An old friend just sent me this "centerfold" from a calendar. It is so big I can't get the whole thing on my scanner. Anyway, it's one of the prettiest things every to be seen on rails, a Dreyfus streamlined Hudson, 5450. Painting by Mike Danneman. He really has captured that running gear. That's what they looked like for the fleet second you got a glimpse! ------------------ http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/ Member No. 508
As Pink Floyd once asked, "Is there anybody out there?" How about some photos of NYC, guys? whimper, whimper. Fitz
OK, this isn't streamlined, but would anyone care to comment on what is going on here? A common New York Central practice undoubtedly well known to all of you who visit this site. The photo is from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath. By the Way, does anyone have a photo of the Rexall Mohawk to post here? [ 07 February 2001: Message edited by: fitz ]
It looks like he has been taking on water from the long trough between the rails. The engine has just cleared the end of the trough so the fireman is frantically raising the scoop! The over-spill is the water fall at the rear of the tender. Those high stepping Hudsons didn't even slow down while taking up to 25,000 gallons on the fly. There was hell to pay when a fireman failed to lift that scoop and it hit the end of the trough!! I understand it only happened a few times, before the auto-lifters were installed. What do you think Fritz, or am I all wet?
Well, Watash, if that was an observation car being towed backward behind the tender and you were on the deck, yeah, you'd be all wet. Never having had the opportunity to fire or run one of those beauties, I'll ask our participants-- /did the fireman raise the scoop? Was it automatic? How could that be, unless the track pans were all the same length at every location and the speed was exactly the same (doubt that). That poses an interesting question for you guys who model the NYC. Anyone have track pans? I would think that would play Hell with your DC or DCC equipment.
As I understand, the Fireman did indeed drop and raise the scoop. There were markers trackside to show the beginning ofthe trough and where you raised it as well as the end of the trough. After one diaster, the troughs were redesigned with a slope at the end instead of a square end. Looking at the photo, it looks to me as if Watash has is nailed just right. You can see the trough end marker back along the train and what looks to be the trough from that point rearward. Guessing, I think that the Fireman may have waited a little long. Perhaps the Tender was lower on water than normal or expected.
Roger, is that the "end of trough" marker between the fifth and sixth cars? If so, that trough may have been open-ended as Watash suggests. Fitz
It looks to be the end of trough marker to me and the scoop isn't completely up yet. I would bet that there is a lot of 'language' being said.
Fitz, here is a notation about these track pans, below. When the "End of Pan" marker is passing, the fireman pulls the scoop up, but there is a good deal of pan left after that point. Excess water from up in the scoop and duct into the tender drains back out the scoop, which is showing in the photo. Early on the scoops did hit the end of some pans causing havoc under the cars behind. One scoop even crashed up through the wooden floor of a baggage or mail car as I recall. The pans were re-worked to have a slopping bottom that would retain the water level yet would deflect the scoop up out of the pan without damage. A small steel wheel was mounted at each side of the scoop that would ride on the slopping ramp. [ 29 May 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
Watash, thanks for the info on the troughs. I had never seen that before. Somewhere in my archives I have a drawing of one of the scoops. I need to find it. Also have an old article about scooping at 80mph. The tenders had all kinds of baffles and pipes to prevent the force of the water from blowing the sides of the tender out. I know early on they slowed to 50 to scoop. Fitz
Hey guys, a new member, SSJIM has posted an inquiry over in "On the Rails" concerning the track pans. Tom, or Ron, do you know the locations of all of the pans that were on the 4-track main? I know we were surprised to learn that there were some in Canada. I know there were pans at Scotia, NY, where else?
Jim There was a posting in the NYC Forum some time back but I'm not sure to what extent they went as to system wide locations. I have seen no other listings.There also was a listing of the pans in Michigan. Ron
Jim I just was given a copy of that calendar,that is a great painting.We don't have OSH down here.The nearest one is about 70 miles north,and my "normal" travels don't take me near any of them. Ron
Ron, Isn't that a great painting? My friend who sent it to me lives in Canyon Country, CA so they evidently have those stores where he lives. BTW, thanks for advertising this forum over on the railroad net NYC site. SSJIM-The track pan discussion has been revived over on railroad net. One post has a list of all NYC pan locations. http://www.railroad.net/forums/nyc Fitz
