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Over many years I have written numerous articles about the New York Central Railroad.
What I realized was that I had no one central (no pun intended) place where someone could go and find everything I have plus what others have too. Like great passenger trains, we added a second section. |
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Here's a drawing of one of my favorites: A "P Motor" Art work by Stacy Kinlock Sewell |
Click HERE to see our New York Central map collection |
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Head End Railway Express and Railway Post Office 
On passenger trains, railroads operated lots of equipment other than sleepers, coaches, dining cars, etc. This equipment was generally called 'head-end' equipment, these 'freight' cars were at one time plentiful and highly profitable for the railroads. In the heyday of passenger service, these industries were a big part of the railroad's operations, and got serious attention. We have text and pictures not found elsewhere on the Web. |
Interesting and Important Dates on the New York Central Railroad
1851 Twelve men are convicted of conspiring to burn down the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit in protest over high rates and autocratic business dealings by the railroad. This event will become known as "The Great Railroad Conspiracy". 1852 The Michigan Southern Railroad (later MS&NI, LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS) reaches Chicago. The rush to beat the Michigan Central into Chicago has left a break in Michigan Southern's line between Laporte and Michigan City. Michigan Southern travelers are forced to take a stagecoach between those two cities. January 24, 1853 The Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad Company (later LS&MS, NYC, PC, CR, NS) opens, forming the last link in the chain of roads from Chicago to New York and Boston. June 4, 1883 First trains on New York Central's West Shore line, on the west side of the Hudson River. June 30, 1889 The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (The Big Four) is formed from the merger of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway, the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railway and the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railway. 1891 The "Empire State Express" goes from New York City to East Buffalo, 436 miles, in a record 7 hours 6 minutes (61.408-mph). Also in 1891, the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad leased the Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad, whom had a lease on the Utica & Black River Railroad. 1893, the Mohawk & Malone Railway was leased by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad. 1899 The New York Central leases the Boston & Albany. The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis is formed to handle switching and transfer chores in St. Louis. The sponsoring railroads are the Missouri Pacific, Iron Mountain & Southern, Wabash, Ohio & Mississippi, Louisville & Nashville and the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis. August 16, 1904 Construction begins on New York City's new "Grand Central Station". When completed in 9 years, the building will become known as "Grand Central Terminal". July 27, 1910 First passenger train passes through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel. December 16, 1913 The landmark Michigan Central depot in Detroit opens. It will serve the city until 1988. In 1913, the Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad merged into the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, as was the Utica & Black River Railroad. The portion of track from Utica to Remsen became the Lyons Branch. December 16, 1915 The United States Attorney General rules that New York Central's ownership of the Nickel Plate violates U.S. anti-trust laws and orders divesture. December 28, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson uses the Federal Possession and Control Act to take possession of "each and every system of transportation...within the boundaries of the United States." This creates the U.S. Railroad Administration. March 20, 1920 The United States Railroad Administration is abolished, returning control of all railroads to their owners. January 11, 1922 The Van Sweringen brothers buy the Lake Erie & Western from the New York Central and align it with the Nickel Plate, which they also own. February 16, 1925 A new bridge is opened over Niagara Falls, replacing the previous span built in 1855. The bridge is part of the NYC/CS/MC route from New York to Michigan via Ontario. June 16, 1926 A special train of seven red Pullman cars leaves Grand Central in New York City for Chicago. Dubbed "The Cardinals' Special", the train carries Roman Catholic dignitaries to the XXVIII Eucharistic Congress in Chicago, the first Congress in the U.S. The cars will be repainted Pullman green and returned to regular service next month. July 8, 1926 First use of a radiotelephone on a train, on the New York Central. February 14, 1927 The first New York Central "J-1" Hudson locomotive is completed. The "J" series were to set the pace for locomotive performance and design until the end of steam. July 25, 1927 First installation of CTC controlled track goes into service between Stanley Yard and Berwick OH on the New York Central. December 22, 1928 A record 854 long distance trains enter and leave Grand Central Terminal in 24 hours. September 29, 1929 The New York Central inaugurates the "Commodore Vanderbilt", an all-first class, extra-fare train. This gives the NYC nine trains running between New York and Chicago on a 20-hour schedule. The NYC has adopted the Pennsylvania Railroad strategy of a fleet of fast trains, rather than just one name train. February 1, 1930 New York Central leases the Michigan Central for 999 years. December 14, 1934 New York Central unveils the "Commodore Vanderbilt", the first streamline steam locomotive and the inspiration for one of Lionel's most popular toy locomotives. July 1, 1935 The New York Central Lines (subsidiary companies) are re-named the New York Central System. March 25, 1936 The 200-inch mirror blank for the Palomar observatory begins its cross- country trip aboard a well-hole flat car [NYC 499010]. At the time it was shipped it was the single most valuable item ever shipped by rail. Railroad Vice-Presidents accompanied the special train to make sure there were no problems. As it traveled in the well-hole flatcar, the mirror was only inches above the rails. December 7, 1941 The New York Central, with much fanfare, launches the new streamlined "Empire State Express". The bombing of Pearl Harbor puts an immediate damper on the planned festivities. December 13, 1945 New York Central places what is `til then the largest single order for passenger equipment: 420 cars. 1952 The last steam locomotive is repaired at New York Central's West Albany Shops: J-1 Hudson 5270. June 16, 1953 The last steam powered through passenger train runs on the Canada Southern. August 7, 1953 New York Central Niagara 6020 leaves Harmon with Train 185, the last NYC steam locomotive to operate in New York State. 1953 Electric operations end at Cleveland Union Terminal April 16, 1958 The New York Central introduces "Flexi-Van" service. The first route is New York to Chicago. June 29, 1958 The last New York Central passenger train runs on New York City's West Shore route along the Hudson River north of the city beyond West Haverstaraw (i.e., to Albany). Commuter service to and from Weehawken and West Haverstraw continued until December 10,1959. July 1, 1958 The New York Central withdraws from The Pullman Company and begins staffing its own passenger trains. March 20, 1959 Last sailing of the Weehawken ferry, connecting New York Central's West Shore line with Manhattan. January 1, 1960 The New York Central drops its membership in the Railway Express Agency, citing large losses from the express business. April 3, 1961 The Boston & Albany, Ware River, Pittsfield & North Adams and Beech Creek Extension railroad companies all disappear into parent New York Central. November 25, 1963 All rail and transit services in the United States are halted for one minute to commemorate the National Day of Mourning for the assassinated President John F. Kennedy. See the New York Central train order. July 23, 1966 In a combination publicity stunt and test of how track functions under high speeds, a New York Central jet powered Rail Diesel Car hits 183.85 mph near Stryker, OH. December 2, 1967 Last run of New York Central's "Empire State Express" as the railroad cancels all but two long distance trains. February 1, 1968 The New York Central and Pennsylvania railroads merge to form Penn Central Transportation. To "protect competition" , the Norfolk & Western is given control of the Erie Lackawanna and Delaware & Hudson. Instead of merging with the two companies, they will be put under the umbrella of "Dereco", a subsidiary created by N&W to manage the lines. June 21, 1970 Penn Central declares bankruptcy, at the time the largest bankruptcy in U.S. corporate history. Important dates for the 20th Century Limited See key dates in original New York Central company history . See key dates in New York Central Adirondack and St Lawrence Divisions . YES, we know this list is incomplete. We keep adding to it. If you want to help us add, send us what you know. |
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A HOBBY PAGE
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See more trains at Wislew Publications |
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New York Central 20th Century Limited along the Hudson This was probably the all-time most famous train Bruce Wolfe collection, courtesy of Bernie Rudberg In 1947 a trio of EMD E units are powering the 20th Century Limited southbound along the banks of the Hudson River. This train had just thundered through Beacon and was heading for the engine change at Harmon. Since these diesel engines were not welcome under the streets of Manhattan, an electric engine would pull the limited the rest of the way into Grand Central Terminal. Click here or on picture to see more about railroads in Beacon, New York |
Special Research Section on the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad. This section contains information that is unpublished elsewhere! In the early 1870's, the Lake Ontario Shore Railroad had been built from Oswego along the shore of Lake Ontario to the Niagara River (Suspension Bridge). It bypassed Rochester, had no manufacturing industries and first became part of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburgh which was acquired by the New York Central.
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Kahndog Publications Preserving the history of the P&LE RR through our Books, Monthly historic Photo Galleries, Kahndog Tales Articles of the P&LE, B&O, NYC & others. Dealer Links, RR Links, News & Events. Jack Polaritz, author - historian. |
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NYC "Niagara" 4-8-4 at speed southbound past Rhinecliff in 1950. You can see the remains of the ice house long dock to the left of the engine. |
Rhinecliff from up on the hill. The former Rhinebeck & Connecticut Railroad (became Central New England Railway, then New Haven Railroad) is the line of trees across the center. At left is the NYC and the long dock in the Hudson River with the Kingston bridge in the distance. Photo by the late Austin McEntee Above maps and photos courtesy Bernie Rudberg Click here to see more about the Rhinebeck & Connecticut and the Central New England Railway |
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Green Island 20.8 miles from Schenectady See Gino's Rail Page The Little Falls & Dolgeville Railroad The West Shore In The Mohawk Valley See How The Troy & Schenectady Railroad Looks Today Schenectady Railway Company |
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WIKIPEDIA: the free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit. WIKIPEDIA contains several articles of interest to the New York Central historian or fan: New York Central Railroad List of New York Central Railroad precursors List of defunct United States railroads Grand Central Terminal List of New York railroads List of Indiana railroads List of Michigan railroads List of Massachusetts railroads List of Ohio Railroads List of Pennsylvania railroads List of West Virginia Railroads Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Big 4) Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad Many of these articles have been developed by our staff researcher K.C. Jones. In addition, K.C. Jones is available for questions on WONDIR, the search engine that provides both automated answers and human answers. Any connection to Casey Jones....America's Railroad Legend is purely coincidental. K.C. also has a railroad-related BLOG you might enjoy reading and adding your comments to. 
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The Hickory Creek of New York Central Railroad "Twentieth Century Limited" fame returns to home rails for spectacularly scenic railway travel. |
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Click HERE to see Forums / Discussion Groups on the New York Central | |||||||||||||||||
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Tunnels and Bridges on the New York Central
Find out more! 
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DID YOU KNOW? Interesting facts about the New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad Company was a corporation of the State of New York, having its principal office at 575 Broadway, in the City of Albany, State of New York. It also maintained executive offices at 466 Lexington Avenue, New York City. Buildings in the vicinity of Grand Central Terminal were owned by the New York State Realty and Terminal Company headquartered at 466 Lexington Avenue. Commodore Vanderbilt's statue at Grand Central Terminal was originally placed downtown at St, John's Park in 1869. When the original downtown freight house was moved, the statue went to Grand Central in 1929. The agreement ("in perpetuity") allowing the New Haven Railroad to enter New York City on New York Central right-of-way and share the terminal dates back to 1848. In 1853, The Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad Company opened (later Lake Shore & Michigan Southern), NY Central, Penn Central, Conrail, Norfolk Southern) thus forming the last link in the chain of roads from Chicago to New York and Boston. In 1882 William H. Vanderbilt utters his famous "The public be damned!" quote. The rest of the quote is "I am working for my stockholders. If the public wants the train, why don't they pay for it?" (The train in question was a premium fare, deluxe weekly). |
Troy and Schenectady Branch\Railroad Welcome to the T&S Branch. A group devoted to the discussion and history of the Troy and Schenectady Branch\Railroad between Schenectady and Troy New York. Although abandoned now, this line was part of the original New York Central Railroad. |
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| Last New York Central Steam |
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Old Railway Express Agency Booklet from Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition in 1933-1934 Find out more about the Railway Express Agency. and about the Chicago Rail Fair. |
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