This article relates history and various aspects of steam locomotive boilers and their relevance in present and future. Prior to 1950, boilers for steam locomotives were built in the United States using primarily lower carbon steel products. The Subgroup on Locomotive Boilers was formed in 2010. Four and a half years later, its work was published as Part PL, Requirements for Locomotive Boilers. The ASME’s Subgroup for Steam Locomotives has taken the approach of codifying both best practices and Code material from steam days. The new locomotive code, Part PL in Section I can truly be looked at as a beginning. New materials and methods will now have a place to be vetted within the unique perspective of steam locomotive operation so as to ensure safe steam locomotive boilers for centuries to come.

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