Why are steam locomotives no longer produced?

I want to add to what Quora User said: Maintenance on a steam locomotive was terrible and complicated. The steam engines required boiler rebuilds, constant cleaning, valve adjustments, and engine overhauls. read more

Operating a steam locomotive was terrible and complicated Starting a steam locomotive was bad enough - you first had to build a fire. And then wait for that fire to get the boiler up to temperature before you could actually use the locomotive. read more

Steam is actually the most used engine in power plants, in the form of steam turbines that use heat input from coal to power steam turbines that drive generators. But assuming you mean vehicle engines, the reason is steam lost favour when you consider fuel efficiency and power to weight ratio, compared to diesel engines. read more

Instead of generating steam in an enormous boiler, the diesel burned oil to power a generator that, in turn, powered electric motors on the wheels. Locomotives, in comparison, had a low thermal efficiency. They used a vast amount of energy to build up steam pressure, which had to be discarded whenever the locomotive stopped or shut down. read more