New York Central RS3s - 1963 Audio Visual Designs was started in NY state in 1964 producing train recordings and photochrome postcards. The postcard photography, taken by such well-known photographers such as David Sweetland, show stunning trackside action in bright color. This first view shows us a pair of NY Central RS3s in North White Plains, NY in Weshechester County. Taken in 1963 by Mac Owen, this photo makes any diesel loco look just great in lightning stripes!
My father rode behind these every day after the K-11s were retired. Though I was disappointed because I much preferred the Pacifics. It's interesting the RS's always ran long hood forward. I guess because crews were used to having a long boiler in front of them and felt uncomfortable without that perceived protection.
The earlier hood diesels always look correct, to me, with the long hood forward. Not until they made them with an actual front end look, like the GP30, did they look correct with the short hood forward. And yes, the lightning stripes looked good on anything. Doug
The GP-20 has no Lightning Stripes, so it can operate anyway it wants. It's not a true original New York Central diesel. It's just a Johnny Come Lately.