There's a group for everything else, so why not the invention that put the Industrial Revolution into high gear, the foundation to the modern world?
Factory, marine, agricultural, rail, road, and even aviation; steam engines were able to do so, so much. Steam engines are still used commercially in the form of turbines, so tell me; is the Age of Steam really past?
From the infamous Olympic class liners: 
To the humble Stanley: 
From Rocket: 
To Mallard: 
Tom Thumb: 
To Big Boy: 
Newcomen: 
To Watt: 
And beyond: 
So come on fellow steamers! Blow the whistle, open the regulators! Smell the smoke, feed the fire, feel the heat, hear the steam escaping. Steam engines have been here longer than any of us, and will be here long after we're gone. Long after they've been mothballed, they will be preserved in museums and heart, they will not disappear. Steam engines will always capture the intrigue of humans, the hissing, clanking, whining, chuffing and echoes of the past will live on.
I joined because I really like anteque machenery, who else goes to the great oregon steam up every year?
432750
As long as its nearly 700ft long and has Great in its name.
That said, while in general I prefer the more modern aspect of iron/steel hulled dedicated steamers as opposed to the olden wooden hulled sail/steamers, I do like the proportions of the older sail/steamers more often.
I think it has to do with them having very large diameter paddle wheels, whereas the later paddle steamers, due to the advent of the feathering paddle wheel, tended to have much smaller paddle wheels proportionally, particularly on the larger vessels like the Seeandbee. Though small boats tended to keep a similar proportion even with a feathering paddle wheel, because you can only make a paddle wheel so small.
350241
I've noticed that your name is paddle steamer, so which do you prefer, iron hulled steamships with paddle wheels or wooden hulled steamers with paddle wheels, or maybe a strange combination of having sails, a screw, and paddle?
358616 Google Big Boy 4014.
As for my sources, only Trains Magazine, Youtube, Wikipedia, and, oh, I almost forgot, Union Pacific's Steam program.
Norfolk & Western 611 is also being restored. http://fireup611.org/
358611 That calls for a celebration!
(May I inquire a link for the source of your info, as well as details.)
350241 348090 Big Boy being restored!
350241 That one does look quite nice, and very effective for the time it was built in.
348090 *Note to self: Comments in the group don't show up as a notification*
Yeah Big Boy for the sheer size.
I've always preferred smaller locomotives however.
I particularly like the pannier tanks of the G.W.R.
swanagerailway.co.uk/apmw/gala2007/05sep07/apmw049.jpg
Big Boy for the win!