Every day when I got off the school bus, the 20th Century Limited passed by our home, through the rock cut and around the curve at Spuyten Duyvil and up the Hudson to it's awaiting Hudson. On weekends, my granddad and I would watch the "great steel fleet" arrive at Harmon, where the huge J-3 Hudsons backed down to the trains.. Then it was off to Peekskill to watch the Century rush by at speed, an incredible, never-to-be-forgotten sight for a youngster like me. The most spectacular steamer ever!
In 1954 or 1955 I spent the summer with my fathers parents in Eclectic Ala. My father was in the Air Force, stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton. Robbie Darnell my cousin and my grandmother ( we called her Mother Mary) came up to visit and took me back. We left Dayton Station about five on the Cleveland Cincinnati Express. Dayton was a two level station and the track from the north curved to the right as it entered the station complex. I will never forget the sight and sounds and smells of that Hudson (Big Four) as it rolled into the station pulling a long string of green heavyweight coaches. The rods were clanking and water was pouring from the injector overflow- the station rumbled as it passed me- AND the engineer gave a friendly wave as they all did in those days. That was one of those pivotal moments as a young man I never forgot- such beauty and majesty!
Out of the huge number of those Hudsons and Niagras built, I cannot believe a single one didn't get saved to at least be put on display in any museums.
The J1 Hudson was the first "serious" locomotive I bought for my HO layout. I'd give anything to be at the throttle of one of those magnificent giants.
My Grandfather worked for the NY Central System from 1916 to 1961. My Great grandfather, who was also a RR man, got him the job right after he got back from being part of General Pershing's expedition into Mexico after Pancho Villa. That job kept him from being recalled in 1917 and out of the hell that was WWI. He LOVED the steamers and had no love at all for the diesels, he said they had no souls. Thanks for the video, I know Gramps would have loved it, too.
I remember in 1951 going to the Poughkeepsie Station waiting for Aunts and Uncles from the city to arrive on one of these Big boys. What a thrill to hear the bell and see the steam and watch the wheels come to a stop
I was lucky enough to experience these wonderful engines in the 1950's when I was very young. My dad would take my brother and me to the Union Station in Columbus Ohio, now long gone. He would take us down to the track level where we could stand very close to the smoke and steam belching engines. God it like heaven experiencing these behemoths as they went by. I love this video and all like it as it brings back some of the most vivid memories of my youth.
Great shots of a mechanical stoker in action, and very interesting the care the Central put into getting the best out of these engines, including the use of graded coal.
This video totally takes me back. It reminds me of why I am such an undying fan of 1940s technology. In those days, people did actual work, and things were made up of actual parts, you know, like metal things that went around and did stuff. And, make no mistake-- none of it was crude. A J3 Hudson, like a P51 airplane, is a phenomenally high-tech piece of machinery, even by today's standards. Get rid of all the computers and try to make something. You could not do better today than what they had then.
DianaOfBurlington What inpress me is the fact that the steam locomotives of the 1940s.Can easily do a 100mph and keep that speed for a few hours.My grand mother would tell me.Of seeing double header pulling troupe trains.And freight trains to.Seeing these machine at speed with their side rods a blur.
Right, no computers to help them, just engineers using slide rules and draftsmen drawing up blueprints. Then others using those prints to form metal into the parts that came together to be a thing of function and beauty.
Very cool, those men really earned their pay. The volumes of coal and water they used per mile is amazing, that tender held 14,000 gallons of water, and it needed to filled every 40 miles.
Thank you for making this wonderful film available. Steam had all but disappeared by the time I left elementary (grammar) school, but I'll never forget watching (at trackside with my late father) the steam locomotives of Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe.
I had a very basic idea of how a steam loco worked. This video is the only and the best I have seen which fully explains how everything works at the right time and what makes it work. A huge thank you for this wonderful video. For those who are into steam now this is as relevant as it was when this video was made. Thanks so much for the upload, OK? After the video I will be subbing you. Take care. mrbluenun
I'm glad to see this again; thanks for posting it. I had a number of these informative NYC educational films on VHS tapes, but a *former* friend found a buyer for all my cassettes, eight boxes of them, and apparently found a buyer for them, as the pawn shops were no longer taking them at that time. I wish they'd come out again, on disk.
My Grandfather Dale Dorn was a locomotive engineer who operated (man handled) a New York Central passenger ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 #2913 out of the Beach Grove Indiana shops. ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 was the first production Steam Engine using Timken Roller Bearings. A huge deal back in the 20's that we all ride on today!
Had the pleasure to ride on the Royal Hudson in Vancouver, BC. It is oil fired though. As part of the day excursion we all were allowed to go into the cab. An unforgettable experience and a beautiful ride along the Frazier River.
Mathewos Yakob GOD Bless You Mathewos.. maybe someday you can see my old Wyoming home and playground set 4004 ... i know that I am a dinosaur 🦕 pre y2k a Cold War kid from Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸
I once saw a old movie of NYC Hudson doubled headed pulling a coal train.So. yea they did pull freight in later years.I have one Hudson in o gauge.One of my favorite is the empire builder Hudson. It just says speed to me.
A great peek into a bygone era and I also learned a few things re the operating parts. One thing struck me, though: the NYC spent a lot of money to insure their water supply was virtually pure of contaminants. But when I saw the Hudsons scooping up water from the troughs I wondered how "dirty" that water was from sitting in the gauge? I assume their was a MOW-type consist that replenished the water every so often? Thanks for a great vid!
One thing that cleaned out the track pans was the wild spray all over. Then worker on site could see that pan was properly refilled. Northern RRs also needed heating equipment to prevent freezing. Interesting story in "Trains" mag a few years back on how NY&NE, NYC, PRR learned about track pans from LNER in Britain, how it worked, and why bother.
Its not an English accent that the old radio people used. Its called the mid-Atlantic and is a made up accent that sis sort of an english and american mid west accent mashed together. That lent well for broadcast because early radio did not do bass sounds very well. alot of early film stars also used the mid-Atlantic accent. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_accent
I lived near Englewood Station as kid in the 1950s when I was a teen. Although no longer streamlined, some remained in service until the end of NYC steam in Chicago in lgr 1955 e
Thank you so much, Mr. Pearlman for scrapping almost every one (but 2) of NYC's magnificent steam locomotives. I guess it can be said in some R.R. executuve offices that sentimentality an good PR don't mix.
Any museum or group wanting to be considered for an equipment donation had to go thru the railroad's Public Relations Dept. At least a couple times it wasn't the railroad but lack of logistics(and money!) on the part of the receiving party that nixed the deal.
I can almost guaranteed if they just preserved the 1938 20th Century Limited with the Dreyfuss Hudson and use it as a luxury passenger train in modern New York, everyone around the world would come to New York to ride it.
WOW Heath, I can't even begin to say just how cool this clip is. I've seen many NYC vintage clips, but not this one. I think we were all born a generation or 2 too late, huh ? lol.. Can you just imaging railfanning a Hudson hitting the water pan @ 70 mph ? How awesome would that be ? Really enjoyed and of course Fav'd this puppy... Thanks my friend.. a real gem...
The NYC rr "Hudsons" were very impressive passenger service engines, it is a true shame that none of these locomotives were preserved for museums or other public locations. The Hudsons were attractive in their appearance, especially the engines equipped with the Henry Dreyfuss style "streamlined shroud" body style that hauled the "20th Century Limited" and the "Empire State Express" trains.
In Canada we have at least one Hudson locomotive preserved ( #5700, one of 5 built in 1930 by Montreal Locomotive Works) In 1957 it took part in a spontaneous 3 mile speed test were it covered the distance in 96 seconds clocking over 112 mph. I'm sure in a properly prepared speed trial she could have done more. The New York Central J-3 Hudsons were reputed to do 123 mph. It wasn't because of performance that steam engines were replaced, it was the constant need for water, & maintenance, repair & re-building & subsequent manpower involved in their operation that causes them to be replaced by diesel- electrics. So dad that none of the New York Central Hudsons are preserved, however somebody should go vist Doncaster, England, where they have been building steam locomotives from scratch, such as the Tornado, which a few yrs back clocked over 101 mph. Makbe they could build you a Hudson.!
Fantastic Video!! Thanks for sharing. This is one of those video's that everyone should view to see where we've come from in terms of rail technology. Thanks again! Andy Wartman The A.E.R. Group
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It's a crime that none of the Hudsons and their Niagara successors survive. 'Iconic' is an over-used word, but that's exactly what these beautiful Dreyfuss steamlined engines were. Can you imagine one parked on display on a NY street? One day, assuming the blueprints still exist, someone with enough money will build one from scratch, just like they did the elegant A1 Peppercorn. Anyway, something to dream about.
No, that is not correct. At 7.08 a standing line of locomotives is led by an L-4 Mohawk (note the flat smokebox front). The first of these locomotives was built in December of 1942.
Further, stenciled test dates are seen on appliances which also seem to comport a after 1942 filming date. A opinion of mine is the view of the Century Hudson in track pan with the very mixed passenger consist looks almost certainly wartime, no chance of that being 1938.
9:33. Anyone else notice the irony…that just as the narrator is saying the hoslers handle the engines with great skill and precision, that the engine has wheel slip coming off the turntable?
When he said: "On the larger locomotives of today, and man cannot shovel coal fast enough", my mind went back to a story about how a UP fireman had to shovel coal on a Big Boy because their stoker broke.
Just to add due credit. This video was made by Mr. Fred Beach who was hired by the NYC railroad to produce some PR films. The Steam Locomotive film we have here is one of them.
Mr. Nicks: 2 NYC Mohawks survived the scrap line. NYC sold them to Texas and Pacific, who never used them. One is in Elkhart, Indiana and the other is in the Transportation Museum in Missouri, right next to Southern Pacific GS-6 #4460. Three NYC Hudsons were sold to another railroad. I wonder what their disposition was? No word on any books I have on the NYC Hudson. According to "Thoroughbreds" by Alvin Stauffer, NYC had 255 Hudsons - not a single one saved! The TH&B railroad bought three Hudsons from NYC and it is their disposition that I am interested in. Yes, both PRR and NYC had financial problems, but PRR saved two K-4's in spite of the financial condition - I suppose they got a tax write-off - NYC was just too stingy to save just one of their Hudsons. The two surviving Mohawks would have been scrapped, had they not been sold to T&P. There is no surviving Niagara--all 27 are gone! One Santa Fe Hudson is preserved - #3750 is at Pomona, CA where Big Boy 4014 just left! It is not the same as the NYC Hudson, but it is one 4-6-4 wheel-type that is still around.
+nyc783 - The NYC was hurting all through the Depression. They suspended dividends to stockholders like many firms did. The PRR reduced dividends but paid everyone at least something, on time. Many believe it was, ironically, the streamlined-J3 program that did it for the NYC. In 1937 PRR was investing heavily in overhead catenary and electric (GG series) whilst NYC revamped a soon-to-be-antiquated tech. Come 1947, the NYC was a laughing-stock for having to quickly ramp up to diesel (not even to electric). Meanwhile PRR was doing well with what they already had going. This duality of priorities made the 1967 merger all the worse for both of them--- NYC paired with their arch-rival and PRR paired with a loser. For both I would say air travel did them in. Freight always moves (still does). And no one ever made money in passenger service, especially long-distance. Nevertheless, like the Yankees (who shared their colors), the NYC will always seem (to me anyway) like the king of all railroads in the first half of the last century. I wouldn't doubt that the PRR saved two K4s simply because it was good for PR to do so. That's how they rolled. :)
The Hudson steam engine is one of my Favorite steam engine. I have one in O scale brass by KTM Westside..these are such great machines..its sad that today it take forever or not enough money or even the skill to restore a great steamer..when back then they were built and worked on like todays cheap cars..no Hudsons were saved for display.
I believe it was called the "Water Level Route" because from New York to Buffalo the tracks followed the Hudson River as far as possible, and from Buffalo to Chicago the southern shore of Lake Erie through Cleveland to Chicago. Must have been a scenic venture.
The run along the Hudson sure was and you can see part of that in the movie "North by Northwest" by Alfred Hitchcock. The run from Buffalo to Chicago not so much. It May have been back in time but in the later days there was a lot of industrial development along the tracks and I don't remember seeing much of the lake. After Albany, the NYC also ran along the Mohawk River. I think the Water Level Route" was more of a slam against their competitor, the Pennsylvania RR. They had to battle the mountains to get from NY City to Chicago. All in all, it didn't really make much difference. The "Water Level Route" made for some good advertising, though.
The closest thing to a NYC Hudson now is a 1929 built Mohawk that's in St Louis, All the 4-6-4s were scrapped between 1953-1956 with one tender at Steamtown being the last surviving piece
I was told by a retired NYC/PC engineer who worked out of Elkhart Indiana that NYC had authorized a Hudson and a Niagara to be saved out of the scrap line over at Airline Yard in Toledo Ohio. But do to a mix up it didn't happen. He was told this by the Yardmaster there in the early 1960's. Has anyone else ever heard this?
+b3j8 Yes; I heard exactly the same story. The engineer or whoever it was was asked on the sly to drive one to some certain spot where it could be spared. Some mixup happened and either it was the wrong spot or he couldn't get it there. The guy came back on Monday morning, or whatever, and the loco was gone. I read a whole series in one of the magazines about these being scrapped. Really sad-- like the huge pile of B24 Liberators in Arizona, just sitting there till one-by-one they got cut up. Just like the B24, the 464 was one for the ages.
Ok,the comment that steam is steam is not true.For example Belpair boxes burn hotter true,so long as you have the right coal!The fire depends on two factors the blower setting and the draw on the fire through the flue tubes in conjunction with the locomotive exhaust.The super heated boiler has super heater elements that have the been passed through the boiler and are usually bolted in,where as flue and boiler tubes are welded in the boiler.Where as a Saturated boiler only has flue and boiler tubes.So let us look at Delaware and Hudson,their Locomotives and their wide fireboxes.You may ask why they were so wide,This was because the coal was of such quality the locomotive box was designed for it`s purpose,so it is very much horses for courses.Cheers Stephen
4:05 So apparently the two pistons are not 90 degrees out of phase right side to left side. That would have limited the starting torque but doubled the power strokes per length of track. Starting must be more important. LoL
The crankpins are ninety degrees apart offering the only known configuration that left no dead spots. In other words no matter where a locomotive wheels came to a stop they could begin again because while one piston may be at or near T.D.C. or B.D.C.(top dead center or bottom dead center) the piston on the opposite side would be in between T.D.C.or B.D.C. and could get the load rolling. Now I don't know what the timing events are for a three or four cylinder engine but I would assume they would have even greater starting torque. BP
They would have saved the engine #5313 itself instead of scrapping itself and surviving its tender, and it would've been preserved at the Steamtown National Historic. The Commodore Vanderbilt would've been saved also, and it would've been preserved at the American Railroad Museum in Frisco, TX. The 20th Century Limited would've been displayed at the Chicago Science and industry Museum with the Pioneer) Zypher and #999, and The Empire State Express would've survived at the Railroad Museum of New York.
Cant find the exact date of this film but if they made it in 45, considering they talk of peace time or war. the train cost of $200,000 in 45 money adjusted for inflation is $2,769,932.58 in 2018
For sure, also the fact that railroads wanted to present a streamlined, modern image after WW2 and the fact that on trains that needed two or three engines for the grades, each one required a crew. One engineer in a diesel can control other diesel helpers.
According to American-rails.com under the heading 4-6-4 Hudson “several Hudsons remain preserved and surprisingly a handful are either operational or under restoration.”
Raptor Productions what happened was the fact of the maintenance and fuel cost of the steam engine. Alfred Perlman, the Chairman of the NYC at the time, found it was not worth keeping on roster due to en masse dieselization. They never thought of people today asking about where the Hudsons are. They wanted the money for what they were worth to keep the company alive, with increased regulations and taxes on railroads.
Hopefully an organization like the T1 trust fund will start up for the New York Central Hudson. As far as i know as of right now, theres a C&O Hudson in Baltimore
Every day when I got off the school bus, the 20th Century Limited passed by our home, through the rock cut and around the curve at Spuyten Duyvil and up the Hudson to it's awaiting Hudson. On weekends, my granddad and I would watch the "great steel fleet" arrive at Harmon, where the huge J-3 Hudsons backed down to the trains.. Then it was off to Peekskill to watch the Century rush by at speed, an incredible, never-to-be-forgotten sight for a youngster like me. The most spectacular steamer ever!
In 1954 or 1955 I spent the summer with my fathers parents in Eclectic Ala. My father was in the Air Force, stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton. Robbie Darnell my cousin and my grandmother ( we called her Mother Mary) came up to visit and took me back. We left Dayton Station about five on the Cleveland Cincinnati Express. Dayton was a two level station and the track from the north curved to the right as it entered the station complex. I will never forget the sight and sounds and smells of that Hudson (Big Four) as it rolled into the station pulling a long string of green heavyweight coaches. The rods were clanking and water was pouring from the injector overflow- the station rumbled as it passed me- AND the engineer gave a friendly wave as they all did in those days. That was one of those pivotal moments as a young man I never forgot- such beauty and majesty!
lucky
Does anyone watching these old movies.When an engineer waves
have you ever found yourself waving
bac?.Or almost waving.
Out of the huge number of those Hudsons and Niagras built, I cannot believe a single one didn't get saved to at least be put on display in any museums.
It's just sad all the Hudsons were cut up for scrap. Truly an undignified end for such a legendary locomotive.
Trust me I say the same thing. Not a one!
I feel the same way. 😞
I believe there's one in Aguascalientes Mexico, where I live. It is an American Hudson 4-6-4 from 1937. It is now on display. You can google it.
@@yoshiorodriguez3732 I look it up and Yes, it is a Hudson but not a New York Central Hudson. Doesn't even look the same
My dad worked for the NYC from the day he got out of the army. I fell in love with the Hudson and have them on my model railroad to this day 💕
The J1 Hudson was the first "serious" locomotive I bought for my HO layout. I'd give anything to be at the throttle of one of those magnificent giants.
Is anyone going to mention the generator car made from the tender of the 5313?
My Grandfather worked for the NY Central System from 1916 to 1961. My Great grandfather, who was also a RR man, got him the job right after he got back from being part of General Pershing's expedition into Mexico after Pancho Villa. That job kept him from being recalled in 1917 and out of the hell that was WWI. He LOVED the steamers and had no love at all for the diesels, he said they had no souls. Thanks for the video, I know Gramps would have loved it, too.
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.
This film and SP's "This is My Railroad" are my two all time favorites. I've watched this so countless times........ thanks for putting this up
No prob, This is one of my favorites too
I'm 14 and I would give anything to see these beautiful class J3s in action.
Damn shame they had to scrap them all but understand that a lot of railroad corporations didn't care about outdated equipment back then.
Me to
Thank you up loader for sharing this video. My grandfather drove steam locomotives and diesels for the NYC. He would have wanted me to see this.
I remember in 1951 going to the Poughkeepsie Station waiting for Aunts and Uncles from the city to arrive on one of these Big boys. What a thrill to hear the bell and see the steam and watch the wheels come to a stop
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.
I thought I knew a fair amount about how a steam locomotive operates but I learned quite a bit from this video.
I was lucky enough to experience these wonderful engines in the 1950's when I was very young.
My dad would take my brother and me to the Union Station in Columbus Ohio, now long gone.
He would take us down to the track level where we could stand very close to the smoke and steam belching engines.
God it like heaven experiencing these behemoths as they went by.
I love this video and all like it as it brings back some of the most vivid memories of my youth.
Great shots of a mechanical stoker in action, and very interesting the care the Central put into getting the best out of these engines, including the use of graded coal.
This video totally takes me back. It reminds me of why I am such an undying fan of 1940s technology. In those days, people did actual work, and things were made up of actual parts, you know, like metal things that went around and did stuff. And, make no mistake-- none of it was crude. A J3 Hudson, like a P51 airplane, is a phenomenally high-tech piece of machinery, even by today's standards. Get rid of all the computers and try to make something. You could not do better today than what they had then.
DianaOfBurlington What inpress me is the fact that the steam locomotives of the 1940s.Can easily do a 100mph and keep that speed for a few hours.My grand mother would tell me.Of seeing double header pulling troupe trains.And freight trains to.Seeing these machine at speed with their side rods a blur.
DianaOfBurlington amen!
Yea, verily!
Right, no computers to help them, just engineers using slide rules and draftsmen drawing up blueprints. Then others using those prints to form metal into the parts that came together to be a thing of function and beauty.
Watching this film and reading the comments..ugh to be alive during the age of steam would have been an experience for sure.
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954.
This is literally the best video on youtube. Ever. Thank you.
Awesome comment, even though its 9 years old.
Very cool, those men really earned their pay.
The volumes of coal and water they used per mile is amazing, that tender held 14,000 gallons of water, and it needed to filled every 40 miles.
Thank you for making this wonderful film available. Steam had all but disappeared by the time I left elementary (grammar) school, but I'll never forget watching (at trackside with my late father) the steam locomotives of Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe.
My father was a locomotive engeniere on the N Y C railroad. I had the chance to see these locomotives up close when I was a kid
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954
What a great video !!!! 4 -6-4 Hudson's Rolling along the Hudson river was a sight to see !!! Thank you,Ken
I had a very basic idea of how a steam loco worked. This video is the only and the best I have seen which fully explains how everything works at the right time and what makes it work.
A huge thank you for this wonderful video. For those who are into steam now this is as relevant as it was when this video was made.
Thanks so much for the upload, OK?
After the video I will be subbing you.
Take care.
mrbluenun
I'm glad to see this again; thanks for posting it. I had a number of these informative NYC educational films on VHS tapes, but a *former* friend found a buyer for all my cassettes, eight boxes of them, and apparently found a buyer for them, as the pawn shops were no longer taking them at that time. I wish they'd come out again, on disk.
My Grandfather Dale Dorn was a locomotive engineer who operated (man handled) a New York Central passenger ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 #2913 out of the Beach Grove Indiana shops. ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 was the first production Steam Engine using Timken Roller Bearings. A huge deal back in the 20's that we all ride on today!
Had the pleasure to ride on the Royal Hudson in Vancouver, BC. It is oil fired though. As part of the day excursion we all were allowed to go into the cab. An unforgettable experience and a beautiful ride along the Frazier River.
This was once such a great country so far as *professionals* who really knew their stuff!
I love the nyc Hudson, it one of my favorite steam locomotives! This old film is good to watch to see how these large 4-6-4 types really work
A most helpfull insight into days Gone by, However not forgotten. Fantastic, Thanks for sharing
I'm a 12 year old kid that loves steam locomotives yet didn't get to see any of those iron horses in action.
Mathewos Yakob GOD Bless You Mathewos.. maybe someday you can see my old Wyoming home and playground set 4004 ... i know that I am a dinosaur 🦕 pre y2k a Cold War kid from Cheyenne Wyoming USA 🇺🇸
Me to I'm 12 and I didnt see this
I'm 13 too, but there are still oppertunities to see those 'iron horses'.
I'm 55 and I've only seen a couple at Railfan events. Maybe you will get to Utah/Wyoming some day to see the restored BIG BOY 4014!
@Wayne Jones I've seen the Big boy already and 844 doubleheading and the 150th anaversery of the Golden Spike
I once saw a old movie of NYC Hudson doubled headed pulling a coal train.So.
yea they did pull freight in later years.I have one Hudson in o gauge.One of my
favorite is the empire builder Hudson.
It just says speed to me.
Heath, sorry I missed this. Especially since these old video's ROCK! Thanks for posting these bro!
Nice video of a classic time
A great peek into a bygone era and I also learned a few things re the operating parts. One thing struck me, though: the NYC spent a lot of money to insure their water supply was virtually pure of contaminants. But when I saw the Hudsons scooping up water from the troughs I wondered how "dirty" that water was from sitting in the gauge? I assume their was a MOW-type consist that replenished the water every so often? Thanks for a great vid!
One thing that cleaned out the track pans was the wild spray all over. Then worker on site could see that pan was properly refilled. Northern RRs also needed heating equipment to prevent freezing. Interesting story in "Trains" mag a few years back on how NY&NE, NYC, PRR learned about track pans from LNER in Britain, how it worked, and why bother.
I thought the same thing.... never knew they picked up water along the way, how cool was that?
@@_JimS Holy crap! My comment was 4 years ago! LOL People might be replying to a comment I've made and I'll be long dead.
Cheers, Bob
@@rvnmedic1968 There is that possibility, glad you still with us.
With your host, 1940s radio guy! Seriously though, that dialect of straight and properly enunciated English is sadly as dead as steam itself.
R.I.P. Enunciation of words
Its not an English accent that the old radio people used. Its called the mid-Atlantic and is a made up accent that sis sort of an english and american mid west accent mashed together. That lent well for broadcast because early radio did not do bass sounds very well. alot of early film stars also used the mid-Atlantic accent. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_accent
Grammar is just as defunct today....
@@jjames3793 is that so, I just thought it was an educated eastern American accent.
@@CarminesRCTipsandTricks yep just like invention of new unnecessary words like, gotten? Maybe it's German.
I lived near Englewood Station as kid in the 1950s when I was a teen. Although no longer streamlined, some remained in service until the end of NYC steam in Chicago in lgr 1955
e
Thanks for posting. Just try to build one of these for $200,000 today!
This is a great video. Thank you for uploading this!
Thank you so much, Mr. Pearlman for scrapping almost every one (but 2) of NYC's magnificent steam locomotives. I guess it can be said in some R.R. executuve offices that sentimentality an good PR don't mix.
Any museum or group wanting to be considered for an equipment donation had to go thru the railroad's Public Relations Dept. At least a couple times it wasn't the railroad but lack of logistics(and money!) on the part of the receiving party that nixed the deal.
Hey Marvin - BULLSHIT
Great information Heath! The New York Central locomotive had a lot of men that did maintenance and repair on it.
There are still hudson type locomotives in existence (4-6-4's) from various railroads, but all of the famous New York Central hudsons were scrapped
I can almost guaranteed if they just preserved the 1938 20th Century Limited with the Dreyfuss Hudson and use it as a luxury passenger train in modern New York, everyone around the world would come to New York to ride it.
WOW Heath, I can't even begin to say just how cool this clip is. I've seen many NYC vintage clips, but not this one. I think we were all born a generation or 2 too late, huh ? lol.. Can you just imaging railfanning a Hudson hitting the water pan @ 70 mph ? How awesome would that be ? Really enjoyed and of course Fav'd this puppy... Thanks my friend.. a real gem...
My Favorite Locomotive of all time.
Another fantastic FIND
What a super presentation! Thank you!
"cleaning is done with good old fashion soap and water. and lots of scrubbing.." yeah, try telling that to union pacific XD
Or Canadian National these days...yeesh. Their true colors are red, black and grime!
Sweet video Heath! I have seen this video before too! I love this stuff! Keep up the great work!
The NYC rr "Hudsons" were very impressive passenger service engines, it is a true shame that none of these locomotives were preserved for museums or other public locations. The Hudsons were attractive in their appearance, especially the engines equipped with the Henry Dreyfuss style "streamlined shroud" body style that hauled the "20th Century Limited" and the "Empire State Express" trains.
In Canada we have at least one Hudson locomotive preserved ( #5700, one of 5 built in 1930 by Montreal Locomotive Works) In 1957 it took part in a spontaneous 3 mile speed test were it covered the distance in 96 seconds clocking over 112 mph. I'm sure in a properly prepared speed trial she could have done more. The New York Central J-3 Hudsons were reputed to do 123 mph. It wasn't because of performance that steam engines were replaced, it was the constant need for water, & maintenance, repair & re-building & subsequent manpower involved in their operation that causes them to be replaced by diesel- electrics. So dad that none of the New York Central Hudsons are preserved, however somebody should go vist Doncaster, England, where they have been building steam locomotives from scratch, such as the Tornado, which a few yrs back clocked over 101 mph. Makbe they could build you a Hudson.!
Fantastic Video!! Thanks for sharing. This is one of those video's that everyone should view to see where we've come from in terms of rail technology.
Thanks again!
Andy Wartman
The A.E.R. Group
I still have Bachmann 4-8-4 Niagara #6005 got the train show in 2019 still work smooth perfectly!
I Love Hudsons.
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Outstanding!
I think fletcherac1 was thinking of the Canadian Pacific "Royal Hudson". Four of them were preserved.
And two Canadian National Hudsons were also preserved too.
It's a crime that none of the Hudsons and their Niagara successors survive. 'Iconic' is an over-used word, but that's exactly what these beautiful Dreyfuss steamlined engines were. Can you imagine one parked on display on a NY street? One day, assuming the blueprints still exist, someone with enough money will build one from scratch, just like they did the elegant A1 Peppercorn. Anyway, something to dream about.
1938 was the year this film was made
No, that is not correct. At 7.08 a standing line of locomotives is led by an L-4 Mohawk (note the flat smokebox front). The first of these locomotives was built in December of 1942.
Further, stenciled test dates are seen on appliances which also seem to comport a after 1942 filming date. A opinion of mine is the view of the Century Hudson in track pan with the very mixed passenger consist looks almost certainly wartime, no chance of that being 1938.
Sharing nice information
Well if you look closely 1:29 NYC J3a 5429 was streamlined in 1941 during the attack of Peral harbor.
I believe this film was actually produced in 1944.
next to the UP's Big boys and challengers these were beauties on the rails.. shame they are all gone
Great video and nice history! Thank you SO much for posting this. Subbed your channel.
I think most people like steam engines over a diesel. It's nice to be able to watch videos like this.
Great video !!! Thank you
9:33. Anyone else notice the irony…that just as the narrator is saying the hoslers handle the engines with great skill and precision, that the engine has wheel slip coming off the turntable?
@fletcherac1 Canada has a few CN and CP Hudsons, but not a New York Central Hudson.
The NYC Hudson J-3 is my favorite streamlined engine
When he said: "On the larger locomotives of today, and man cannot shovel coal fast enough", my mind went back to a story about how a UP fireman had to shovel coal on a Big Boy because their stoker broke.
Last I knew, there are actually TWO NYC Mohawks that were spared the scrappers torch in existence at a museum dedicated to the "Central" in Indiana.
classic stuff but i'm sure there were MORE than enough engrs that were HAPPY when the first diesel hit their property... way less hectic to operate
Great Video.
Just to add due credit. This video was made by Mr. Fred Beach who was hired by the NYC railroad to produce some PR films. The Steam Locomotive film we have here is one of them.
Mr. Nicks:
2 NYC Mohawks survived the scrap line. NYC sold them to Texas and Pacific, who never used them. One is in Elkhart, Indiana and the other is in the Transportation Museum in Missouri, right next to Southern Pacific GS-6 #4460. Three NYC Hudsons were sold to another railroad. I wonder what their disposition was? No word on any books I have on the NYC Hudson. According to "Thoroughbreds" by Alvin Stauffer, NYC had 255 Hudsons - not a single one saved! The TH&B railroad bought three Hudsons from NYC and it is their disposition that I am interested in.
Yes, both PRR and NYC had financial problems, but PRR saved two K-4's in spite of the financial condition - I suppose they got a tax write-off - NYC was just too stingy to save just one of their Hudsons. The two surviving Mohawks would have been scrapped, had they not been sold to T&P. There is no surviving Niagara--all 27 are gone! One Santa Fe Hudson is preserved - #3750 is at Pomona, CA where Big Boy 4014 just left! It is not the same as the NYC Hudson, but it is one 4-6-4 wheel-type that is still around.
+nyc783 - The NYC was hurting all through the Depression. They suspended dividends to stockholders like many firms did. The PRR reduced dividends but paid everyone at least something, on time. Many believe it was, ironically, the streamlined-J3 program that did it for the NYC. In 1937 PRR was investing heavily in overhead catenary and electric (GG series) whilst NYC revamped a soon-to-be-antiquated tech. Come 1947, the NYC was a laughing-stock for having to quickly ramp up to diesel (not even to electric). Meanwhile PRR was doing well with what they already had going.
This duality of priorities made the 1967 merger all the worse for both of them--- NYC paired with their arch-rival and PRR paired with a loser. For both I would say air travel did them in. Freight always moves (still does). And no one ever made money in passenger service, especially long-distance.
Nevertheless, like the Yankees (who shared their colors), the NYC will always seem (to me anyway) like the king of all railroads in the first half of the last century.
I wouldn't doubt that the PRR saved two K4s simply because it was good for PR to do so. That's how they rolled. :)
what a video bring steam back I was born to late
you continue to have some awesome posts bro! keep them coming
Very cool video!
The Hudson steam engine is one of my Favorite steam engine. I have one in O scale brass by KTM Westside..these are such great machines..its sad that today it take forever or not enough money or even the skill to restore a great steamer..when back then they were built and worked on like todays cheap cars..no Hudsons were saved for display.
I believe it was called the "Water Level Route" because from New York to Buffalo the tracks followed the Hudson River as far as possible, and from Buffalo to Chicago the southern shore of Lake Erie through Cleveland to Chicago. Must have been a scenic venture.
The run along the Hudson sure was and you can see part of that in the movie "North by Northwest" by Alfred Hitchcock. The run from Buffalo to Chicago not so much. It May have been back in time but in the later days there was a lot of industrial development along the tracks and I don't remember seeing much of the lake. After Albany, the NYC also ran along the Mohawk River. I think the Water Level Route" was more of a slam against their competitor, the Pennsylvania RR. They had to battle the mountains to get from NY City to Chicago. All in all, it didn't really make much difference. The "Water Level Route" made for some good advertising, though.
NIAGARA LOCO was the MOST EFFICIENT STEAM LOCO EVER!
Based upon HOURS RUN, MILES LOGGED,
The closest thing to a NYC Hudson now is a 1929 built Mohawk that's in St Louis, All the 4-6-4s were scrapped between 1953-1956 with one tender at Steamtown being the last surviving piece
The tender belonged to 5313 but later renumbered 502
@@jamesholton2630 yes I know
Also 12:32 is that the sister of the 6721 that was saved?
Steam locomotive is Remember to past days, it is the king all locomotive engines.
Great film!
I was told by a retired NYC/PC engineer who worked out of Elkhart Indiana that NYC had authorized a Hudson and a Niagara to be saved out of the scrap line over at Airline Yard in Toledo Ohio. But do to a mix up it didn't happen. He was told this by the Yardmaster there in the early 1960's. Has anyone else ever heard this?
+b3j8 Yes; I heard exactly the same story. The engineer or whoever it was was asked on the sly to drive one to some certain spot where it could be spared. Some mixup happened and either it was the wrong spot or he couldn't get it there. The guy came back on Monday morning, or whatever, and the loco was gone.
I read a whole series in one of the magazines about these being scrapped. Really sad-- like the huge pile of B24 Liberators in Arizona, just sitting there till one-by-one they got cut up. Just like the B24, the 464 was one for the ages.
DianaOfBurlington she
Was the tender on fire at 1:09?
Another home run
does anyone know the titles of the music used? I remember finding it somewhere but cant locate it now
Did see that Hudson roaring at 18:27 These engines were FAST
Ok,the comment that steam is steam is not true.For example Belpair boxes burn hotter true,so long as you have the right coal!The fire depends on two factors the blower setting and the draw on the fire through the flue tubes in conjunction with the locomotive exhaust.The super heated boiler has super heater elements that have the been passed through the boiler and are usually bolted in,where as flue and boiler tubes are welded in the boiler.Where as a Saturated boiler only has flue and boiler tubes.So let us look at Delaware and Hudson,their Locomotives and their wide fireboxes.You may ask why they were so wide,This was because the coal was of such quality the locomotive box was designed for it`s purpose,so it is very much horses for courses.Cheers Stephen
4:05 So apparently the two pistons are not 90 degrees out of phase right side to left side. That would have limited the starting torque but doubled the power strokes per length of track. Starting must be more important. LoL
The crankpins are ninety degrees apart offering the only known configuration that left no dead spots. In other words no matter where a locomotive wheels came to a stop they could begin again because while one piston may be at or near T.D.C. or B.D.C.(top dead center or bottom dead center) the piston on the opposite side would be in between T.D.C.or B.D.C. and could get the load rolling. Now I don't know what the timing events are for a three or four cylinder engine but I would assume they would have even greater starting torque. BP
Very interesting video; what year was it produced? Does anyone know?
300 engines and they couldn't save one for a museum?
They would have saved the engine #5313 itself instead of scrapping itself and surviving its tender, and it would've been preserved at the Steamtown National Historic. The Commodore Vanderbilt would've been saved also, and it would've been preserved at the American Railroad Museum in Frisco, TX. The 20th Century Limited would've been displayed at the Chicago Science and industry Museum with the Pioneer) Zypher and #999, and The Empire State Express would've survived at the Railroad Museum of New York.
Why don't we pull a 60163 Tornado and build a new NYC HUDSON?
just a thought
Cant find the exact date of this film but if they made it in 45, considering they talk of peace time or war. the train cost of $200,000 in 45 money adjusted for inflation is $2,769,932.58 in 2018
So much maintenance caused their end.😎
For sure, also the fact that railroads wanted to present a streamlined, modern image after WW2 and the fact that on trains that needed two or three engines for the grades, each one required a crew. One engineer in a diesel can control other diesel helpers.
Good info, was going to ask that...
Which NYC locomotive do you think is more famous, the Hudsons or the 999?
I agree
Out of 275 Hudson none survived? WHAT BULLCRAP IS THIS?!
Raptor Productions there aren't any around now but there may be in the future
According to American-rails.com under the heading 4-6-4 Hudson “several Hudsons remain preserved and surprisingly a handful are either operational or under restoration.”
Raptor Productions what happened was the fact of the maintenance and fuel cost of the steam engine. Alfred Perlman, the Chairman of the NYC at the time, found it was not worth keeping on roster due to en masse dieselization. They never thought of people today asking about where the Hudsons are. They wanted the money for what they were worth to keep the company alive, with increased regulations and taxes on railroads.
A horse with No Name yes, but not New York Central Hudsons. That means Hudson types (4-6-4 wheel configuration) around from various railroads.
@@inewyorkcentralrr- The Norfolk & Western RR was one of the last holdouts because N&W had its own coal mines.
"They handle these giants with great skill" also them: putting flat spots on the drivers lmfao
What is the valve bubbling away behind the chimney at 2.52, anyone please.?
Yet today not a single one exist of those Hudson engines.
Hopefully an organization like the T1 trust fund will start up for the New York Central Hudson. As far as i know as of right now, theres a C&O Hudson in Baltimore
superROTV yeah, which is at the B&O Roundhouse. I was there a couple of months ago, needs som paint.
Beste Lokomotive.
Canada has the CNR "Royal Hudson" but none of NYC's Hudsons or Niagara's were preserved, which is very tragic,
But the Mohawks were preserved
Just a 9:29 Is that wheelslip?