Basic Trope: Steam locomotives are shown alongside modern technology.
- Straight: Steam locomotives haul 19th-century trains in a world that has HD video game consoles and iPhones.
- Exaggerated: Everything harkens back to the steam era.
- Downplayed: Only a handful of steam locomotives are seen from time to time.
- Justified:
- The setting of the story has low labor costs and plenty of fuel for steam locomotives. Which makes steam more economically viable than if otherwise were the case.
- Steam locomotives are maintained by preservation organizations for their historical value as well as become a tourist attraction.
- a Post-Peak Oil setting means diesel locomotives have no fuel and the price of electrification is too high.
- Inverted: Modern electric multiple units appear in the 19th century.
- Subverted: What appears to be a classic steam locomotive is an electric replica.
- Double Subverted: ...but the local power plant runs on steam turbines, thus making the locomotive technically run on steam.
- Parodied: Modern looking electric trains make steam engine noises and whistles.
- Zig Zagged: an Electric-steam locomotive hybrid
uses electric water-heaters in the boiler and electric booster motors in the guide-wheels and trailing wheels, using electricity from a pantograph, third rail, and/or an on-board steam turbine generator. - Averted: Modern rail equipment is seen.
- Enforced:
- The writer likes steam locomotives.
- The producers hadn't checked if the 'abandoned railroad' was used for a Heritage Line when they set up the walking along the tracks shot.
- Lampshaded: "Do you think those old steam engines will still be around by the time flying cars and cheap jetpacks are a thing?"
- Invoked: Railroads are forced to retrieve old steam engines from storage, and/or build new ones when diesel power is no viable, whether due to Peak Oil or an EMP strike.
- Exploited: Steam engines can run on wood, charcoal, or any other combustible hydrocarbons, whereas diesel engines require the fuel to be in liquid form. Steam power therefore becomes Boring, but Practical in countries where solid fuel is common and petroleum is rare.
- Defied: A country deliberately electrifies all its rail lines and makes sure to mothball every piece of rolling stock built before the Turn of the Millennium to spite prominent fans of steam engines.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed: Water shortages bring rail traffic to a standstill, forcing electrification of rail lines in more arid locations.
- Reconstructed: More water-efficient steam engines are constructed for use in arid environments.
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