During WW 2 when raw materials, including coal, were in short supply and expensive the Swiss Federal Railways had a switching problem. While all the main line engines were electric, little 0-6-0 steamers were still doing a lot of the yard switching.
So they decided to equip a steamer with electric heating apparatus and the rest is history.
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/swisselec/swisselc.htm
I wonder what the efficiency of that was ?
Mike Brit
that’s pretty darn kool 
Mark Dashnaw said:
that’s pretty darn kool
On average the savings on coal were SFr 36’000 per engine per year. The way it was designed it took only one hour from cold start to readiness. The engines could operate off the grid for approx. 20 min; to allow for longer switching time without catenary, they kept a small coal fire going.
The exhaust steam was recirculated from the cylinders back to the top of the boiler.
Surprised LGB never offered a version of this, too specific to WW2 I guess
LGB didn’t/doesn’t produce a suitable engine. 