New York Central 3001

New York Central 3001
On display at its home in Elkhart, Indiana.
Power type	Steam
Builder	American Locomotive Company
Serial number	69338
Build date	October 1940
Configuration	4-8-2
UIC classification	2′D1′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter	69 in (1,753 mm)
Weight on drivers	262,000 lb (118.8 tonnes)
Locomotive weight	338,500 lb (153.5 tonnes)
Fuel type	Coal
Boiler pressure	250 lbf/in² (1.72 MPa)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	25.5 × 30 in (648 × 762 mm)
Valve type	Piston valves
Tractive effort	60,077 lbf (267.24 kN)
Locomotive brakes	Air
Train brakes	Air
Career	New York Central Railroad
Class	L-3a
Number	3001
Disposition	On display at National New York Central Railroad Museum

New York Central Railroad Mohawk #3001 is a preserved 4-8-2 "Mountain" type steam locomotive.

History

Main article: NYC Mohawk

In the late 1930's, 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 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 from 1940 to 1943.

Service Life

New York Central #3001 is a member of the class L-3a Mohawks. Based in Ohio after the NYC dieselized east of Cleveland on August 7, 1953, the mighty Mohawk powered many general freight and passenger trains, such as the 20th Century Limited. Until dieselization of that division in 1949, she was often seen hauling passenger trains on the Boston & Albany. #3001 was often used to haul freight trains due to many NYC Hudsons being available for passenger trains; in later years, diesel-electric locomotives hauled the passenger trains. In the later years of steam on the New York Central, the 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 3001 and her sisters saw the end coming nearer and nearer.

Retirement

The NYC sold L3a #3001 to the City of Dallas, Texas in 1957, to replace heavily vandalized Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 #638 on display at the Texas State Fairgrounds there. This is the only reason why she was not scrapped in 1957. Much later, #3001 was traded by the Museum of the American Railroad in Dallas to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, IN, for former PRR GG1 electric locomotive #4903. She remains the only modern NYC steam locomotive (built in 1940) in existence.

Today

Today, this Mohawk is at the National New York Central Railroad Museum.

See also

PRR M1- This is the Pennsylvania Railroad's version of the Mohawks. Just like the Mohawk, the M1 was a dual service locomotive.