Jim, those are great photos. The two major differences that I see are the structure on top of the firebox just ahead of the cab, and smoke box fronts. The L-3's smoke box front is typical of ALCO, and is almost identical to the fronts on most, if not all the Hudsons.
Yes, Hank, I overlooked the "Selkirk" smokebox front on the Lima vs. the Hudson type on the Alco. Here's Lima L-3b 3044 at work at Oscowanna, NY in 1950, from Mr. Vollrath's collection. Looks like she might be just starting up as there is steam coming from the booster exhaust. She's not a dual service, note the footboards.
Oh Man Jim, that's Beautiful!! Obviously 3044 has just left Harmon, and with that tender full of coal she's got a long way to go. Furthermore, she's only 15 miles west of where I was born, and since it looks like summer, I was home from school at the time! How about that.....
Thank you guys. In a related, but a little off topic note, one of the crew from 4449 let me know that they are in the process of refitting the trailing truck axles with roller bearings. The rear axle actually has a booster, and they intend to do a lot of photographing when it is removed. I hope to be able to get hold of some of those pics. Meantime, here is L-3c 3062 at Selkirk, NY in 1950, another of Mr. Vollrath's. Next up will be Niagaras.
Ya know, I never could get used to the L Class having elephant ears, even when I saw them on the Harlem Division. The Niagaras...sure, as far as I was concerned they were born with ears. But IMHO, all other NYC classes did NOT wear ears...but then what do I know.
Here is the first Niagara, S-1a class (the only one, as it has 75 inch drivers). This appears to be the Alco builders photo in Schenectady, 1945, from Mr. Vollrath's collection. :teeth: Hank, I agree about the ears. The L's looked much better without them. This Niagara is the only one that had them squared off on the trailing edge. Remind you of anything, Darren?
Jim, that's a wonderful photo. The S Classes always looked streamlined even though they weren't. I think it's because their lines were so straight all the way through their tenders....SIGH!
Those Niagara's were definitely impressive machines The L's are not bad either, but would look better without the smoke deflectors.
I believe the Niagaras were specified to have the maximum boiler capacity possible and still be able to meet the clearance restrictions of the eastern portions of the system. Therefore the domes, stacks, etc. were "submerged" into the boiler which gave the Niagaras their sleek look without streamlining.
That's correct, Hank. Here is Niagara 6017, class S-1b, in Syracuse, NY, about 60 miles from my home town, 1946, from Mr. Vollrath's collection: If you look closely, you can see the air horn just forward of the cab on the engineer's side. A few years ago we had a discussion about air horns on these late model steamers and this photo was used.
Uh, Jim...I hate to bring this up, but..... The rear of the ears shown on 6017 are severly angled forward, whereas in the builders photo for 6000, you pointed out that the rear of the ears were vertical. Was 6000, I believe to be the only S-1A and also the only prototype, the only S Class locomotive to be fitted with vertical ear rears, or were some of the S-1Bs originally fitted with vertical ear rears? ("60 miles from Syracuse"......My Mother was raised in Cazenovia, but that was only 20 miles from Syracuse, and served by the LV.) [ 16. February 2005, 01:43: Message edited by: Hytec ]
Correct again, but this time I must point out that I did mention that 6000 was the only Niagara with the squared "ears." My 60 miles led to Little Falls. I'm familiar with Cazenovia. That was actually a great area back then.
It's time for another update. Here is another Niagara shot, 6020 taking water on the fly at Lydic, IN. This one is from Bob Spaugh's collection.
99 Posts of a "Duel With Darren", 99 Posts of a Duel. Post one more and lets have more 99 posts of a "Duel With Darren"... Sorry, I couldn't help my self. [ 18. February 2005, 03:04: Message edited by: Stourbridge Lion ]
