Stourbridge Lion has done a magnificent job of presenting D&H Steam here on this site. I challenge you, sir. I intend to run some of the New York Central steam--there were some markets where the D&H and the NYC competed for business back then. If any of you folks model the NYC, perhaps some of these photos may help you with details, I hope so. Now that I have learned to properly use this old flatbed scanner, I am re-scanning some photos that I purchased from Harold K. Vollrath, and finally doing them justice. This first one is not a typical NYC Hudson. What is different about it, from what you know or remember? [ 15. January 2005, 05:23: Message edited by: fitz ]
Not certain exactly what's different. But one thing has me curious. Looking at the stack, it actually looks like there's a second smaller one in front? Or is this just a slight quirk in the photo? Boxcab E50
Thanks, Alan. Rather, thanks to Mr. Vollrath for recording all of these locos on film before they were cut up. Boxcab, that smaller stack is the exhaust for the trailing truck booster engine, installed at one time or another on all of the Hudsons. Don, you are closing in. Those drivers are spoked, typical on all Hudsons before J-3's, but on that particular engine they are 75 inches in diameter. Most were 79. This is another hint.
Aren't shorter drivers more for lower speeds? I see a passenger car behind the tender. So am wondering if this had anything to do with a commuter service? Where there was a lot of starting and stopping? Easier to start up a train? Boxcab E50
Still looks like it could move pretty fast to me I wonder if a few inches in diameter made very much difference? We had class 9F locomotives here with 60 inch drivers that would do 90 mph (Until the powers that be found out stopped it)
America's oldest continually operated transportation company, The Delaware & Hudson Railroad can also be found on TrainBoard's Fallen Flags with an ever growing ROSTER of engines. The "Challenge" is on for all Falllen Flags moderators to build up a list of topics in their respective forums to equal the D&H topics!!!!!!!
Darren has a whole series of Delaware and Hudson steam going on. He has covered several classes of D&H locomotives and the latest one is a class of handsome 4-6-6-4's. Another hint: The smaller drivers were for the branch of NYC that actually had some hills. It was somewhere east of NY. Here is a class J-1b, almost as built, shot at Buffalo, NY in 1929 from Mr. Vollrath's collection. It should help in finding differences from the norm in the one above.
So my guess has been summarily rejected? Am afraid that has exhausted my meager knowledge of any possibilities. Boxcab E50
Found this on George Elwood's site { http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ } and it does look like two (2) stacks.
Seems kind of odd to me, that they'd plumb trailing truck booster exhaust clear to the front of the loco. Boxcab E50
Ken, no, your guess has not been summarily rejected. You are right on the track. Lower speed, start-stop, the easternmost segment of the Central. I don't know why they ran that exhaust all the forward. Some boosters had their exhausts in the tenders. Darren, glad you joined the fray. That engine you posted is from the same series as my original photo. Take a look at the top of the boiler for starters.
Then this is in the old Boston & Albany territory? Still close with guessing commuter stuff? Boxcab E50
Ken, absolutely right. The 5461 is a class J-2, built specifically for the Boston and Albany. Because of the Berkshire "mountains," the drivers were smaller. As originally built, this engine was B&A No. 606, and Darren's 5463 was 608. Now, there are other differences that no one has mentioned, compared to J-1b 5229.
Well, I guess no one is interested. As mentioned, 5461 is a J-2. Look at the tender. Even Lionel didn't put 4-wheel trucks on their Hudson tenders. The J-1b, 5229, has the 6-wheel truck tender that most were delivered with. How about the sand domes? J-1 is as delivered. B&A needed more, so they put a sand BOX on theirs--ugly. Feedwater heater--J-2 has a Coffin, which is fully contained within the smokebox. J-1 has an Elesco, which is like a crosswise cylinder with the ends sticking out of the sides at top of smokebox. The J-1, photographed in 1929, still has Walscheart valve gear, later changed to Baker as on the J-2. J-2 has a Pyle National headlight, J-1 a Sunbeam. I'm sure that the 5229 ended up with all the changes that are on 5461 later in her life, except for (thank God) the sandbox. Having said all that, here is a J-1d, 5300. Any differences? This one is also from Mr. Vollrath's collection. [ 17. January 2005, 22:45: Message edited by: fitz ]
Class.Road Numbers.Yr. Built.Builder.Locomotive Weight J-2a...600 - 604......1928.....ALCO...353,000 lbs J-2b...605 - 609......1930.....ALCO...356,500 lbs J-2c...610 - 619.......1931.....Lima....357,000 lbs