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OTL BR ended mainline steam operations in 1968, only a few years after the last steam locomotives had been built. What if they had decided on a more gradual and phased withdrawal of steam, with the final withdrawal in the late 1970s (in common with much of Europe)?

Effects would have been a lot less failed diesel locomotives being built as the need for new motive power wouldn't have been as acute thus untested designs wouldn't be rushed to production often with unfortunate results. Some of the old names in locomotive manufacture like North British probably would have folded a few years earlier than they did of course.

But i am most interested in the effect on the preservation movement, could we have ironically ended up with fewer preserved steam locomotives if the withdrawal was more phased - without the urgency and opportunity mass withdrawal bought to spark the explosion in the movement in the late 60s?
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