Our History

Live Steam Locomotives was founded by Roger Goldmann in Santa Paula, California, in the mid-1980s. The company's initial offerings included precision castings and machined components for USRA-inspired designs, beginning with a 0-6-0 switcher and a 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific. Working alongside his father, Bernard, and friend Wayne Schtick, Roger established a foundation built on quality and innovation in the live steam hobby.

By the late 1980s, Roger invested in multiple CNC machining centers utilizing advanced CAD/CAM software. This enabled the production of exceptionally consistent, high-quality parts — setting a standard in the industry at the time. He also incorporated professional engineering practices to enhance reliability, including full-complement roller bearings on custom scale-hardened and ground axles and pins — innovations that extended maintenance intervals from tens of hours to decades.

In 1987, Roger began offering castings for the Union Pacific 4-6-6-4 Challenger. During the pattern development process, he collaborated with Richard Ronnie, a master pattern maker from Southern California. This partnership introduced advanced techniques from commercial foundries and superior material selections, such as ductile iron over traditional cast iron and manganese bronze in place of brass. From 1989 to 2000, Richard produced more than 100 patterns for the company.

Throughout the 1990s, development of the Challenger continued. The shared components naturally led enthusiasts to request a Big Boy kit, and Floyd Epperson built the first Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy using these castings. His iconic model can still be seen operating today at Riverside Live Steamers in Riverside, California. This time frame also saw the introduction of the USRA 2-8-0 Consolidation.

The first completed Challenger was built by Bruno Platzer of Alco West Locomotives in 2003. Many of the widely circulated photos and videos online feature Bruno's engine, which remains fully operational after more than 20 years of service without a major overhaul — a testament to the exceptional build quality and craftsmanship.

In 2017, devastating wildfires threatened the company's machine shop. Although the buildings were spared direct damage, the intense external heat compromised electrical systems in numerous machines, significantly impacting production and customer service capabilities.

Roger Goldmann passed away in November 2022 at the age of 74, after battling Parkinson's disease for 12 years. By that time, LSL had produced 22 Challengers, 10 Big Boys, 4 FEF-3 Northerns, 42 Centipede tenders, 21 USRA Heavy Pacifics, 11 Consolidations, and 8 0-6-0 switchers. Bernard had passed earlier in the mid-2010s, and Wayne is now fully retired, continuing to reside in Southern California.

In March 2023, Roger's estate approached longtime customer Steve Gnas of Wisconsin about acquiring the company. Mr. Gnas, who was actively building a Challenger and had completed a USRA 0-6-0 switcher, possessed deep familiarity with the Goldmann designs.

A journeyman steamfitter by trade with decades of experience designing and constructing customized industrial refrigeration systems and high-pressure boilers, Mr. Gnas brings extensive expertise as a former certified welder. He has qualified custom ASME weld procedures and is a proficient user of AutoCAD, SolidWorks, CAM software, CNC programming, and 3D printing. His background in thermodynamics and mechanical engineering aligns perfectly with the demands of live steam engineering.

In April 2023, Mr. Gnas formed Live Steam Locomotives, LLC, and acquired the company's assets. Operations have since relocated to a modern 10,000-square-foot facility equipped with comprehensive welding, CNC machining, and fabrication capabilities, supported by a team of certified welders and machinists.

Looking ahead, the next chapter promises exciting advancements. Evolving manufacturing technologies, changing customer preferences, and new supply chains will shape our future offerings. We are eager to introduce innovative new products and continue serving the live steam community with the same dedication to precision and performance that has defined us for decades.

Have questions about our history or products? Contact us — we’d love to hear from you.