Meanings
plural honorary steam locomotives
- informalrail transportA diesel locomotive that outputs a large amount of exhaust, to the point it resembles the exhaust from a steam locomotive, particularly those produced by the American Locomotive Company.
The refurbished motor roars to life, practically an honorary steam locomotive when it's cold.
2014 April 6, Sumpter Valley News, “720 Progress...”, in Sumpter Valley Railroad News1 more example
All of the motive power shown is steam, with the exception of three Alco PA units, which seem generally to have been elevated to the position of honorary steam locomotives.
1968 September 29, George W. Hilton, TRAINS, pages 54-55Synonyms: honorary steam engine
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA diesel locomotive that outputs a large amount of exhaust, to the point it resembles the exhaust from a steam locomotive, particularly those produced by the American Locomotive Company.
Cite this entry
honorary steam locomotive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/honorary%20steam%20locomotive
“honorary steam locomotive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/honorary%20steam%20locomotive. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “honorary steam locomotive,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/honorary%20steam%20locomotive.
Source: honorary steam locomotive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.