STEAMday Sunday (1/14/2024 edition)

In 1928, Alco built five D-1a 4-6-6T bi-directional steam locomotives (#400 to #404) for use on the Boston & Albany Railroad in commuter service between downtown Boston and its suburbs. One of the routes on which these engines ran was a circuit – outbound on the main line to Riverside, inbound on the Highland Branch to South Station, and in the opposite direction. Since these engines were double-ended, it was unnecessary to turn them before the next run.

I became interested in the Boston & Albany Railroad when I went to school next to the tracks of the B&A’s Grand Junction Branch – but that was years after the “tank engines” were retired in 1951. So, when K-Line made its model of the tank engine with TMCC (#403) and Lionel followed with a Legacy version (#400) using K-Line’s tooling, I bought examples of each. But I still need passenger cars in the Boston & Albany livery. When Lionel produces a model of a B&A 4-6-6T with another road number, I will buy one.

The tank engines had 63-inch drivers, ran at 215 psi boiler pressure, weighed 352,000 pounds, and developed 41,600 pounds tractive effort. They were the biggest tank engines ever to run in the United States and were designed for rapid acceleration.

After the Boston & Albany ended commuter service around Boston, the Highland Branch was converted to light rail by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in 1959 and continues in operation today as its Green Line. CSX uses the main line for freight.

Photos and videos show #400 and #403 running on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

In 1928, Alco built five D-1a 4-6-6T bi-directional steam locomotives (#400 to #404) for use on the Boston & Albany Railroad in commuter service between downtown Boston and its suburbs. One of the routes on which these engines ran was a circuit – outbound on the main line to Riverside, inbound on the Highland Branch to South Station, and in the opposite direction. Since these engines were double-ended, it was unnecessary to turn them before the next run.

I became interested in the Boston & Albany Railroad when I went to school next to the tracks of the B&A’s Grand Junction Branch – but that was years after the “tank engines” were retired in 1951. So, when K-Line made its model of the tank engine with TMCC (#403) and Lionel followed with a Legacy version (#400) using K-Line’s tooling, I bought examples of each. But I still need passenger cars in the Boston & Albany livery. When Lionel produces a model of a B&A 4-6-6T with another road number, I will buy one.

The tank engines had 63-inch drivers, ran at 215 psi boiler pressure, weighed 352,000 pounds, and developed 41,600 pounds tractive effort. They were the biggest tank engines ever to run in the United States and were designed for rapid acceleration.

After the Boston & Albany ended commuter service around Boston, the Highland Branch was converted to light rail by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in 1959 and continues in operation today as its Green Line. CSX uses the main line for freight.

Photos and videos show #400 and #403 running on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Melgar, you are a fount of fascinating railroad history and, as always, your trains and layout are magnificent.

Thanks for a sharing them. Arnold

New Haven #1409, an I-5 Hudson type pulls a passenger consist through Scranton Pa.,going by the Rubilotta Mattress Works,and Whiting and Laveroni coal breakers  and onto the Scranton reverse loop for the journey back to New Haven.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WqUvuC8RsRpXNF667

A branchline mixed passenger/freight NYO&W train, pull by a 2-6-0 Mogul.....

Have a great and safe week, folks!

Peter

An oldie, but a goodie:

Hello Steam Crazies!  Today I’m proud to show you the LEGO steam locomotive built by my six year old grandson, Isaac.

Isaac didn’t build it from a kit with instructions.  He assembled it from random pieces according to his own imagination.  Look closely; I think it’s amazing how many details he got right.  I don’t believe, however, he knew he was building a Mogul!

John

@Trainbros89 posted:

An oldie, but a goodie:

What I like best about that locomotive is the bass sound of the horn: it's the Johnny Cash of train horns. Arnold

Mel, I enjoyed seeing your 4-6-6Ts and the history lesson, as usual!  

I have a comment regarding CSX’s current operations out of Boston.  While the main line  hosts occasional freights to serve local industries, the line is primarily used by MBTA commuter rail trains.  CSX dismantled its Beacon Park yards several years ago and moved its freight hub and intermodal facilities to Worcester.

John

Burning some coal enjoy your STEAMday Sunday, Support your Troops.

My MTH PRR decapod with ERR and 4 chuffs via cherry switch pulling my track cleaner.

Arnold here are my steam shots for this fine Sunday!  A tribute to steam in snowy weather which is what many in our country are experiencing and will experience this week.  

Lionel, can motor version; ERR Cruise Commander, coil couplers. Factory smoke (excellent). I wanted the PW version back in the 50's - it looked more realistic than some of the other, bigger-buck steamers then. And 2 couplers! But, I asked and was told that I "already had an engine" (2055) for my layout. I mean, who could possibly need more than one locomotive, right?

I added some shaped brass tubing to the headlight (actually over it; it's a slip-on with a new lens) to make it look more scale and "M&O-ish" . Runs well, though the ERR cruise gets a little coggy at low speeds with that budget can-motor.

Great pictures all...  @Steam Crazy- what a wonderful locomotive, it is amazing the imagination and artistry developed in our young people at such an age.  Treasure that one Mate!

Well with MELGAR picturing his B&A bi-directional tank engine I just had to follow suit with my NYC tank engine.  This one likely much more from the designer's imagination as I am not aware NYC had any such locomotives.  This is a 1950's lithographed tinplate locomotive by the Japanese Company, "ALPS".  She is battery powered with 1 D battery in the boiler that takes care of power to the headlight as well.  Really more of a floor toy although very nearly 0 gauge but she does not have flanged wheels. She is designed to run in a pre-set action on a flat plate tinplate layout where the track is a recessed path.  She moves and picks up and drops cars in a pre-set pattern (on the original which, alas, I do not have the full piece).

Happy Steam Sunday everyone

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Well with MELGAR picturing his B&A bi-directional tank engine I just had to follow suit with my NYC tank engine.  This one likely much more from the designer's imagination as I am not aware NYC had any such locomotives.  This is a 1950's lithographed tinplate locomotive by the Japanese Company, "ALPS".

Happy Steam Sunday everyone

Don

Don, I have the highly detailed modern K Line NY Central tank engine and know that other Forumites have it as well. In fact, I believe Melgar may also have the K Line NY Central tank engine.

I also believe the following:  that the real Boston & Albany Railroad had that same tank engine, that the real NY Central RR took over the real Boston & Albany RR, and that when people got upset about that take over, the NY Central changed the livery of their tank engines back to the Boston & Albany.

I wonder if there was a period of time after the above take over that there were tank engines that had the NY Central name and livery.

I bet there are more knowledgeable Forumites than me that know the answer to that question. Arnold

Arnold Thanks for your comment and information!!  I did not know that NYC had any tank engines similar to the B&A, however your information about the potential livery change makes sense as well.  Hey! how about posting that K-line NYC tank?

Thanks  for keeping this thread going

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Arnold Thanks for your comment and information!!  I did not know that NYC had any tank engines similar to the B&A, however your information about the potential livery change makes sense as well.  Hey! how about posting that K-line NYC tank?

Thanks  for keeping this thread going

Don

As I recal this NYC 4-6-6T was the B&A 400.

Ron

Here it is, Don, the K Line NY Central Tank engine:

I'm not sure that the real NY Central had such a tank engine. Arnold

Neat Arnold, thanks for posting!

Don

@Steam Crazy posted:

Mel, I enjoyed seeing your 4-6-6Ts and the history lesson, as usual!  

John

Me, too!

Peter

@Don McErlean posted:

Great pictures all...

Well with MELGAR picturing his B&A bi-directional tank engine I just had to follow suit with my NYC tank engine.  This one likely much more from the designer's imagination as I am not aware NYC had any such locomotives.

Happy Steam Sunday everyone

Don

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Don, I have the highly detailed modern K Line NY Central tank engine and know that other Forumites have it as well. In fact, I believe Melgar may also have the K Line NY Central tank engine.

I also believe the following:  that the real Boston & Albany Railroad had that same tank engine, that the real NY Central RR took over the real Boston & Albany RR, and that when people got upset about that take over, the NY Central changed the livery of their tank engines back to the Boston & Albany.

I wonder if there was a period of time after the above take over that there were tank engines that had the NY Central name and livery.

Arnold

The Boston & Albany Railroad was leased by the New York Central Railroad in 1900 and later became a subsidiary of NYC. Five D-1a 4-6-6T tank engines, road numbers 400 to 404, were built by Alco for the Boston & Albany in 1928. They ran in Boston commuter service until being replaced by diesels in 1951. New York Central records show that the five B&A tank engines were renumbered as New York Central 1295 to 1299 in March 1951. I seem to remember seeing a picture of one at the New York Central's Croton-Harmon Shops but I haven't been able to find definitive information that they ran in commuter service around New York City. Numbers 1295 and 1297 were rostered until early 1952 - the others until late 1951. K-Line made a 4-6-6T model lettered NYC 1295 and Lionel made one lettered NYC 1297.

The Boston & Albany also had 18 Class L 2-6-6T tank engines (later Class D-2) that ran in commuter service around Boston until 1950.

The New York Central had Class J 2-6-6T tank engines that were rebuilt to Class E 2-6-0s around 1905 for suburban service around New York City.

MELGAR

Melgar, I was hoping you would chime in and educate us about whether there were real NY Central tank engines and, sure enough, you did. You supplied us with all of the elevant historical information about this interesting issue.

Thanks so much.

Arnold

NYC re-lettered and numbered B&A locomotives to NYC after the acquisition in 1900.  MA residents were outraged by this offense to their beloved B&A, so political pressure convinced NYC to restore the B&A livery.  The 4-6-6Ts were acquired after the early 1900s turmoil, so they started life as B&A and changed to NYC.

John

@MELGAR and others - thanks for the information on the NYC tank engines.  Most of which I had not heard before, very interesting.

Don

@PRRronbh posted:

As I recal this NYC 4-6-6T was the B&A 400.

Ron

I rechecked my research!  It was B&A #402 that was renumbered to NYC 1297 in 1951.

Ron

Its the fall, just after WWII, and New Haven 10 wheeler #816 (a 2015 Lionel offering) rumbles over the P&W branch Millville Road underpass in Uxbridge MA with a local freight .  Waiting on the "Davis" siding sits Pacific 1343 and Worcester bound freight PW-4 .  Number #816 was a G-4-a class loco arriving on the NH late 1904. These were used primarily in mainline passenger service until the arrival of the Pacifics with 17 G-4-a's surviving after WWII in local freight and some passenger service...the last being condemned in 1948.  While earlier 4-6-0s had the uneven driver spacing, the 800 series were actually even spaced and i may have to renumber this one to an earlier series.  [info source: Swanberg, New Haven Power 1838-1968.)