NYC J3a number 5405 poses for its Builder's Photo on 9-19-1937 - This locomotive and its heirs were in service all over the NYC Sysytem after being accepted by the Mechanical Dept.. Generally, the J3a was employed on the Main Lines and leased lines of the NYC. MCRR, LS&MS, NYC, and the CCC&STL all employed this marvelous "BEAST" - Lawrence Baggerly Collection.
That makes me want to cry. A rare beauty of a locomotive, not one of which was preserved for us to dote over. Photo taken in Schenectady, NY at the Alco plant, no longer there. Sob. :tb-sad:
Question on the "white walls"... How long did that paint last in service? Was it repainted or just for the publicity shots? I have this exact loco in "N" scale and I'm curious... Also, are the tender wheels also painted?? thanks
Bob, I have no personal knowledge, as it rolled out a little over two years before I was born, about 70 miles away from Schenectady. I don't recall the Central running any with the white tires. I'm guessing that was "wash-off" paint just for the builder's photo. Yes, the tender "tires" were white too, and again I'm guessing, only on the engineer's side of the locomotive. Beautiful machinery. :tb-biggrin:
Bob, there are no white sidewalls in the photos that I have of J2's that the Harlem inherited from the B&A. I remember seeing many photos of J3s, but I have none that I can refer to, nor do I remember whether or not any had sidewalls. Maybe Roger can dig through his ample files and give us an opinion.....?
Just found that photo (not white washed) on page 255 of "Memories of New York Central Steam" by Haas. There is also another photo more side-on and it clearly shows the white tender wheels (photo marker S-1772 Sept 1937). That is the only steam engine I own... would also love a Mohawk, but that is outside my modeling era... In "Steam Power of the New York Central System vol1" pg 103, there is a note that the 275 psi boiler pressure was too much and they bent the drive rods. They had to drop the pressure to 265 to resolve the problem. wow!
As near as I can tell, the Pacifics and Hudsons received the white stripping on both sides of the locos. I cannot speak to the Mohawks and others.
