4-6-4 "Hudson" Locomotives in the USA
The First Hudson, New York Central No. 5200
On January 1, 1926, when Paul Kiefer took over as Chief Mechanical Engineer of Motive Power and Rolling Stock of the New York Central System, the NYC was the nations largest railroad. At that time, its passenger business had grown to a point that many of its main line trains had to be operated in sections because the Class K-5 Pacifics assigned to passenger service could only haul a maximum of 12 cars. It was apparent that a new passenger locomotive was needed, yet no decision had been reached to solve the passenger power crisis.
Kiefer quickly made a decision to proceed with an experimental 4-6-4 locomotive and selected the American Locomotive Company to build it. He followed the example of Lima's William E. Woodard and designed a locomotive with a large grate area and a four wheel trailing truck to support it.
Kiefer's design looked much like a Class K-5, Pacific. It was only 5 inches longer and had the same cylinders (25 X 28) and drivers (79") as the 4-6-2's, but the boiler pressure was increased to 225 psi. The new 4-6-4 locomotive had a slightly larger boiler evaporative heating surface, 24 sq. ft. more of firebox and 14 sq. ft. more of grate area. This new design could produce much more steam per square foot of heating surface and needed a much larger superheater to maintain the same steam temperature as the K-5's. The total weight was about 41,000 lbs more, and with no increase of weight over the drivers. An increase of 3820 lbs in Tractive Effort was obtained with the increase in boiler pressure.
The American Locomotive Company delivered the first Class J-1a (road number 5200) on February 14, 1927 and it was thoroughly tested on the main line between Albany, NY and Syracuse, NY.
After the testing, Paul Kiefer went to see Pat Crowley who was the president of the entire NYC system. He asked Crowley what name the new locomotive should have, Crowley thought for a few minutes and then said "let's call her the Hudson, after the Hudson River" and the name stuck.
Information for this introduction to Hudsons provided by Richard Duley.
Builders of 4-6-4 "Hudson" Type Locomotives (by Richard Duley)
| Railroad | Number Build (Builder) |
|---|---|
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe | 16 (Baldwin) |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 4 (B&O) |
| Boston & Albany | 10 (ALCO), 10 (Lima) |
| CCC & St. Louis | 30 (ALCO) |
| Canadian National | 5 (MLW) |
| Railroad | Number Build (Builder) |
|---|---|
| Canadian Pacific | 65 (MLW) |
| Chesapeake & Ohio | 13 (Baldwin), 5 (C&O) |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy | 12 (Baldwin) 2(CB&Q) |
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul & Pacific | 6 (ALCO) 22 (Baldwin) |
| Railroad | Number Build (Builder) |
|---|---|
| Chicago & North Western | 9 (ALCO) |
| Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | 5 (ALCO) |
| Grand Trunk Western | 6 (MLW) |
| Illinois Central | 1 (IC) |
| Railroad | Number Build (Builder) |
|---|---|
| Maine Central | 2 (Baldwin) |
| Michigan Central | 30 (ALCO) |
| National Railway of Mexico | 10 (ALCO) |
| New York Central | 195 (ALCO) |
| Railroad | Number Build (Builder) |
|---|---|
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 10 (Baldwin) |
| New York, Chicago & St. Louis | 4 (ALCO), 4 (Lima) |
| St. Louis-San Francisco | 10 (STSF) |
| Wabash | 7 (Wabash) |
A Dimensional Comparison of Hudsons
| Railroad | ATSF | CB&Q | CMStP&P | C&NW | C&O | Central RR of New Jersey | Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | IC | MEC | Nickel Plate | NYC | NYNH&H | Frisco/(SLSF | TCI&R | Wabash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3460 | S-4 | F-7 | E-4 | L-2a | H-1 / SU-31 | M-1 | 1437 | D | L-1a/L-1b | J3a-Dreyfuss | I-5 | 1060 | 4-6-4 30.9.3 | P1 |
| Wheel Arrangement | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4T | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4T | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4 | 4-6-4T | 4-6-4 |
| Series | 3460 | 3000-3012 | 100-105 | 4001-4009 | 310-314 | 225-230 | 1151-1155 | 1437-1440 | 701-702 | 170-177 | 5445-5454 | 1400-1409 | 1060-1069 | 450 | 700-706 |
| Cyl:Dia x Stroke | 23.5x29.5 | 25x28 | 23.5x30 | 25x29 | 25x30 | 21x26 | 26x30 | 18x24 | 23x28 | 25x26 | 22.5x29 | 22x30 | 26x28 | 21x26 | 26x28 |
| Driver Diameter | 84 | 78 | 84 | 84 | 78 | 63 | 80 | 56.5 | 73 | 73 | 79 | 80 | 74 | 63 | 80 |
| Boiler Pressure | 300 | 250 | 300 | 300 | 255 | 200 | 245 | 150 | 240 | 215 | 265 | 285 | 225 | 200 | 220 |
| Grate Area | 99 | 87.9 | 96.5 | 90.7 | 90.2 | 68.26 | 81.5 | 23.5 | 62.6 | 66.8 | 82 | 77.1 | 82.55 | 47 | 71 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface | 4,303 | 4,247 | 4,166 | 3,958 | 4,178 | 1,923 | 3,854 | 1,270 | 3,826 | 4,219 | 4,187 | 3,815 | 3,976 | 1,892 | 4,225 |
| Superheater Heating Surface | 2,020 | 1,830 | 1,695 | 1,884 | 1,785 | 430 | 1,123 | 1,760 | 1,055 | 1,745 | 1,042 | 1,235 | 354 | 1,051 | |
| Weight on Drivers | 210,800 | 207,730 | 216,000 | 216,000 | 219,500 | 163,500 | 198,000 | 72,275 | 171,400 | 175,475 | 201,800 | 193,000 | 189,400 | 146,000 | 196,390 |
| Total Engine Weight | 417,300 | 391,880 | 415,000 | 412,000 | 443,000 | 291,700 | 377,000 | 155,133 | 312,590 | 316,500 | 365,500 | 365,300 | 360,960 | 261,000 | 374,680 |
| Maximum Axle Weight | 71,600 | 69,780 | 57,600 | 58,700 | 64,400 | 64,000 | 51,200 | 65,570 | |||||||
| Tender Weight | 396,246 | 326,050 | 375,000 | 360,000 | 393,000 | 313,100 | 189,610 | 206,200 | 420,000 | 332,000 | 242,000 | 208,000 | |||
| Total Engine and Tender Weight | 813,546 | 717,930 | 790,000 | 772,000 | 836,000 | 291,700 | 690,100 | 155,133 | 502,200 | 522,700 | 785,500 | 697,300 | 602,960 | 261,000 | 582,680 |
| Overall Wheelbase | 88.67 | 82.23 | 89.83 | 88.98 | 93.87 | 39.25 | 81.21 | 33.92 | 72.37 | 73.65 | 88.49 | 84.83 | 83.71 | 39.37 | 75.46 |
| Tractive Effort | 49,456 | 47,676 | 50,294 | 55,022 | 52,103 | 30,940 | 52,791 | 17,548 | 41,392 | 40,681 | 41,860 | 43,968 | 48,919 | 30,940 | 44,244 |
| Tractive Effort Booster | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum Speed | |||||||||||||||
| Drawbar Horsepower |
Railroads that used 4-6-4 "Hudson" Locomotives in the USA (data provided by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media)
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
- Baltimore & Ohio
- Birmingham Southern
- Central RR of New Jersey
- Chesapeake & Ohio
- Chicago & North Western
- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
- Delaware, Lackawanna &Western
- Illinois Central
- Maine Central
- Milwaukee Road
- New York, New Haven & Hartford
- NYC: Boston & Albany / New York Central
- New York, Chicago & St Louis
- St Louis-San Francisco
- Wabash
Surviving Examples of 4-6-4 "Hudson" Locomotives in the USA
| No. | Class | F.M. Whyte | Gauge | Railroad Line | Location | Status | Builder Info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 490 | L1a | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | C&O | B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, MD | display | Alco (Richmond) #66555, 1926 | Rebuilt from an F-19 class Pacific boiler and streamlined. |
| 3003 | S-4 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | CB&Q | South Main Street, Burlington, IA | display | Baldwin #61501, 1930 | Operated in the CB&Q's steam excursion program. |
| 3006 | S-4 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | CB&Q | Galesburg Railroad Museum, Galesburg, IL | display | Baldwin #61527, 1930 | |
| 534 (434) | 4-6-4 | 12" | WF&P (AT&SF) | Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad, Glencoe, MO | operational | K.E. Reynolds , 1955 | From Casa de Fruta, CA. | |
| 535 (350) | 4-6-4 | 12" | WF&P | Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad, Glencoe, MO | operational | Albert J. Wagner & Son (Plainsfield, IL), 1950s | Built as a semi-streamlined 4-4-4 Jubilee named Cardinal. | |
| 4-6-4 | 14" | Kiddieland Limited | Hesston Steam Museum, Hesston, IN | operational | Wagner & Sons Miniature Train Co, 1950 | From Kiddieland, Melrose Park, IL. | ||
| 5661 | 4-6-4 | 16" | Kings Lights Railroad, Houston, TX | stored operational | E.C. Eddy, 1961 | From the Pinconning & Blind River Railroad, Fairview, MI, then the Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad, Fairview, MI. | ||
| 5002 | 4-6-4 | 15" | Ramona & Burley Park | Burley Park, Howard City, MI | operational | Wagner & Sons Miniature Train Co | From East Grand Rapids, later Lowell. | |
| 4000 (3002) | S-4A | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | CB&Q | Copeland Park, LaCrosse, WI | display | Baldwin #61500, 1930 | Named Aeolus. |
| 5320 | J-1e | 4-6-4 | 16" | NYC | Panella Pacific Railroad (private), Lodi, CA | out of service | Mercer Locomotive Works (Hamilton, NJ), 1947 | |
| 3001 | S-4 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | CB&Q | Ballingall Park, Ottumwa, IA | display | Baldwin #61446, 1930 | Wears the builder's plate No. 61522 from CB&Q 4-8-4 5606, which was scrapped in May 1960. |
| 3450 | 3450 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | AT&SF | RailGiants Train Museum, Pomona, CA | display | Baldwin #59993, 1927 | |
| 3000 | S-4 | 4-6-4 | 14" | CB&Q | Dekalb County Fairgrounds, Sandwich, IL | operational | AC Augie, 1973 | Replica. |
| 502 (5313) | J-1 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | TH&B (NYC) | Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, PA | stored | Alco, 1927 | Steam generator car made from the tender of NYC Hudson 5313. |
| 47 (1542) | X-10-a | 4-6-4T | 4'-8½" | CNR (GTR) | Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, PA | stored | Montreal Locomotive Works, 1914 | First locomotive to operate at Steamtown USA. Appears to be in poor cosmetic condition. |
| 5212 | 4-6-4 | 15" | Traintown Railroad Park, Broadway, Sonoma, CA | operational | Ray Nieracker, 1950s | From Sonoma Train Town, Sonoma, CA. | ||
| 170 | L-1a | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | NYC&StL | Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, MO | display | Alco (Brooks) #67211, 1927 | Oldest surviving Hudson type steam locomotive. |
| 2839 | H1c | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | Atlantic Central (CPR) | The Nethercutt Collection and Museum, Sylmar, CA | display | Montreal Locomotive Works, 1937 | From Allentown, PA. Appeared in Coal Miner's Daughter. |
| 3463 | 3460 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | AT&SF | Kansas Expocenter, Topeka, KS | restoration | Baldwin #62086, 1937 | The Kaw Valley Rail Heritage Conservancy plans to move 3463 to a more visible and protected site, build a shelter over the locomotive, and cosmetically restore it to its 1956 appearance. |
| 5433 | J-3 | 4-6-4 | 15" | NYC | Hiawatha Live Steamers, Tupper Lake, NY | operational | Seymour Johnson, 1968 | From Bell Gardens, Valley Center, CA. |
| 3007 | S-4 | 4-6-4 | 4'-8½" | CB&Q | Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL | display | Baldwin #61528, 1930 | |
| 4-6-4 | 15" | Lions Park, Waterman, IL | stored | From Riverside & Great Northern RY shops, Wisconsin Dells, WI. |
Web Pages
- Royal Hudson Home Page
- H. Norwood Royal Hudson Page
- Surviving Streamlined Steam
- Steam Locomotive Archive
- The New York Central System
- Harold K. Vollrath's Photo Collection - New York Central Section
- Hudsons
Reference
- Locomotives in Profile, Volume One by Brian Reed (Doubleday)
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of North American Locomotives by Brian Hollingsworth (Smithmark Publications)
- The American Steam Locomotive: Vol. 1, The Evolution of the Steam Locomotive by F. M. Swengel (Midwest Rail Publications)
- The Search for Steam by Joe G. Coaaias (Heimburger House Publishing Co.)