Indianapolis New York Central Railroad's "Commodore Vanderbilt" Built in December 1934, it was displayed in Chicago at LaSalle Street Station on 12 and 13 January 1935. Collection W. H. Bass Photo Company
Good photo, Roger. I don't remember ever seeing a shrouded Commodore engine at Croton-Harmon, maybe the shrouding was not restored after WW-II when my mother and I started watching engine changes. However, I rode on the Commodore at least twice after the War, though it had a non-shrouded Hudson each time.
Absolutely beautiful. If you find any pictures of it at LaSalle St, I'd love to see them! Actually any shot at LaSalle St would be awesome!
I envy your experience, that must have been quite a ride on a train which was only a hairsbreadth difference from the 20th Century! Charlie
Wow, more history there, Roger. Is that the DeWitt Clinton next to the Commodore? Without looking it up, I am pretty sure that the locomotive is J-1e 5344, which went on to be streamlined later just like the 20th Century Dreyfus engines. Also pretty sure that the streamlining was designed by Carl Cantola (sp).
Yes, that is the DeWitt Clinton next to the Commodore Vanderbilt at LaSalle Street Station in Chicago.
It is a good looking hunk of iron. Have been checking on the exhaust stacks for the boosters. Go to George Elwooad's site and go to the 2-8-2 H-7 to the 1989- 1993. These are good shots of the engineer's side and you can see the booster exhaust wrap around the boiler. and come out around the stack for the cylinders. On some engines you can also see the smaller pipe that is the exhaust for the stoker. The B&A A-1 2-8-4 had a square exhaust in front of the main stack. Have not found anything on the filter,for lack of the correct name , on the end of some of the stoker exhaust. We lost another engineer at Anderson,Don Stewart. That leaves 3 that worked for the NYC. Myself,Bob Stierwalt and Bob Vanhook. The first 2 are the last to fire steam, Vanhook starting after 1960. LEW
LEW, thanks for researching that "filter." I took your advice and searched Elwood's H-7s. I had no idea that there were so many different ways to install Elesco feedwater heaters and their associated plumbing. I found two H-7s, 1956 and 57 that may have them installed. One H-7 had a hand-me-down Hudson tender. I guess the "filter" will remain a mystery. Lots of different pipes on those H-7s, some in front of the stack, some behind. Sorry to hear about Don Stewart.
I guess it should be no surprise as steam neared its end, Operations (or whatever that department was called) mixed and matched whatever was serviceable at the moment, whether that was tender to locomotive, or whatever part was lying around in the roundhouse that could be made to fit. Sad, I guess everything has a useful life.
