NYC Summer of 62 Question

[Anonymous]

My family and I moved to Michigan in the Summer of 62, and we traveled by train from New York's Grand Central Station to Detroit.

I remember the car we were in, as it had bunk beds for the four of us. I assume it was New York Central. Can anyone tell me what type of engine was probably pulling passenger trains along that route that summer?

[Sperandeo]

Hello Philip,

Chances are pretty good that your train was powered by Electro-Motive E8s or E7s, or by a combination of the two. It sounds like your family travelled in an adjacent pair of double bedrooms, which could be opened "en suite," as it was called, to form one large room with four berths, two uppers and two lowers. Several types of NYC sleepers included double-bedroom accomodations, so it would be hard to be more specific than that.

Happy holidays,

Andy

[Anonymous]

You probably rode on NYC train no 17, The Wolverine, which ran overnight between Grand Central Terminal and Chicago by way of Buffalo and Detroit. In all likelihood the train was pulled by E7s and/or E8s.

--John

[ndbprr]

I tend to agree with the others that an E7 or E8 is the probable engine(s) of choice. For an absolute answer you are probably going to have to find someone in the New York Central Historical Society. If you can provide a specific date sometimes records still exist that can tell you not only the type of engine(s) but which one(s) and possibly the cars in the train that day so you may be able to even pin down the name and type of the car you rode in. Stranger things have happened

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the good advice. I really appreciate the replies.

Phil

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

One quick note:

New York Central passenger trains leaving Grand Central Terminal in New York City were pulled by 3rd rail powered electric locomotives. They were box cab units. This family of engines were known as "P" motors, "S" motors, and "T" motors. They had come from the defunct Cleveland Union Terminal rail line. They varied in size and horspower but had the basic "box style". Not great on looks but very rugged, fast and bult to last! It was common to see ONE locomotive pulling an 18 passenger train! See if Amtrak could do that! They ran until the early 70s.

Routine: Once trains arrived in Harmon (33 miles north of New York City) , the electric locomotive is uncoupled and diesels, usually E units or Alco PAs took over and continued to points north and west, including Chicago. My late uncle Juan used to drive the electrics back in the 60s. He enjoyed working for the Central. However, he went to the NYC transit authority as a subway motorman around 1967/68 as he saw the writing on the wall with the upcoming Penn Central merger. Retired in 80.

Hope this helps..

[coalminer3]

Not all NYC electrics came from the CUT. IIRC, S and T class locomotives were built for the the NYC. P Motors came from Cleveland after their electrification was discontinued. They were fine-looking "beasts" with enormous front and rear "porches." AntonioFP45, if you're not familiar with it, find a copy of the book called Run of the Century, it has a good chapter on NYC electric operations between GCT and Harmon. The power transfer then was to Hudsons, not diesels.

The NYC had a variety of passenger diesels. A lot of their trains were were pulled by EMD units (both cab and hood types.) PAs were around Pittsburgh and also over on the Boston and Albany side. The B&A also had some supremely ugly Baldwin passenger units. Other NYC passenger diesels included Alco RS units and some junkers from Lima, as well as some exotic FM power.

Don't forget "in the day," that NYC had extensive electric mu operations for commuter trains and electrics ran to White Plains as well as on the Hudson Line. Of course, a lot of the eletrification was expanded, but I well remember electric power to White Plains and riding the Harlem Division behind RS3's. After the merger, former New Haven FL9s were used - always seemed strange to hear Hancock whistles in NYC country.

Memories, memories....

work safe

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks Coalminer.

I grew up in the Bronx near White Plains Rd in the 1960s. I remember the Boxcabs and MUs quite well. Rode the trains sometimes with my family. Very fond memories. I also remember the power transfer being to E units in Harmon, circa 1968. That body style always stood out for me. Sorry though, as a kid I thought that those boxcabs were hideous after having seen FL9s in New Haven's red, white & black McGinnis colors, even though the FL9s were usually pretty dirty after the Penn Central merger period. I appreciate those Box Cabs now as an adult as they had a reputation for being just as tough & high in quality as Pennsy GG1s. Are there any NYC boxcabs preserved?

You're absolutely right in the NYC having a great variety of diesels for passenger power. As a kid, though, I didn't get to see a lot of the passenger diesels much as I lived in electric territory.

[coalminer3]

Yeah - and we admired that electric stuff from afar. I always enjoyed trips from Boston to GCT as I got to see some of the equipment that I only saw in pictures.

work safe