Sometime in the future, IR steam locomotives would have better compatibility with other mods that use steam as a fluid if they generate and use the fluid themselves. This would potentially allow for certain mechanics such as using external boilers to quickly start up steam locomotives, using steam locomotives as stationary power sources, fireless steam locomotives, and even the use of steam heating for older passenger cars from equipped steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. The latter could involve things such as HP regen effects or possible Tough as Nails compatibility.

so irl large roundhouses would have a steam generator, and the locos would get plugged into it over night (the exapnsion/contraxtion of cooling down to ambient puts a ton of stress on the locos) be cool if could do that, so have engines warmed up and ready to go, w/o having to refuel each one seperattly

sounds cool

there are also small steam locomotives for shunting that get filled with high pressure steam once and then run for a few hours without a boiler