Toronto. Pre WW2 activity started to replace steam engines in North America with diesel but progress was very slow given funds invested in steam. Post WW2, action slowly heated up. Change was well underway by the 60s and over in the 70s.
Even recording companies like Audio Fidelity (AF) got on the bandwagon – AF issued a stereo sound recording of both steam and diesel trains (AF used 33 1/3 LP for its 1958 release).
At left is a typical polaroid snap showing the last steam engine run on the CNR lines in Barrie. A bit fuzzy and off colour but nevertheless a record of history in the making. The gentle sound of steam whistles as trains sailed past rural road crossings are long gone and few can ever consider the honk of a diesel romantic (comedians joked about the new sounds).
Collectors of transportation photos likely include many photos of steam engines as railroads used steam for the most part from their beginnings on to the diesel era. Steam had the odd pre-diesel diversion to electricity in cities when the population successfully fought steam power and its dirt and noise. Now-a-days diesel itself – like digital photography – is mature enough to attract collectors (especially the really old diesel trains).