Greetings All,
Welcome to Locomotive Spotlight #7-2022
Today we'll take a look at the New York Central fleet of lightning striped cab units and compare the models running on the layout to their 1:1 counterparts.
General Motors Electro Motive Corporation / Division
FT A&B units
The New York Central freight diesel purchases started in 1944 with two A-B-B-A sets of FTs based on tests in August 1940. The 1,350 HP FT A&Bs were equipped with drawbars to form a 2700HP couplet.
As delivered the FTs wore black paint, a read and white nose herald and two sets of three white stripes on the nose. The NEW YORK CENTRAL lettering was applied only to the A unit. The B unit wore just a road number.
On the layout a set of Bachmann Blue Box FT A&B units are connected by together by drawbars and provide early diesel power in the later lightning striped scheme.
Below an F7B has been coupled in to make an FTA-FTB-F7B-FTA consist.
EMD E7 Locomotives
New York Central E7A and E8A units lead a passenger train with their later applied cigar band paint scheme
The New York Central made their first passenger cab unit diesel purchases in 1945 with four matched E7 A-B-A sets which were delivered in a light gray with dark stripes except for #4002 and #4003 which were painted in a reverse black car body with gray stripes and black trucks.
EMD F2
The F2 looked pretty much like an F3 and their production span was short. One of The Rock Island's 12 F2A units is shown below at Joliet, Illinois in 1963.
The NYC purchased two 1,350hp F2As in 1946 and one FT A-B-B-A set was split to make two A-B-A sets.
EMD F3 A&B
The New York Central purchased thirty four 1,500hp F3A units and eighteen FB units for general freight service.
F3A &B Dual Purpose Units
At the same time the New York Central ordered two sets of F3 A&B "dual purpose units" for Trains #27 & 28 "The New England States". These units would later be re-geared for freight service.
On the layout this dual purpose NYC F7A painted in passenger colors stands in for a dual purpose F3A. This MRC model runs very well and looks good in the NYC passenger scheme. I don't have the heart to repaint it.
EMD E8A
In late 1949 EMD completely redesigned its passenger unit to become a 2250hp model E8 but it was not until 1951 that the NYC ordered this model. Over a two year span the NYC would purchase sixty E8As making this the most popular passenger unit on the system.
On the layout these NYC E8As are from Proto 2000 and are the premier passenger power. These models have served me and the 1:87 scale riding public extremely well for two decades.
EMD F7 A&B
In 1949 EMD had enough product improvements to justify a change in the freight model series and the F7 was introduced. The Central signed up for two hundred thirty eight F7As and fifty five F7Bs.
On the layout this F7 A-B-B-A set from Bachmann Plus has been providing good looking freight service for about two decades.
Alco FA & FB units
In 1947 Alco began shipping its FA1s and FB1s to the New York Central. Beginning at #1000 four As and two #3300 series Bs rolled out of Alco's Schenectady NY plant. These units arrived with a 3/4 lightning stripe on the A units with solid black B units.
In 1948 the Central would return to Alco for more FA1s, FB1s and in 1950 FA2s and FB2s giving them the largest fleet of this model of locomotive.
On the layout, coming over the Empire City High Line is an FA1-FB1-FB1-FA1 set of Alcos led by FA1 #1000. The models are from Walthers. 
Alco PA & PB
In 1948 Alco supplied the NYC with four PA1s and two PB1s. The As were numbered in the 4200 series and Bs in the 4300 series. These units were assigned to the passenger pool at Harmon NY.
Below class engine 4200 leads a passenger train past RA Tower. The model is from Proto 2000 and is just out of the paint shop showing off its new silver trucks.
The year 1949 brought the delivery of four more Alco PA1s and six more E7s. At this time Fairbanks Morse contributed six Erie Built Passenger A units numbered 4400-4405 to the NYC.
In 1950 Alco increased the horsepower for the PA to 2250 and obtained an order from the Central for five cab units and one booster.
The 4211 below is an Alco PA-2 coupled to a PB-1. Both are older Athearn models.
An A-B-A set of Alcos lead a Mail & Express Train out of Terminal Yard. All are from Athearn with only the PAs being powered.
Dressing Up of the Passenger Cab Units
In the 1950s the New York Central dressed up its earlier passenger power by painting the trucks silver to give the units a better look and hopefully attract more passengers.
PA1 #4200 is just out of the paint shop as E7A #4023 awaits its turn.
Fairbanks Morse Erie Builts
In 1947 FM received an order for only two Erie Built A units #5000 and #5001 were equipped with fabricated A-1-A trucks and so named as they were erected at the General Electric Plant in Erie, PA due to a lack of space at the FM plant in Beloit, WI. These units also came with the 3/4 lightning stripe.
In 1948 the Central returned to FM and ordered four more A units and two B units all sporting the more common cast steel trucks.
On the layout NYC Erie Built A units #5002 and #5003 and B unit #5101 from the 1948 order provide power for the Pacemaker and an Early Bird Freight train. The units are from Proto 1000, look great, run great and can haul any tonnage I care to couple them to.
Fairbanks Morse C-Liners
The New York Central RR's thirty three Fairbanks Morse C-Liners gave the Central more C-Liners than any other railroad. The NYC received the first C-Liner built, #5006 and the last USA built unit #4507. Thru 1952 the Central was one of F-Ms best customers with the purchase of one hundred nineteen FM units.
The FM Consolidation Line was the company's attempt to market and erect locomotives with different options like high HP on the same frame.
The C-Liners came with an eight cylinder 1,600 HP(CFA16-4A) and ten cylinder 2,000 HP(CFA20-4) version for both A and B units. A twelve cylinder 2,400(CPA24-5) passenger unit with a B, A-1-A axle arrangement for A units only.
The New York Central purchased all three of the above models. Eight CFA16-4A units(6600-6607) and four CFB16-4 units(6900-6903) were purchased in 1952 and retired in 1966.
Eight CPA24-5 passenger units (4500-4507). These units would also be repowered with EMD 567 engines in 1955 and 1956. All were retired in 1966 and later scrapped.
Twelve CFA20-4 units(5006-5017) and three CFB20-4 units(5102-5104). All would be repowered with EMD engines in 1955 and 1956 and later scrapped.
This Proto 1000 A-B-A set of CFA20-4 C-Liners provide plenty of muscle for the New York Central Layout's road freights.
Baldwin DR-6-4-1500 Dual Purpose Units
Photo Digital Rail Artist
Baldwin Locomotive Works contributed for four "baby-faced" A units and two boosters for passenger and freight service. Designated DR-6-4-1500 Diesel Road, Six axle, Four motor, 1500HP by Baldwin they were meant to handle one phase of Trains #27 and #28 "The New England States" opposite a set of passenger equipped F3s.They were delivered in October 1947 with hard riding Commonwealth trucks and were derisively known as "Gravel Gerties". They were deemed unsuitable and no repeat orders were made.
Bumped from mainline service the units were downgraded to work the Selkirk Hump. In 1955 the Central gave up on the repairing process and shipped both sets to EMD and LaGrange for repowering which gave them another three years in service.
David R Sweetland in his book New York Central Lightning Stripes comments that the standard saying on the NYC was "If anyone wants a diesel experience - ride a Baldwin - everything happens.
The New York Central Layout does not have any Baldwin Gravel Gerties in its fleet which is probably a good thing.
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton RF16
The New York Central purchased eighteen RF-16As and eight RF16Bs. Renowned for their pulling power they could pull everything and the yard office but never at over 45mph. The Sharks were retired in 1966 and traded into GE in 1967 for new U30Bs.
In December 1967 eight of these units were sold to Monongahela Railway for Coal Service.
On the layout this Bachmann DCC equipped set A-B-A set of RF16s are quite at home lugging coal trains and the occasional merchandise train.
Enjoy the New York Central Lightning Striped Cab Units in Action!
Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you soon!!!
A very comprehensive look at the motive power on your layout; most of which are making a rare appearance! As always, your background history of these engines is very impressive. If I had to pick one 'type' of motive power, probably the Alco PA's. They headlined some very famous passenger trains in its heyday.
ReplyDeleteThe video footage was spectacular as well as the music that accompanied it.
Great work John!
Thank you very much 1:1 Sir Neal!! The NYC lightning striped units were working between PCCMs andi t was nice to get them into a video and blog entry.
DeleteLightning Stripes are looking beautiful on all of your NYC cab unit collection! A very nice review of diesel locomotives though the years! Your video was a great pleasure to watch starting off with the Pacemaker and Early Bird trains. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ralph!!! It was a fun running these units in an op session between the PCCMs!
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