NYC Niagara prior to Nov 1948

Ok, here is one large photo.
Probably prior to November, 1948 at Bellefontaine, OH. The records show that most or all had the headlight conversion in November, 1948 and this one isn't converted yet.
Larry Baggerly collection

 

One large photo of one large, and beautiful, locomotive. I sure wish we had one around to eyeball today. Having seen almost all of the surviving, operating 4-8-4's in the USA, I long to see a Niagara. I know I did as a child, but was too young to appreciate what I was experiencing. How can Larry tell that the headlight mod wasn't done? I can't even see the headlight. That could be age related. Thanks for posting this, Roger.
:tb-biggrin:

 

Methinks Roger has another view up his sleeve.

 

Good guess. However, it is Larry who has the second view photo. It isn't good enough to show, but it shows the headlight.

 

I think I have Harold Vollrath photos of Niagaras with the single headlight and the dual beam version. If you are interested I will dig them out. In either configuration, the Niagara was something to behold. :tb-sad:

 

Please do. That should be interesting.

 

The first one is Niagara 6024 with the single, original headlight. This photo is by Bob Schell, from the Bob Spaugh collection, at Elkhart, date unknown.



The second is from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath, taken at Syracuse in 1946, so it must have been one of the first to receive the double beam headlight. 6017. It is interesting that the final NYC steam locos, the Berkshires for P&LE, had the single beam headlight.

 

I found one on the Bellefontaine page.

 

They were just beautiful. :tb-sad:

 

I think it's criminal that not a single one was spared! They couldn't even donate one to a small town park?

I have seen C.B. & Q. # 4000 (Big Alice) several times in North La Crosse WI. Even a small
town like that wanted a used steam locomotive!


Charlie