That is sooooo beautiful!!! I remember being near water troughs on the Hudson Division, somewhere between Harmon and Poughkeepsie that would spray all over hell-n-gone. I remember riding the Pacemaker (behind an S-Class, of course) and seeing water covering the windows that didn't clear for miles. I think someone told me that the troughs were every 15 miles, but that doesn't seem realistic....?
Hank, I have recently seen a list of all troughs and their locations on the mainline, but I'll be darned if I can remember where. You probably saw the ones at Tivoli. Darren, what would happen if one should fall? EDIT I found the source I mentioned above, the 1943 issue of "The New York Central Railroad Company." On the Hudson Division they were located at Tivoli and Clinton Point. On the Mohawk, at Yosts, Schenectady and Rome, so they were a lot further than 15 miles apart. There were a lot more. [ 18. February 2005, 02:55: Message edited by: fitz ]
The Mohawks at Wabash brings back memories.They have about 45-50 cars And are getting rady to leave town. If I was firing I would be getting the fire ready as the smoke shows in the one photo.Not to hot to make the pops open.The brekeman would climb into the cab and say ,let's go, highball the switch either the yard crew or the operator will get the switch.The engineer whistles off and we start moving south at around 15 mph until the engineer thinks the rear end is about 8 or10 cars from being out of the track and starts coming out on the throttle.I start winding more coal in the firebox to keep up with the working of the engine.The south bound trains were lighter than the north bounds so we probably would be making 20mph up the hill.As we top the hill the engineer hooks up the engine a little and adjust the throttle ,I cut back on the firing. Another 2 miles and we will be running track speed 40mph.After the pick up at Marion we will go into Anderson with 69 cars,all you can have without a 3rd man With the 6020 I hear the exhaust. The spray of water would be something to see but to listen to the exhaust at 80+ would be music to your ears. LEW
LEW, glad to see you back here! I love to hear your comments about what it was like to run these great machines.
How about another shot of the first Niagara, 6000, running through Peekskill, NY, in 1946, again from Mr. Vollrath's collection. Look at that clean stack, as NYC intended. Good fireman on this trip!
Beautiful! She's southbound on the express (inner) track with the Hudson River to the photographer's back. I think the lack of smoke probably is because the fireman has slacked off on coaling letting her drift on remaining fire into Harmon less than 9 miles away. Her duties will end at the start of electric territory where she will be replaced by a box motor and taken to the house.
Here is the lone S-2a, which was equipped with poppet valves. This is in Englewood, IL, from Bob Spaugh's collection. Note the air pump on the side. These were hidden on the S-1's. 5500.
Jim, Years ago I remember reading a report by the Central that compared steaming performance of 5500 to the rest of the S-Class. I seem to remember that 5500 outperformed the others so fantastically that both the Engineering and Operating Departments recommended purchasing many more S-2b's. Unfortunately EMD had also offered the Central such a great deal on E's and F's that all future steam purchases were cancelled....forever. I don't know how true this is, but it sure makes sense. Has anyone else seen or heard of this report?
I'm bringing this back to the top because I received an appreciated off line email from "harrox" all about firing the 6000's. My reply to him came back "no such address." If anyone knows harrox I would like to thank him for the information and ask for more. If you are out there, sign up here and let's continue this interesting discussion!
In trying to keep up with replacing missing images in old posts, I have bumped this one back up again after replacing 26 photos in the thread. Besides, we need another steam injection, don't we? :teeth: Heck I would be remiss as the moderator of the New York Central Fallen Flag forum if I didn't add another NYC steam photo. Hudson 5236, Mr. Vollrath's collection.
Overfire Jets?? Jim, What's with the overfire jets on 9400? No other engine you showed has 'em. Salt Lake City required them on D&RGW engines serving that city, to help cut the emissions.. I think they burned cleaner? Why would only one class (so far) of 'Central engines have these? The first recorded low-emissions locomotive?
Russell, Yeah, Baltics. Was that the Milwaukee Road? I don't think so. Which railroad referred to 4-6-4s as Baltics? :confused2: Hemi, those P&LE Berks were brand new in 1948, and people were demanding clean air. The Central called them "smoke consumers." I vaguely recall being in Pittsburgh about that time, and you couldn't call it "smog" it was more like smoke. Yeah, Darren, I resurrected some old history. :teeth:
I think it was the Grand Trunk that first had the wheel arrangement and called them Baltics. Milwaukee road had them on the drawing boards and called them Baltics using the GT name but put them on the back burner for a few years and did not have them built until after the NYC ordered theirs.
Those are some beautiful shots of beautiful steam. But I may be a bit biased being as I am a steam man... John
