Development of the original Hudson-type locomotives began in 1926 when
the New York Central System decided it needed a new type of passenger
locomotive to meet the demands of high-speed, long-distance runs. The
type was named after the river along which it would run. In late 1937
and in 1938, 50 Hudsons of an improved design, built by the American
Locomotive Co., were placed on the New York Central. These locomotives,
Nos. 5405 to 5454, had larger boilers than their predecessors, had
greater tractive force, and were fitted with roller bearings. In
addition, Nos. 5445 to 5454 were streamlined.
A nonoperable model (figure 79) in the Museum collection (USNM 313162),
gift of the New York Central System in 1947, represents _No. 5429_. The
model locomotive and tender are 2 feet long and are accompanied by a
train of six streamlined cars. The entire train is painted silver, with
black trimming on the locomotive and tender. Built to a scale of ¼ inch
to the foot, it was especially made for the Museum, the builder being
Edwin P. Alexander of Yardley, Pa.
[Illustration: Figure 79.—Model of American Locomotive Co.
Hudson-type locomotive, 1938.]
The original _No. 5429_, constructed in 1938, was streamlined in 1941 in
the West Albany shops of the New York Central, and in December of that
year was placed back in service on the Empire State Express with an
entirely new streamlined train of specially designed stainless-steel
cars. When the Empire State Express was ultimately dieselized in 1945,
_No. 5429_ was put to other uses, and the streamlining was removed in
1950. As of October 1955 it was still in service.
In streamlined condition, as represented by the model, the locomotive
and tender together weighed 681,900 pounds and their length was a few
inches over 97 feet. The diameter of the driving wheels was 79 inches,
the bore and stroke of the cylinders were 22½ and 29 inches,
respectively, and the total tractive force was 53,960 pounds. A steam
pressure of 265 pounds per square inch was used.