Seldom does a locomotive have a powerful impact on the railroad industry and popular culture. But the Hudson locomotive of the New York Central did just that! It was wildly successful in road service and instantly became the symbol of modern steam design and a cultural icon in the decade it was released – and has remained so ever since.
In 1926 NYC Motive Power Chief Paul W Kiefer changed the dynamics of modern steam locomotive design when he chose the untested 4-6-4-wheel arrangement. Upon that base he developed a clean lined locomotive, modern in every respect, that incorporated the most advanced features developed up to that point to increase the power and efficiency of steam locomotives.
The first NYC 4-6-4 locomotive, named “Hudson” – #5200 took to the rails on February 14, 1927. Its success was immediate and orders for more followed. As that memorable year closed, the NYC Hudson, the Ford Model A and the Lindbergh plane “Spirit of St. Louis” were recognized as the most notable transportation achievements in that now distant era.
Quantity orders followed in 1928-1931. The last, and to many the best remembered, was the class J1E built in 1931. Of that last batch of 1931, the very last locomotive #5344 became the most famous and most frequently used as the “standard” representative of the NYC Hudson locomotives. That locomotive was later selected to receive the first streamlined design application on the NYC and was named to honor Commodore Vanderbilt. Class J2 were similar – but with 75” drive wheels, as opposed to the standard 79” – to improve their performance conquering the grades on the Boston & Albany route.
By 1937 the need for additional passenger motive power prompted the NYC to improve the base design and place orders for the Super Hudson, class J3. Ten of that class wore the handsome Dreyfuss-designed streamlining to power the 1938 20th Century Limited. Later, #5344 was also rebuilt with the same streamlined design to power the Chicago-Detroit Mercury streamliner. In all, NYC fielded 275 4-6-4 locomotives.
Cultural impact advanced when Joshua Lionel Cowen was chided by scale model railroaders about making only unrealistic “toy trains” in the late 1930s, Lionel selected NYC class J1e #5344 to be the prototype for what they planned to be a line of true, scale locomotives. The Lionel catalog #700E – NYC #5344 – released in 1937 was a carefully crafted locomotive and its commanding detail quickly silenced the scale critics and soon thereafter, the model achieved permanent “classic” status – just like the prototype Hudson.
The NYC Hudson was a favorite with the model railroading industry for decades and the design was replicated by American Flyer, Mi-Trains, Scale Craft, Max Gray and AHM. That popularity extends to the present day due in part to the eye-catching appeal of the base design and its practical size, enhanced by state-of-the-art detailing and sound systems.
We remain captivated by the NYC Hudson as well and call your attention to our current line of Hudson locomotives, in several scales, all competitively priced and available for preorder or fast delivery. Please take time to review the various options available and celebrate a milestone in railroad history and model building.
Frank Wrabel
modeltrainstuff.com