New York Central 3001

New York Central 3001 is a 4-8-2 "Mohawk" (Mountain)-type steam locomotive built in 1940 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the New York Central Railroad. Normally known as "Mountain" types, New York Central 4-8-2 steam locomotives were dubbed "Mohawk" types after the Mohawk River, which the New York Central followed. Built for dual service work, the 3001 was used heavily for freight and passenger trains until being retired in 1957. The locomotive is currently on static display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. It is currently the largest modern New York Central steam locomotive still in existence and is one of two surviving New York Central Mohawks; the other, No. 2933, which was currently on display at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri.

New York Central 3001
NYC No. 3001 on static display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in 2015
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerPaul W. Kiefer
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company
Serial number69338
Build dateNovember 1940
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-2
  UIC2′D1′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.69 in (1,753 mm)
Trailing dia.44 in (1,118 mm)
Wheelbase95 ft 11.5 in (29,248 mm)
Length109 ft 6.5 in (33,388 mm)
Width11 ft 0.875 in (3,375 mm)
Height14 ft 11.5 in (4,559 mm)
Axle load66,100 lb (30.0 tonnes)
Adhesive weight264,400 lb (119.9 tonnes)
Loco weight398,000 lb (180.5 tonnes)
Tender weight374,200 lb (169.7 tonnes)
Total weight772,200 lb (350.3 tonnes)
Tender typeRectangular, Water-bottom
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity43 Tons
Water cap.15,500 Gallons
Sandbox cap.2700 lbs
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
75.3 sq ft (7.00 m2)
Boiler94 in (2,388 mm)
Boiler pressure250 lbf/in2 (1.72 MPa)
Feedwater heaterWorthington 5 1/2 SA Heaters
Heating surface:
  Tubes
7278 sq. ft
  Flues44948 sq. ft
  Tubes and flues4248 sq. ft
  Firebox373 sq. ft
Superheater:
  TypeType E, 100-unit
  Heating area2080 sq. ft
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size25.5 in × 30 in (648 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve typePiston valves
Train heatingYes
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 mph (130 km/h)
Power output4,120 hp (3,070 kW) at 58 mph (93 km/h)
Tractive effort60,077 lbf (267.24 kN)
Factor of adh.4.40
Career
OperatorsNew York Central Railroad
ClassL-3a
Number in class2
Numbers
  • NYC 3001
  • T&P 909
Official nameMohawk
DeliveredDecember of 1940
First runDecember of 1940
RetiredFeb. 14, 1957
Current ownerLakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation
DispositionOn static display, based in Elkhart, Indiana

History

Background

In the late 1930s, when looking for heavier steam power to move freight and passenger trains swiftly, the New York Central looked at a dual service steam locomotive. The modern 1940 L3a from the American Locomotive Company (Alco) was able to move both heavy passenger trains and freights with relative ease. So, the NYC acquired both the L-3 and L-4 classes of Mohawks from Alco and the Lima Locomotive Works, in 1940 and 1942, respectively.

Revenue service

New York Central No. 3001 is a member of the L-3a class of locomotives. Based in Ohio after the NYC dieselized east of Cleveland between August 7 and September, 1953, the Mohawk powered many general freight and passenger trains, such as the 20th Century Limited. Until dieselization of that division in 1949, No. 3001 could often be seen hauling passenger trains on the Boston & Albany. No. 3001 was often used to haul freight trains due to many NYC Hudsons being occupied pulling passenger trains; in later years, diesel-electric locomotives hauled the passenger trains. In the final years of steam on the New York Central, the No. 3001 and other modern Mohawks were demoted to lighter trains, due to Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (NYC subsidiary) 2-8-4 "Berkshires" and NYC 4-8-4 Niagaras handling increasingly-heavier freight and passenger trains on the system. As diesels flooded the NYC, the No. 3001 and the other steam locomotives still in service saw the end coming nearer and nearer. No. 3001 was finally retired on February 14, 1957.

Preservation

The New York Central sold L-3a No. 3001 to the Texas and Pacific Railroad in March, 1957, to replace the heavily-vandalized and subsequently scrapped Texas and Pacific 2-10-4 "Texas type" No. 638, that was on display at the Texas State Fairgrounds there.[1] The Texas and Pacific then donated No. 3001 (disguised as Texas and Pacific No. 909[2]) to the city of Dallas, Texas. The city later donated No. 3001 (still disguised as Texas & Pacific No. 909)[3] to the Museum of the American Railroad in Dallas. The sale to the Texas and Pacific Railroad is the sole reason why No. 3001 was not sold for scrap in 1957. In the early 1980s, after trading Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 No. 4903 to the Museum of the American Railroad, No. 3001 made its way east to Elkhart, Indiana[4] after being acquired by the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation, but not before the locomotive was borrowed by a power plant for use as a stationary steam generator.[5] The No. 3001 locomotive is currently still on static display[6] in Elkhart, at the National New York Central Railroad Museum.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. Ziel (1990), p. 146.
  2. The Age of Steam Exhibit. Southwest Railroad Historical Society. 1967. OCLC 762138876.
  3. "M-2 4-8-2 #909 - Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot". www.texaspacificrailway.org. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  4. Admin, Vala. "NNYCRR Museum". City of Elkhart. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  5. "Pictures of NYC 3001". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  6. "National NYC Museum - www.rgusrail.com". www.rgusrail.com. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  7. Solomon & Schafer (2007), p. 66.
  8. Solomon & Schafer (2007), p. 127.

Bibliography

  • Solomon, Brian; Schafer, Mike (2007). New York Central Railroad. MBI Railroad Color History (2nd ed.). Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0760329283.
  • Ziel, Ron (1990). Mainline Steam Revival (1st ed.). Amereon House. ISBN 0-8488-0863-0.
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