Although main line steam is now history, there are still a significant number of steam locomotives in industrial service in 2010. Some of these industrial operations are quite spectacular with locos working heavy trains up severe gradients. Dramatic industrial backdrops can sometimes be included in the photographs while others show lines running through remarkably attractive scenery. This gallery primarily features pictures of steam locomotives taken on trips over the past few years with a few added from earlier trips for good measure.

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China was the last country in the world to run steam in main line service and the big show lasted as late as 2002. The country was (and still is) an irresistable magnet for me with excellent scenery, heavy traffic and big engines. The modern scene is also of interest with a variety of diesel and electric classes at work in a splendidly scenic landscape. This gallery features pictures of steam, diesel and electric locomotives taken on trips over the past few years with a few added from earlier trips.

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Britain's railways have become progressively less interesting over recent years but it wasn't always that way. Most of my British material is on film and I've made a start on scanning some of the early 35mm slides. In addition to a few digital images taken before I lost interest, there are some classic diesels on the East Coast Main Line and industrial steam at Bedlay colliery in Lanarkshire.

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Spain used to be home to an incredible collection of charming narrow gauge lines but most have now closed or lost much of their appeal through modernisation. The Soller Railway on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca is an exception and still retains its unique character. There are also pictures of the superb Ponferrada - Villablino line in steam days and main line diesels around Murcia.

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In the mid 1990s China was dieselising rapidly and it was becoming difficult to find photogenic steam worked main lines to visit. Just when it looked like the best was over, the JiTong Railway opened its 943 km line across Inner Mongolia with a large fleet of QJ class 2-10-2s. Steam working lasted until December 2005 when the last fires were dropped. This gallery contains photos taken east of Daban during the last few years. More will be added later. Some pictures of the Daban - Haoluku section can also be found in the China (Main Line) gallery.

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The big attraction in Cuba was the sugar cane harvest that took place in spring every year. Most mills had their own rail system to bring cane from outlying loading points to the mill and many of them still used steam locomotives right up to the end of the 20th century. An unbelievable variety of engines from the main US builders could still be seen at work in the mid 1990s, most of them over 70 years old. The pictures here are from a 1996 trip but others will be added when time permits.

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