When NYC went electric

[Qrt]

[Erhard Baltrusch]

Hi Curt,

I found this on the web: Hudson River Tunnel,

It is more related to the tunnel itself than to the NYC but maybe you can find some useful information in this article.

Take care,
Erhard
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US-Modules in N eMail: erhard(at)minirails(punkt)de

[Qrt]

Thank you, Erhard.
The origin of this Thread was a TV programme aired by the Educational channel on the channels of the Swedish Television.
It was probably the programme mentioned here:
http://trainjotting.com/category/william-j-wilgus/
But my question remains: Where there (are there) steam enginers who are also equipped with electric traction motors?
BTW Erhard: After all these years of struggling in the german forum I repeatedly have to stop myself from writing capital letters on the nouns in my english postings.
I know. The speeling is incorrect. It should either say engineers or engines, whereby I should like to see an engineer with traction motors.

[Erhard Baltrusch]

Curt,

I personally couldn't imagine such an engine but nonetheless forwarded your question to some NYC - guru in the States. As soon as I get a reply, I'll publish it here...

Don't worry about your spelling! As long as I can read your postings, everything is all right
END

Take care,
Erhard
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US-Modules in N eMail: erhard(at)minirails(punkt)de

[Erhard Baltrusch]

Hi Qrt,

From another forum, I received the following reply to my question:
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To the best of my knowledge, the only pre-WWII steam-electric was the Heilmann, and it never saw the west side of the Atlantic.

NYC had already committed to third-rail straight electric operation, even before the politicians got into the act. The only place where unpowered track could be a problem was on the West Side line, and that was solved with on-board battery/distillate engined motors that could also draw power from the third rail. (The West Side line was also taken out of the streets, either on raised viaducts or in below-street-level cuts.)

New York City wanted the clouds of coal smoke over the railroad tracks GONE! I doubt that the idea of an idling steamer with motors drawing power from the third rail would have met with regulatory approval. (I'm certain that, once Grand Central was roofed over, it wouldn't have met with passenger approval either.)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
---------------------- snip ------------------------

Hope this helps,

Erhard
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