On another site, we have been discussing the difference between front ends, and it started with Milwaukee S-2 and S-3 class 4-8-4's. I seem to recall reading about Alco coming up with a "Selkirk" front end, which included the flat face of the smokebox as shown on this from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath, L-4 3115, which was built by Lima. Did Alco transfer the technology to Lima or did NY Central just give them the blueprints? Do any of you know any more about this "Selkirk" modification? Thanks.
Jim, is it possible that the name "Selkirk" related to the CP Selkirks (2-10-4) built by the Montreal Locomotive Works? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkirk_locomotive The smoke box front of the CP's Selkirk was flat like the L-4 in your photo, also I believe MLW was a subsidiary of ALCO. Though I admit that is stretching as nothing else appears to be similar. :tb-wacky:
Hank, I would guess it had more to do with Selkirk yard near Albany. I am ashamed to admit that I don't know who Selkirk was nor his connection with NYCS, but the yard is named for him. :tb-sad:
OOOPS, I had totally forgotten about Selkirk Yard.....:tb-embarrassed: Apparently Selkirk Yard was not named for a person, but for the much older hamlet of Selkirk where the Central built its yard in the early 20's. As for the origin of "elephant ear" smoke deflectors, I was always told that the Central developed them, maybe at the Selkirk shops. That may not be true, but they appeared to be standard issue on many of the Central's heavy over-the-road locos erected during the 30s and 40s.
I could not find anything about the origination of the "Selkirk front end". I need to dig out my copies of the old "Headlight" magazines which are still packed away. There were two articles (3Q 1988 and 1Q 1989) that might shed some light on this. There has been some discussion about this, but this is all I was able to find. …As an example, the other classic myth/fantasy that comes up frequently, is describing the the flat smokebox front as fitted to a few ex-streamlind J-3a class Hudsons as a "Selkirk front end". Which is just pure nonsense, as all J-3a locomotives (normal smokebox front or the flat style) had a selkirk front end. As did all J-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, S-1, S-2 and A-2 class steamers…. [Robert Bogie] …The 6000 underwent a series of stationary boiler performance tests at the Selkirk test plant…. [Richard Dawson] …only four [J3a]locos had the "Selkirk" ("Mohawk"-style) front end-- 5447, 5450, 5451, 5453…. [H. F. Malone] So it seems the "Selkirk front end" actually refers to the smokebox drafting configuration (internal, not visible) and not the face of the smokebox. You can have a Selkirk front end with the classical conical smokebox shape. Apparently the NYC had some kind of research or test facility at Selkirk, New York that developed this smokebox drafting system, hence the name applied to it.
Fascinating, Mike. I hope you can dig up more information. It would be interesting to find out that the Central had an R&D facility at Selkirk similar to the Pennsy's Juniata Shops.
