NYC Hudson Locomotive/Tender Coupling

Get a copy of the book THOROUGHBREDS, by Al Staufer.  

Tim,

Depending on how exact you want to be, a picture of the engine to tender coupling area on most any modern steam locomotive is going to get you in the ball park. Be sure to get one of both sides.

I am mostly concerned with where the drawbar is vertically, and approximate tender/engine gap. I would buy Mr. Staufer's book if I knew it had the photos in it, but I can't afford to buy it on speculation. I have never thumbed through a copy and don't want to buy one online unless I know for sure.

You need to buy Stauffer's book regardless of if it has the photos or not (It surely does). It's an absolute must for any NYC Hudson fan; one of the greatest single sources of information on the Hudsons available. Reader grade copies can always be found around 30 bucks. I'll check my copy in a moment for the photos you need.

Tim,

In the "Thoroughbreds" book, there are only two pictures taken directly looking at the engine/tender coupling. Due to the fact that light can't get in between, they are both too dark to see anything. There are two line drawings at the back of the book that, put together, will give you a good idea of where the buffer plate, stoker and apron elevations. Between the drawings and the photos, you should be able to find what you want.

thanks Big Jim, that is what I needed to know. I went ahead and succumbed to the pear pressure and bid on a used book.

Good choice. I purchased my used copy some years ago for $25. Upon getting it home, I discovered that the book had been personalized by Mr. Staufer himself to a New York Central locomotive Engineer, signed by Al and everything!  Probably worth close to $100, but I use it a lot anyway.

Tim,

You can google Richard Leonard's New York Central Collection. It has many close up Hudson pics and one pacific picture from the side that shows most of the coupling detail. I used these photos to close couple and detail my Hudson

Just got back in but see the necessary info has already been found. You won't regret the purchase. That book was actually what set everything in motion for me to focus on NYC modelling.

 close coupled K Line Hudson

You may also be interested in this:

NYC Locomotive Firing Course 1944

Tim,

I know, I know, I know, this isn't a Hudson, but, I found these good photos of an N&W Class A that should give you an idea of what is happening at the cab end of a locomotive. Not all of these will be located in the same place on a Hudson.

Top row under apron, L to R: Drive from stoker engine, Stoker supply pipe & auger, Equalizing reservoir for air brake system, Grate shaker cylinders.

Center:Rubbing face of Radial Buffer

Directly below: Drawbar pockets

Lower row, L to R: Water inlet pipe to Centrifugal Feedwater pump, Air, Steam & Signal lines (6), Water connection to injector.

Very bottom: Boiler blowdown muffler

In the darkness of the middle

Top to bottom: Apron, Stoker supply pipe, Radial Buffer, Drawbars (2), Boiler blowdown muffler.

Excellent photos Jim, I haven't seen one of the backside of an "A" before...good timing to for something I'm working on.  You wouldn't happen to have a guess as to what the diameter of the stoker pipe/auger is would you?  10 inches...ish?

From the best my weary eyes can make out, it looks to be closer to 14".

Ok, thank you. 

Chris,

Here is a link to where I tried to get that measurement. When I try to enlarge it, the image just blurs to where the dimensions are hard to read.

Intermediate Conveyor Housing Type B Standard Stoker

Another way to determine the stoker diameter is compare it against rail width just below it. Taking measurements off my computer screen and doing a ratio calculation I get 13.5" so 14" is likely correct.

Pete

Thanks Jim, I see what you mean about enlarging it.  14" is a good number for me, it does look right for the Type B and even the HT stokers.

Thanks Pete, appreciate the help.

Thanks for the picture Big Jim. Is it somewhat typical to have the drawbar under the stoker chute?

I haven't researched every loco there ever was, but, I would think that most all locos would have them under the radial buffer in some way. With a stoker, there is no where else to put them.

Yes. The main drawbar and the safety bar are pretty much ALWAYS at the bottom, in order to connect to the thickest & strongest portion of the engine frame, with the spring loaded radial buffer and connections on the lowest & strongest part of the tender frame.