I haven't started a NYC thread for some time, so here is a J-3 Hudson from the Harold Vollrath collection, shot in Chicago in 1947.
Jim, this photo of 5445, other than being of an absolutely beautiful machine, shows two things that I never knew, or at least may have forgotten long ago. First is the graphite smoke box paint. Maybe the K's, J-2's, and rare F's that roamed the Harlem were always dirty, but I sure don't remember a change of color between the boiler and smoke box. Second, is the taller firebox top (compared to the boiler) unique to J-3's? I don't remember this on the ex-B&A J-2's that the Harlem acquired late in life. (My apologies to the North White maintenance crew for even considering that they may have ever allowed a "dirty" locomotive out of their shop for general service. )
Hank, as far as I have been able to determine, that taller thing is just a sheet metal cover for the steam manifold that is just forward of the cab. That structure seemed to "grow" as new models of Alco locos came out. As far as the graphite goes, I don't know the answer. It may have to do with what NYC shop last serviced the locomotive. Your memory of B&A J-2's--the B&A took pride in the look of the front of their Hudsons and if I remember right, they painted them silver.
When my Dad was stationed in Korea in the mid 1950s he picked up an HO brass Tenshoto model of one of those. It followed us around all over the globe until in 1983, he finally built his layout. Only problem was, he decided to model the Santa Fe. So, like a good son, I painted it up for him. Oh well....sigh....
Russell, Santa Fe had handsome Hudsons, too, but that model is certainly based on a New York Central 4-6-4. I think the coal in the tender might be one of the many dead giveaways. ATSFs burned oil. Ironically, as a Marx kid, when I finally got a Hudson as a kid, it was a Marx plastic ATSF Hudson. Sheeesh, for one living in the back yard of the New York Central.
Santa Fe burned a lot of coal depending on the division where they ran. Especially between Chicago and La Junta where their Hudsons reigned. The 3450 class Hudsons were built as coal burners but were eventually converted to oil. Here is an ATSF Mikado in Chicago with a full load.
It depended on the cost and availability of the different fuels. In Texas and California, oil ruled. The ATSF transcon was a mixed bag. Big coal tipples in Chicago, Kansas City and New Mexico. The SP even used coal in parts of New Mexico.
Here is the coal tipple in Gallup, New Mexico along with three coal burning Mikados. And yet here we have some oil burners parked in front of the coal tipple at the Argentine Yard in Kansas City. I believe they are taking on sand. OK, I guess I am done hi-jacking this thread. Back to NYC Husdsons.
Russell, don't apologize for posting those great photos. You merely have thrown down the gauntlet for Roger and Jim to locate and post similar NYC photos.
Regarding the graphite smokebox paint.... The firebox was too hot for ordinary pigmented paint - it would burn off. That is why graphite paint was used there. Depending on the formulation, the graphite paint could look black or somewhat silver. The NYC standard was the black graphite, although the B&A tended to use the silver. There could also have been variations between the shops that applied the coating.
Wish I had some of those old coal tipples in use, but I don't. Might have some of them out of service. Here is a shot from our old friend Ron who once contributed to the NYCS site. I have lost contact with him. Hudson getting sand loaded in the sand dome.
Here is one of Niagara Class S, the only one built with poppet valves, 5500. I guess we can imagine that the water tank in the background has been accessed to feed the tender, through that spout that is obviously being used just for that task. Photo by Lamar Kelly, from the collection of Bob Spaugh, Englewood, ILL.
October 27, 1940 Lafayette, Indiana CCCStL class " J-1d " 4-6-4 Hudson #5377 Roger Hensley Collection
Jim, are there any records that compare 5500's efficiency with her S-1 sisters? Had not 5500's poppet valve experiment occurred so late in steam development (1947?), I'm sure we would have seen more S-2s built.
Please note that #5445 was a de-streamlined Dreyfus Hudson, so some of the appliances were set up to be accessible from under the streamlining. This may have been the maiden voyage after the removal.
Lots of good stuff here. Roger, nice doubleheader shot! That was rare, unless motive power was being moved to other locations. Hank, knowing how the Central tested their locomotives, I am sure S-1 vs. S-2 comparison data was collected, but I don't have any and am not sure where to find it. Maybe Tom Gerbracht of the NYCSHS has some--he has posted some great technical data in the Central Headlight in the past. Russell, that particular Hudson, 5426, along with 5429 was uniquely streamlined for the Empire State Express to match the corregated steel of the passenger consist. 5446 was a 20th Century Limited loco, and would have looked more like 5450, another Vollrath photo. Half of them had Boxpok drivers and half had Scullin Disks like 5450. Let's keep this going!! It's fun!
