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Key Words to help in search of this item
Locomotive
Steam Whistles Poster Picture Engine - Great Train/Railroad Railman Man
Cave Decor Train Railroad RR Southern 610 Pacific Railway S. Pacific,
Illinois, Palmetto, Canadian Pennsylvania Railroad Photo Baldwin
Vintage, VTG Old Antique
S-Motor
was the class designation given by the New York Central to its ALCO-GE
built S-1, S-2, S-2a and S-3 electric locomotives. The S-Motors hold the
distinction of being the world's first mass-produced main line electric
locomotives with the prototype #6000 being constructed in 1904. The
S-Motors would serve alone until the more powerful T-motors began to
arrive in 1913, eventually displacing them from main line passenger
duties. From that point the class was assigned to shorter commuter
trains and deadhead rolling stock between Grand Central Terminal and
Mott Haven coach yard. Some examples, including the prototype later
renumbered #100, would serve in this capacity through the Penn Central
merger in 1968, only being retired in the 1970s as long distance
passenger traffic to Grand Central dried up.
History
Unit 6000 hauling a train with various railway officials, 1904
After
a disastrous 1902 accident in the Park Avenue Tunnel the New York
legislature passed a law banning steam locomotives within the city
limits effective in 1908. Seeing an opportunity, the railroad decided
this could mean a chance to completely rebuild its congested Midtown
Manhattan stub end terminal and yard facilities. The electrification
project would see not only the construction of the Grand Central
Terminal itself, but miles of completely underground platforms and yard
tracks which would not have been possible with exhaust-producing steam
locomotives.
Having already found success with the world's first
main line electrification project in Baltimore in 1895, ALCO and General
Electric were tasked with designing a new locomotive for the project
with Alco building the engine and GE supplying the electrical equipment.
The initial prototype locomotive, delivered as Class L #6000, was in
the 1-D-1 configuration with 4 gearless "bi-polar" type traction motors
which used the axle shaft as the motor armature. Between October 1904
and July 1906 #6000 racked up 50,000 miles (80,000 km) in test on a
track near both Alco and GE plants in Schenectady, New York.
The
advantages of the new locomotive were striking. It was only half the
length of a standard steam locomotive with tender and weighed only two
thirds as much, but could provide more power, especially when starting
trains on steep grades. It was capable of rapid acceleration and
deceleration, ideal for the Hudson and Harlem lines’ numerous, closely
spaced commuter rail stations. The locomotive required no turntable and
could be reversed for service in the opposite direction in a matter of
seconds. With the tests complete an order was placed for 34 additional
locomotives to be delivered in the 3400 series and classed T-2 with the
original being re-classed T-1.
Unfortunately, two days into the
new electric service in 1907 a train led by two T-2 class locomotives
number 3407 and 3421 derailed on a curve on the Harlem Line killing 24
and injuring 140. The investigation identified design flaws involving
the long rigid wheelbase and its performance at high speed. The solution
was to convert the entire class to use 2 axle leading and trailing
trucks to better guide the locomotive around curves. Units already
delivered were modified to fit the extra wheels and units not delivered
were modified in the factory. Again the class was changed from T to S.
Finally in 1908 an additional batch of 12 locomotives, class S-3, were
ordered to support the electrification being extended to North White
Plains on the Harlem Line.
The original S-Motor, former No. 6000, awaiting restoration south of Albany, NY in 2012.
With
weight split between powered and unpowered axles the S motors were
never completely satisfactory at pulling long heavy trains at high
speed. The 1907 accident only made matters worse with additional
unpowered axles being added and new speed restrictions imposed. Finally
in 1913 the new class of T-Motors arrived, displacing the S Motors from
first line service. For the next 60 years the S-motors were assigned to
short local commuter trains and empty equipment movements between Grand
Central and the Coach Yards at Mott Haven. They were later re-numbered
into the 1100 series and ultimately the 100 series with some examples
surviving the Penn Central merger. The combination of the New Haven's
new 60 unit strong electro-diesel FL-9 to handle short commuter trains
and the drastic reduction in long distance passenger trains using the
Mott Haven coach yards eventually ended these niche applications as
well. Their final assignment was switching service in the underground
yards of Grand Central Terminal. The last S motor, #115, was finally
retired from Conrail commuter operations in 1981 after 75 years in
service, being replaced by GE E-10 steeplecab units acquired second hand
from the Niagara Junction Railroad after Conrail took control of that
operation.[1]
Three S-Motors were preserved including the
prototype #100. Two are in museums, #113 at the National Museum of
Transportation, and #115 at the Illinois Railway Museum; however, #100,
owned by the Mohawk and Hudson chapter NRHS, is stored outside on an
abandoned rail spur in Glenmont, New York awaiting funds for
restoration. The locomotive was recently secured for transport to the
Danbury Railw
Ephemera
is a word used by appraisers often to cover those objects that don’t
fit into general categories such as fine and decorative art or glass and
porcelain and can be grouped together as everything left over or
oddities needing valuation to finalize an estate or collection value.
In
the matter of paper ephemera we are referring primarly to magazines,
comic books and even dime store novels and other similar publications
that were meant to be read and then disposed of later. Much of this
material when first published did not register among the balance of the
collecting public and endless stories exist of people who bought every
issue of Superman or Mad Magazine in their youth only to discover that
their parents had thrown them away years later. Today collecting of
paper ephemera has become a major field driven by the Baby Boomer
generation as well as those born in the 60s and 70s. Collectors use
grading companies to slab (place in plastic) and grade their copies of
comic books and magazines considered rare such as Golden Age issues of
Batman and Superman or the earliest issues of Mad Magazine and even TV
Guide. The higher the grade the more valuable the issue. The subject of
grading will be addressed in the next post.
“ephemera” are vintage printed or written items which originally served
some specific purpose and were not expected to be retained or
preserved, but which are now cherished. A few decades ago much of it was
called “Paper Americana”, though ephemera is not necessarily American.
Or even paper: these days the field has been expanded to include such
things as tobacco tins, photographs, radio premiums, textile swatches,
vinyl record albums, items made of celluloid or wood. Also included are
various items which were indeed likely to have been saved, such as
wedding invitations, marriage certificates, passports, birth
certificates, wills, deeds, divorce papers, stock certificates,
promissory notes, and many other vintage documents.
Antique Vintage,
Old, Retro, Distressed, MCM, Mid-century Modern, Collectible, Collecting
Collection, relic Rustic Historic Memorabilia Rare Classic Early, Authentic,
Aged, Ancient, Last , Historical, Bygone Era, Artifact, , Antiquated, Archaic,
Rarity, Primitive Valuable, Uncommon, Unique, Prized, One Of A Kind, Hard To
Find, Desirable, Exclusive, Only, Sought After, Museum Piece, Souvenir,
Curious, Keepsake, Treasure,
Unique Pieces Decorative
Design Designed Fabulous Grand Elegant Beautiful Timeless, Classical,
Traditional, Inspired, Whimsical, Luxurious, Enticing, Classic, Beautiful,
Glorious, Garnished, Superb, Distinctive, Aesthetic, Charming, Fascinating,
Sensational, Fabulous, Wonderful, Lovely, Great, Fantastic, Stunning, Incredible, Delightful, Sensational, Fabulous, Wonderful,
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Refined, Dignified, Cultivated, Distinguished, Decorous, Conversation Piece
Curio, Memento, Remember, Heirloom, Specimen, Trophy, Keepsake
Industry,
Industrial, Steam Punk Steampunk Company Factory, Style, Architecture,
Architectural Architect Machine
Warehouse Abandoned, Retro, Pop Culture,
Hardware, Junk Metalwork Embellish,
Restoration, Repurposed, Repurpose, Renovation, Renovate, Restore,
Remodel, Refurbish, Versatile, Customized,
Supplies, Salvage, Salvaged, Art,
Artsmith, Rusty, Ornamental , Salvage, Metalwork Iron, Bronze, Brass,
Copper Patina Iron, Steel, Scrap, Craftworks
Supplies Junk Hardware Metal Relic, Sculpture Welded, Machinery, Engine, Mechanical
The origins of the caboose appear to date back to the 1840s when Nat
Williams, a conductor of the Auburn & Syracuse Railroad (a later
affiliate of the New York Central).
He became fed up with cramped
and uncomfortable quarters to do paperwork (a common job of the
conductor, whose responsibility is general oversight and control of a
train, passenger or freight). This was usually done within either a
free space on a passenger car or combine/baggage car.
To fix this
problem, Williams found an unused boxcar and, using a simple box and
barrel as a seat and desk, set up shop to do his duties. Not only did he
find there was plenty of room to work but also figured he could use the
unused space to store tools (flags, lanterns, spare parts, etc.) and
other essentials when needed.