Thanks to Dr. Beeching, who closed down vast swathes of "uneconomic" branch lines in the early sixties in the UK , steam lives on. Miles of unused track, and unlimited supplies of scrapped steam-locos ensured survival. Nearly every loco, brand-spanking new or old, was sent to Barry Island in S. Wales for the oxy-torch, some straight from the makers to the scrapyard! Preservation Societies have since kept the fireboxes in steam for us all.
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk gives a taster of just one of many.
