New York Central 3001

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New York Central 3001
Factor of adh.
4.40
Career
OperatorsNew York Central Railroad
ClassL-3a
Number in class2
Numbers
  • NYC 3001
  • T&P 909
Official nameMohawk
DeliveredDecember 1940
First runDecember 1940
RetiredFeb. 14, 1957
Current ownerLakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation
DispositionOn static display, based in Elkhart, Indiana

New York Central 3001 is a

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
.

History

Background

Main article:
NYC Mohawk

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

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, but has been a prime candidate for restoration for a while.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ziel (1990), p. 146.
  2. 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

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