NYC Finally Published

I have been published, finally, following an 11 year effort to research facts, obtain photographs to illustrate the text, and get someone interested in publication. The New York Central System Historical Society has published my article, "One Major Construction Project," in the Central Headlight, Vol. XXXV, No. 1, First Quarter 2005. Yes, 2005, as they are a little behind. They are in the mail this week.
Roger, I'm sure you are a member and will receive the Headlight. I'd appreciate any feedback. Charlie Smith edited my text and did a very good job.
The reason it has taken so long is because Railfan and Railroad expressed an interest in the subject, so I submitted it to them in 1999. They never published it and it took until 2005 to get them to return the materials. And yes, I had enclosed a proper sized and pre-stamped envelope for them to return it. Of course, postal rates have increased several times so it probably wouldn't have covered it. They returned it, too, unused. Waste of stamps.
Anyway, the article covers the re-routing of the New York Central tracks in Little Falls, NY, in the late 1940's. This was done to remedy the sharpness of the curve, site of the 1940 wreck of the Lake Shore Limited.

 

Jim...congratulations...we will need to get an autographed copy of that...

 

Yes, I am a member of NYCSHS and I look forward to the article. I understand that the curve was a major problem and the change was a major effort.

Also, I understand the problem with a magazine holding an article. In one case, I withdrew an article. Because of the problems getting it published, I just scrapped that one.

 

"That's progress."
Nice job! So, you were 4 months old and sleeping when the Little Falls wreck happened. That makes you slightly younger than I.

That one wreck ended by producing a tremendous change, and the photos show the change in alignment beautifuly well.

Again, good job.

 

Thanks, Roger. It was fun to do. I nearly fell over when one of the residents sent me that aerial photo. Not a common thing for 1947, and as they say, one picture is worth a thousand words.

 

One of the nice things about your article is the fact that it is memories as well as facts. I like to read the living memories of people. It really brings it all home!

 

Jim,
Good job,and easy reading.LEW

 

Thanks, LEW. Would you do the rest of the board a favor and submit your comments on the brake application, throttle closure sequence? As a hogger yourself, you have insight that we fans don't.

 

Aerial photo - can you post here?

 

Here it is. The new tracks cut inside the old. Must have been taken early AM looking at the shadows of the houses. Gregorka photo, collection of Mike Kapala.

 

You know, that would never be permitted today. The Environmentalists would never approve of rerouting the river.

 

In answer to Jim's request about my
feelings on the Little Falls wreck.
After reading Jim's story and the small amount of info available this is my
theory . This is by no means what hapened but could have.
Of course we will never know but the
description of the brake reduction sounds like an anglecock was closed behind the engine and or maybe behind the engine
and one car.With the short exhaust at the brake valve and the engineer closing the throttle he knew something was wrong. Closing the throttle would be the first reaction upon realizing
the brakes were not reacting normally.
Thinking that the brakes might take hold and slow the train to the speed limit.Also the slack running in was an indication that the brakes never set on the train.The brakes on a passenger
train perform differently than on a freight train,(5 lbs.of reduction on a pass. train will do wonders),that is why you can drive right down to a station.Unless something unusal happened those passenger engineers would not make that big of a mistake
at that location.
If you checked all of the speed tapes at that location for a month I would imagine they woud be within 3 to 5 mph
of the speed limit. LEW

 

Roger, you are right about that. LEW, thanks for the comments and your insight. I don't know if the investigation board considered that option or not, but it sure sounds reasonable to me.