There was just a discussion about streamlined / destreamlined NYC Hudsons:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/288363.aspx
Basically the 1938 20th Century Hudsons (and the 1941 Empire State ones) began being destreamlined during WW2, and were all-destreamlined by 1948. Because the streamlining could make it more difficult to access parts of the engine for maintenance - and since the railroads needed a quick turnaround time in the shops due to the huge boom in wartime traffic - if a part of the streamlining was removed for maintenance, it was just left off and the engine sent out "as is". Pulling trains was more important than style points.
thats some terrific info! thanks!
Its quite a rare sight to see
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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Here's a look at the other side:
J-3a_5446_6-1938 by Edmund, on Flickr
This is June of 1938 and the Hudson is only a year old, too early for a "de-streamlining" program. I do recall reading about (Al Stauffer, perhaps) a streamlined Hudson involved in a grade crossing incident where it hit a truck loaded with paint!
I'm sure the nose and side panels were replaced in these pre-War days. It's possible a new shell was being fabricated and/or the repair work was being held off until the engine's routine 30 day boiler wash.
Here she is in 1939, again in Englewood, all patched up:
https://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc5446_rdl.htm
Leonard M. Blum (LMB) was the owner of Hobby House here in Cleveland. He was a big NYC fan so he may have had a few of these run for himself and friends.
Regards, Ed
I found this LM Blum model of a seemlingly custom NYC destreamlined J3a #5446 hudson, and after a bit of photosearching, eventually found a prototype photo. Is there any info on this engine? I assume it was destreamlined for easier maintanence, but it just looks so weird, and was wondering if there was a weird story to go along with it. Did it survive a crash? Did it ever pull top end passenger trains after this refit?
Brass model: https://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/094168/HO-Brass-Model-LMB-Destreamlined-NYC-New-York-Central-4-6-4-5446-Hudson-Custom-Super-Detailed-Unpainted