Independence Day Rail Fanning at Empire City circa 1964

Greetings All,

Happy Independence Day!!!
Today the United States celebrates it's 244th birthday

On my 1/87th scale New York Central Train Layout I've turned the clock back to July 1964 based on this photo from the book New York Central System Lightning Stripes by David R. Sweetland. 

1964 was a transitional time for the NYC. The railroad is 111 years old. Lightning stripes were disappearing in favor of cigar bands, motive power was being "standardized" and renumbered for a potential merger with the Pennsylvania Railroad that was before the Interstate Commerce Commission. Passenger traffic losses were crippling all railroads and mergers were sought around the country. 

So let's join a group of young 1/87th scale rail fans as they enjoy a day of rail fanning at Empire City on July 4th, 1964.

New York Central GP35 #2399 and PA2 #4211 

bring a freight train past RA Tower

Athearn BB units MUed together for the first time thanks to the Lightning Stripes photo. 

PA-2 #4211 is running it's last miles in freight service with one more year to go on the equipment trust.  

A group of rail fans have traveled to Empire City to catch the PA in action. The engineer, 1/87th scale junior engineer Sir Neal, recognizing the importance of the moment has come out from the cab of the brand new EMD GP35 to tell the rail fans that he'll be shoving back shortly to work the Water Street Freight House and gives them a good place to set up for photos. 

With the 1/87th scale rail fans getting plenty of photos the GP35 - PA2 shove back over the Empire City canal towards the Water Street Freight House.

While the train is held on the siding 1/87th scale junior engineer Sir Neal has climbed down from the engine and gives the rail fans some history on the NYC PA2 He then asks the group including some kids in a V.W. if they'd like a tour of RA tower after he clears the main. 

1/87th scale junior engineer Sir Neal is back at the throttle and is moving out to collect the rest of his train and the caboose from the mainline.

With the freight train off the main the RA Tower man invites the rail fans up to the tower. The young lads from the fledgling Kings Port Railfan Society are having a fine day of it in Empire City! 

A great steel fleet passenger train passes RA Tower much to the delight of the rail fans.

Those Lightning Striped E8s with their silver trucks were classy! The REA express car helps defer the costs of running this train.

The rail fans have congregated at Railroad Ave. Before departing for his train 1/87th scale junior engineer Sir Neal organizes them into a photo line so they'll all get good pictures of today's trains and not of each other. Sir Neal leaves the group with an invitation to meet him later for a tour the yard and engine terminal. 

A passenger equipped Lightning Striped GP-7 brings a commuter train into Empire City Station as cameras click away.

The GP35 - PA2 combo rolls slowly past the gang as 1/87th scale Sir Neal eases the train across the switches.

The GP35 - PA2 easily climb the grade out of Empire City.

It's "the running of the pups"! exclaims 1/87th scale Big Mike!!! A consist of NYC EMD SW8s and Baldwin S12s bring an REA transfer run from Terminal Yard to the Empire City REA siding. 

1/87th scale Jimmy Alco sees this L.I.R.R. passenger train and hopes one day to be running that RS-1.

A New Haven PA1 brings a short passenger train into Empire City Station as the group enjoys the close up of the colorful McGinnis paint scheme 

A couple of hours later most of the 1/87th scale rail fans meet with junior engineer Sir Neal and obtain permission to tour the grounds. Sir Neal tells the group they picked a great day for this as the yard and engine terminal are full of classic New York Central engines in their original Lightning Stripe paint schemes.

First stop is this set of NYC Baldwin Sharks where the guys meet Engineer Ed and fireman trainee Murray. Double E lets the fans know the Sharks can pull everything in this yard including the yard office. He tells them the Sharks with their air throttles are incompatible with the EMDs, GEs and Alcos and they won't be around much longer. Sadly 1:1 Engineer Ed passed away in August 2018.

Next the gang checks out an A-B-A set of EMD FTs and meet engineer 1/87th scale John B who will later retire in 2020 as the Bedford Tower man. This set of FTs received an extensive rewiring at Collinwood and are the last in operation on the NYC. 

Over in the engine terminal the group sees an A-B-A set of Fairbanks Morse C-Liners on the ready track. The NYC had twelve As and three Bs of these 2,000 horsepower units on their roster. 

The guys then catch another FM A-B-A set called Erie Builts because they were built at the GE Plant in Erie PA. Powerful and fast but difficult to maintain their RR careers would be short.

Over at the fuel rack the guys checkout an EMD GP7 and a pair of Alco RS2s. The NYC would amass 218 GP7s and 23 RS2s. 

The premier passenger units of the New York Central were the EMD E8As which succeeded the E7 in the EMD catalog. 

Over at the sanding rack 1/87th scale Sir Neal shows the guys the newer motive power on the railroad. The EMD GP20s, GE U Boats and the GP35s spelled the end for the NYC cab unit fleet as they were being traded in for these higher horsepower models.

Over near ready track #2 the guys meet 1/87th scale engine hostler Wet Willie and check out a pair of New Haven units. The boiler equipped 1218 is one of 30 GP9s on the NH. 

As the guys wind down their tour they catch an Alco FA-FB-FB-FA lash up coming into Terminal Yard. The NYC rostered 44 FA1s, 23 FB1s and then went back to Alco for 80 FA2s and 50 FB2s. 

As the guys thank 1/87th scale Sir Neal for the tour the last train of the day rolls in behind a set of EMD F units. Sir Neal tells the guys that the NYC has 238 F7As and 55 F7Bs and then asks if the guys might like working on this layout. If so, they're holding an open house right now at Empire City Station right now. So go!   

A short time later the guys march thru the doors of the station eager to fill out an application and get called for 1/87th scale train service.

Thanks for taking the time to look back into 1964 as modeled on the New York Central Train Layout. Much of the historical inspiration for this blog entry was provided by New York Central System Lightning Stripes by David R Sweetland. The book published by Morning Sun Books in 1990 is a wealth of information that is well presented with excellent photographs and informative captions.

Have a happy and healthy Independence Day!!!

Thanks for reading and watching!

See ya soon!!