American Locomotive Co. Hudson-Type Locomotive, 1938
Development of the original Hudson-type locomotives began in 1926 when the New York Central System decided it needed a new type of passenger locomotive to meet the demands of high-speed, long-distance runs. The type was named after the river along which it would run. In late 1937 and in 1938, 50 Hudsons of an improved design, built by the American Locomotive Co., were placed on the New York Central. These locomotives, Nos. 5405 to 5454, had larger boilers than their predecessors, had greater tractive force, and were fitted with roller bearings. In addition, Nos. 5445 to 5454 were streamlined.
A nonoperable model ([figure 79]) in the Museum collection (USNM 313162), gift of the New York Central System in 1947, represents No. 5429. The model locomotive and tender are 2 feet long and are accompanied by a train of six streamlined cars. The entire train is painted silver, with black trimming on the locomotive and tender. Built to a scale of ¼ inch to the foot, it was especially made for the Museum, the builder being Edwin P. Alexander of Yardley, Pa.
Figure 79.—Model of American Locomotive Co. Hudson-type locomotive, 1938.
The original No. 5429, constructed in 1938, was streamlined in 1941 in the West Albany shops of the New York Central, and in December of that year was placed back in service on the Empire State Express with an entirely new streamlined train of specially designed stainless-steel cars. When the Empire State Express was ultimately dieselized in 1945, No. 5429 was put to other uses, and the streamlining was removed in 1950. As of October 1955 it was still in service.
In streamlined condition, as represented by the model, the locomotive and tender together weighed 681,900 pounds and their length was a few inches over 97 feet. The diameter of the driving wheels was 79 inches, the bore and stroke of the cylinders were 22½ and 29 inches, respectively, and the total tractive force was 53,960 pounds. A steam pressure of 265 pounds per square inch was used.
Baldwin-Westinghouse Geared Steam-Turbine Locomotive, 1944
A radical departure from the usual design for a coal-burning steam locomotive, and the first of its type built in this country, was the noncondensing geared steam-turbine locomotive built jointly by The Baldwin Locomotive Works and the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. Constructed in 1944 at Baldwin’s Eddystone plant (Westinghouse manufactured the turbines and gears), it was designated Pennsylvania Railroad Co. class S-2 locomotive No. 6200.
This locomotive, combining the work of two pioneers in the railroad equipment field, is represented in the Museum collection by a nonoperable model ([figure 80]) made especially for the Museum (USNM 312935) and presented to it by The Baldwin Locomotive Works early in 1946. The locomotive and tender, together 30 inches long, were built to a scale of ¼ inch to the foot by Minton Cronkhite of Pasadena, Calif.