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Union, IL - The largest railroad museum in the US, Illinois Railway Museum houses some of the rarest and best preserved steam locomotives in the country. (Photo: CC by 2.0)

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