Steam locomotives of the 21st century

JS-class steam locomotives were used in active service at a rural coal mine in western China until January 2024.

Due to oil shortages in North Korea, steam engines have started to be brought back into service.

In the Tuzla region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the coal mines still use World War II-era German-built steam locomotives.

[2][3] 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".

On August 25, 2009, Team Inspiration of the British Steam Car Challenge broke the long-standing record for a steam vehicle set by a Stanley Steamer in 1906, setting a new speed record of 139.843 mph (225.055 km/h) over a measured mile at Edwards Air Force Base, in the Mojave Desert of California.

LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado under construction in 2002
The frames of LBSC H2 Atlantic 32424 Beachy Head under construction at Sheffield Park, Bluebell Railway in 2009