train no. 303, double headed Hudsons

NG501050

train no. 303, double headed Hudsons

Steam Locomotive

On a wintry afternoon in January, 1954, exhaust from three steam locomotives hides the depot at Springfield. In the frosty air, the steam leaks on these battered survivors of the NYC's once-mighty fleet are plainly exposed against their filthy flanks. On the left, Hudsons 5385 and 5291, the latter equipped with a PT or "centipede* tank, double-head no. 303 out of town, while in the background, Mohawk 3107 waits to follow with X-447. The 600-HP EMD switcher on the right is working the house job, a three-trick operation which, as its name im-: plies, switches the freight house (it also serves industries in the territory between the yard and West End and does a few chores around the depot). No. 303 on this occasion had 11 cars, which normally. would have been handled by one engine; the extra power was being taken out of Bellefontaine for service at Cincinnati. The bigger engine on X-447 with only nine cars was not unusual, in that the dual service L-3s and L-4s were assigned as needed in freight or passenger service, and were liable to turn up on almost any Ohio Division "varnish". The next picture, last of the Springfield series, is a sequel. to this one.

Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

2-1/4x3-1/4 neg

Dec-54

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4/6/2004

314

J-1d

#5385, #5291

Alco-Schen

Springfield, OH

See NG501050a