[SoCal Pubbie]

Successful diesel models were introduced in 1925 with the three boxcabs units sold to the Jersey Central, B&O, and Lehigh Valley roads. Between then and 1942 a host of new models were delivered to the roads. WWII did slow down the production of diesel units, but steam engines were produced through 1949. The Santa Fe regularly scheduled steam power on the San Diegan until 1953, and used the old horses as backups on the line until 1958.

The last standard gauge class 1 regular service steam engine served in October of 1962. If 37 years can be considered overnight, I guess I'll agree.

[outpostinmass2]

I don't want to keep the argument going but I just want to clarify my point. You can believe what you want.
Running a diesel train is far different then running a steam train. A steam train needed water and fuel every 100 miles verses a diesel needing 500 miles or more for service.

It was not the purchase of diesel over 37 years it was the abandonment of the service stops of the steam train. The plug was pulled on the service stops overnight. Hence the railroads had equipment in good running condition that they could not use. And it was done virtually overnight. At the time of rapidly declining revenue the railroads needed to replace perfectly good equipment with very expensive new equipment. Most railroads made the switch in 1955 with a few lines hanging on into the 1960’s. It was a cost saving for the future but at the time it was a huge expenditure. Railroads had a few diesel engines before WWII but they were mostly running steam. Railroads did not start buying diesel engines in mass until after WWII. So within 10 years they had completely converted power.