Do any countries still use steam trains?

Railfan & Railroad stated in 2022 that the only places on earth to see steam locomotives in revenue freight service are small switching operations in China, North Korea and Bosnia, but that these were sporadic at best. Tourist locomotives are still in regular use.



Yes, several countries still use steam trains, though primarily for tourism, heritage railways, and ceremonial purposes rather than regular mainline transport. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Regular scheduled steam services (rare but exist)

  • India: Until recently, India had a few scheduled steam-hauled trains (like the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Most are now heritage/tourist lines, but steam occasionally runs on special schedules.
  • China: Some steam locomotives were used in industrial operations (like coal mines) into the 21st century, but most are now phased out. Tourist steam runs exist in places like Jiangsu and Sichuan.
  • North Korea: Reportedly still uses some steam locomotives for freight and local transport in remote areas due to fuel shortages and infrastructure constraints.

2. Heritage & Tourist Railways (common worldwide)

  • United Kingdom: Many preserved lines like the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Bluebell Railway, and Snowdon Mountain Railway.
  • United States & Canada: Numerous heritage railroads, such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (Colorado) and Strasburg Railroad (Pennsylvania).
  • South Africa: The Outeniqua Power and Rovos Rail offer luxury steam-hauled tourist trips.
  • Japan: Several heritage lines, like the Oigawa Railway and SL Hitoyoshi.
  • Australia: Puffing Billy Railway in Victoria and the Zig Zag Railway in New South

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Does Russia still use steam locomotives? No. The last one was manufactured in 1953. They've been replaced by other types of locomotives with efficiency rates higher than 13%.

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Railfan & Railroad stated in 2022 that the only places on earth to see steam locomotives in revenue freight service are small switching operations in China, North Korea and Bosnia, but that these were sporadic at best. Tourist locomotives are still in regular use.

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