Train no. 405
Identifier
NG502023
Title
Train no. 405
Subject
Steam Passenger Train
Description
Guilford Hill is more of an irritant than an obstacle to passenger trains, and this was just as true in steam days as it is now. Westbound trains make no stops between Cincinnati and Batesville. Maximum speed on the hill westbound is 70 MPH for the first eleven miles and 60 MPH for the last six. To maintain schedule, engineers try to hit the hill at 70 and stay as close to track speed as possible all the way up. With diesels, this means eighth notch and 1ean back and wait, unless the rail is bad. With steam, it meant widen on her, keep the cutoff adjusted, and be ready to grab her if she started into the air. A J-engine with a heavy train could bog down quite a bit even under the most skillful prodding. No such situation exists in the scene above, in which a big L-4 is shown charging up into Weisburg at just about track speed. Weisburg is three miles below the top, the train is no. 405, and the consist is nine cars. Engine 3108 does the honors very competently.
Creator
Jeremy Taylor
Contributor
Jeremy Taylor
Format
2-1/4x3-1/4 neg
Date Created
Summer 1954
Shopping
To buy a copy of this photograph; click here NG502023
Sub-Subject
HvyWt
Negative Number
471
Class-Lot
L-4a
Road Number
#3108
Builder
Lima
Location
Weisburg, IN
Collection
Citation
Jeremy Taylor, “Train no. 405,” New York Central System Historical Society, accessed May 14, 2024, https://nycshs.omeka.net/items/show/85925.
Comments