The Future Of The Steam Locomotive.

The question of the future of the steam locomotive—whether or not it will continue to be the dominant tractive agency in the development of rail transportation—was touched on in an interesting speech delivered in New York recently by Mr. L. F. Loree, President of the Delaware and Hudson Company. Mr. Loree is a man of note in the railway world (he was the recipient of the 1926 medal—awarded annually by the Holland Society to the person who, in his own particular field, the Society believes has done most to promote the welfare of mankind) and has devoted much time to the study of the railway engineering and economic problems of his country. His defence of the steam locomotive is, therefore, of special significance—and has application no less to the United States than to this Dominion.

“I have an abiding faith,” said Mr Loree, “that for the main purpose of the railroad—the transportation over long distances of heavy articles—the unit system of transportation—the steam locomotive—will be the dominant one.” By way of emphasising the remarkable efficiency of the steam locomotive Mr. Loree said that the railroads of the United States transported during the year no less than 320,019 ton—miles per individual freight employee—a performance which would, he declared, have been impossible without the modern steam locomotive.