The BLI HO-Scale Hudsons Are Due Out In December 2022 and We Have Them To Order!!!

Broadway Limited Paragon 3 HO-Scale NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson(#5344 Spoked Drivers, Paragon 4 Sound DC/DCC, Smoke)

Broadway Limited Paragon 3 HO-Scale NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson(#5344 Spoked Drivers, Paragon 4 Sound DC/DCC, Smoke)

In the summer of 1934, J-1e Hudson #5344 was pulled from service and sent to West Albany to be fitted with the first sheet metal shroud in America.    Painted gun-metal gray with aluminum trim, the locomotive was named “Commodore Vanderbilt”, after the successful US businessman who previously owned the NYC railroad.
 
Developed by the Case School of Applied Science, the shroud covered the locomotive and tender.  The shroud was not just for looks, but rather was well-planned and functional.  Hinged panels made maintenance points accessible, and a grilled recess on top of the cowling aided the updraft of smoke.  Two major benefits of streamlining were improved air flow and improved insulation.  Engineers estimate a 2% aid to air flow and the shell certainly minimizes heat loss. Unfortunately the disadvantages of increased weight and extra maintenance tended to outweigh the benefits.  

The Commodore Vanderbilt had her inaugural trip on February 19, 1935.  After working for about 8 months, she was sent to West Albany Shops for further improvements.  Boiler pressure was increased to 250 lbs, roller bearings were applied to the side rods, and disc drivers replaced the original spoked drivers.   #5344 maintained this appearance until July 1939, when she was returned to the shops again and given a shroud similar to the “Dreyfuss Hudsons”. 

 In this production, we are offering models of the Vandy Hudson in her original appearance with spoked drivers, and also in her later and longer-lasting appearance with roller-bearing siderods and disc drivers.   We will deliver the models ready to run on 18″ curves.  To accomplish this, we have removed two small pieces of shrouding at the front, and the locomotives will have a modified rear trailing truck.  The two shroud pieces and a prototypically accurate trailing truck are included in the box, and can be easily installed as desired.   Each of our Vandy Hudson models has a die cast boiler and tender body, and all models come with our Paragon4 DC/DCC Sound System with synchronized puffing smoke and integral GoPack capacitor.   

Model Features:

• ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System

• Synchronized Puffing Smoke with Chuff Sound

• Variable Puffing Smoke Intensity and timing

• Integral DCC Decoder with Back EMF for Industry Best Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC

• Precision Drive Mechanism engineered for continuous heavy load towing and smooth slow speed operation

• 5-Pole Can Motor with Skew Wound Armature

• Heavy Die Cast Boiler, Tender Body, and Chassis for Increased Tractive Effort

• Premium Caliber Painting with Authentic Paint Scheme

• Prototypical Light Operation with Separately Controllable Headlight, Reverse Light, and Cab Light

• Factory-installed Engineer and Fireman Figures

• Prototypically Accurate Models for As-Delivered and In-Service Appearances

• Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Ladders, Piping, Cab Glass, Whistle, Brass Bell, and Many Others

• Equipped with Rubber Traction Tires for Increased Pulling Power

• Recommended Minimum Radius:  18 inches

• Accurate Prototypical Sounds for the NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Locomotive

Orders must be placed by 9/15/2022 

Shipping date December 2022
If you miss these they won’t be available again!!!
Great Discount For NYCSHS Members
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You Don’t Want To Miss

This New & Exciting NYCS Book That

Will Soon Be On Its Way To The Printer

This book has 384 pages of interesting NYCS

photos, information and drawings. 

It is a must for any true NYCS fan or modeler.

Don’t miss out on this book!! 

When they are gone, they are gone!!

Written and published by John Ham.

Click Here To View & Order Online

Click Here To Download Form To Mail In With A Check

The cover photo for this quarter’s edition is from Seth Lakin’s article “NYC NW2 Switchers – Part 2”. Tom Long provides “Modeling an ACF Baggage/Coach in N-Scale”.  Jeff Mann tells us about “Building a NYCS 4’ X 6’ Layout”. The Tool Shop showcases an interesting new tool by Brian Marotta.  Hank Falken, age 98, creates a NYC Big four Caboose in F-Scale”. Chuck Beargie continues his “Modeling a Small Midwestern Town Along a NYC Branchline, Part 4”. Thomas Lange shares “Modeling The Highline on a Budget”. Phil Darkins explains “What Lies Beneath”. Nick Ariemma snaps “2022 Convention Photos”. And you also get all the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Members Photos”, “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the July 2022 edition.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!
 3rd Qtr. 2022 Edition

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It Was A Great Convention

If you weren’t there, we are sorry you missed it!!!!

Banquet Guest Speaker

John Taibi

Co-author of the current NYCSHS book

Hojack – Remembering The RW&O

Railroad and Division

Mr. Taibi is a well respected railroad historian, author and enthusiast. People have said of his talks, “It’s a joy to listen to a man who’s so passionate about his work and so good at it and a master of Power-Point presentations.” He is a retired postal worker from Long Island, who developed a love affair with the old Ontario and Western railroad so much that he purchased and refurbished the old O&W station in Munnsville,NY and now resides there with his wife, Barbara.  He has authored 120 articles and over ten books on the history of railroads in central New York State, with a predominance of his work focused on the New York, Ontario and Western Railway. His most recent books published by the NYCSHS include Silver Rails – Through the Heart of the Park and the Hojack book. Mr. Taibi not only covers the railroad itself but the region and the affects that the railroad has had on it and its people. His publications are noted as being well researched with many pictures to aid the understanding.

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Covid 19 protocol will be dictated by NY state regulations at the time of the convention. Albany county is currently a level “Low – Green” area.

Don’t Miss This Chance To Meet

With NYCS Fans And Modelers

Train Show Is Free Admission and Free Parking

Dealer Table Registration Form Click Here

The cover photo for this quarter’s edition is from Steve Lasher’s article “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”. Charlie Crawford provides “Upgrading an Atlas/Kato RS3”.  The NYCSHS receives Jim Welsh’s collection donation. Seth Lakin begins a three-part series on “NYC NW2 Switchers”. “The Tool Shop” showcases a couple of interesting new tools.  Joe Rothwell continues his “O-Scale Live Steam NYCS Hudson Chassis, Part 2”. Bob Chapman shares “Building Westerfield’s 70-Ton USRA Hopper”. William Botkin “Modeling A NYC 60’ Heavyweight Baggage Car”. And you also get all the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Members Photos”, “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the April 2022 edition.

The layout depicted on page 128 of this issue labeled as Andy Claremont’s Bellview & Schenectady Railroad is in fact  Andy’s Rutland layout.  Don Kloss’s Bellview & Schenectady Railroad is not pictured but will be open for tours on Friday, May 13 from the convention.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!
 2nd Qtr. 2022 Edition

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Pieces Of NYCS History

Rusting NYCS Original S-1 Prototype and the only

remaining NYCS T-motor to finally be moved!!

After years of worry by NYCS fans and historians, these locos, owned by the Danbury Railway Museum are going to be moved and preserved.

Check out the full story by clicking here.

Read more about this exciting project by click here.

We No Longer Have Any Left !!!!

Sorry You Missed Out.

HOJACK is the definitive story of the historic and surviving contemporary lines of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad and – after its 1891 acquisition by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad – the RW&O Division. The word Hojack is a term of endearment that has always meant the RW&O railroad past, and even present lines.

At its height, the RW&O Division was comprised of just over 700 miles of trackage, which spanned the length and breadth of upstate New York. The RW&O railroad and division extended from the Adirondacks to the Niagara Escarpment, and from the Mohawk River Valley to the St. Lawrence River and on into Canada via Massena.

To satisfactorily present all of this, HOJACK is composed of 12 chapters, totaling 768 pages, upon which are displayed 1,392 images (266 color) – maps, black and white photographs, color photographs, drawings, and ephemera. Because of this, Authors Peter Gores and John Taibi, along with the assistance of David Link and Richard Palmer can authoritatively proclaim that HOJACK is a complete work regarding its presentation of historic fact and current presence supported by the above imagery.

This is a fascinating book about an extremely interesting part of the NYCS.  The authors have produced over 55 books dealing with railroading’s history, mostly within New York State. We know what makes a book interesting and informative. HOJACK does this as well.

The first article for this quarter’s edition is from Noel Widdifield, who shares the “A NYC Operating Session on Pete LaGuardia’s Layout”. Dave Staplin returns with ”Part 2 Upgrading and Air Conditioning A Branchline Coach”. Steve Lasher explains a”Wnow Swite & the Deven Swarves”.  Bob Shaw provides a final article with “Ideas To Light Up A Town” in his “O-Gauge Model Railroading” regular feature. Noel Widdifield continues his regular feature, “The NYCentral Modeler Tool Shop”. Dennis Regan shares the “14th Annual St. Louis RPM”.  “Building a NYC Mark II Flexi-Van in O-scale, Part 3”, by Russ Briggs is a continuing story.  In his first article in a long time, Richard Karnes returns with “20th Century Limited in S-Scale”.

And you also get all of the regular features with “NYCSHS RPO,” “Extra Board,” “What’s New,” and “The Observation Car.” All in the October 2021 edition.

If you haven’t been reading this NYCSHS magazine, you have been missing out on a lot of NYCS action.  Each edition contains five to seven articles covering different scales of NYCS modeling, a section reviewing all new NYCS models being offered by manufacturers for the quarter, letters and emails from members and readers, the latest news on models being offered by the NYCSHS at 20% discounts, and a variety of other information about modeling and happenings at the NYCSHS.

The magazine is free, and all you need to do to read or download it is go to the NYCSHS website. To do that, go to www.NYCSHS.org. Then put your curser on the “Modeling Resources” button and drop down to the “NYCentral Modeler” tab.  Then just follow the instruction on the page.   ENJOY!!

1^st Qtr. 2022 Edition
 

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Take A Look!!!

From Grand Central to Albany –

New York Central’s Water Level

Route

Over the years numerous books have been produced depicting trains along the old New York Central Main Line between New York City and Albany. Early ones dealt mainly with locomotive and equipment roster shots with some fine scenic views tossed in here and there. More recent publications deal with modern day diesel and electric trains and the photo quality in most are really good. Several fine books have been done recently regarding the days of Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak, and the MTA.

The focus of this book on the Central’s “Glory Years” using a multitude of magnificent steam and early diesel photos taken along the Water Level Route by some of the most noted rail photographers of the 20th Century. Many of the images within have not previously been published and their original negatives and prints have been graciously loaned to the author by different Historical Societies and collectors to scan and present to readers on the pages within.

This 336 page volume contains not only superb New York Central photos, but images of connecting railroads and industries of all sorts that were served by the Central in one capacity or another. There are even mining railroads that we had known little about before doing our extensive research.

There are more than 650 images between the covers. We hope you will be taking this trip up the scenic Hudson Valley with us and enjoy it as much as we have.

Here are some member reviews!!

I think this is John Ham’s best book ever, and I have them all.  He has included many historical photographs I wouldn’t have thought existed, and he has included subjects, such as the Albany & Hudson Fast LIne, that I never knew about.  His coverage of some major on-line industries is also welcome.  This is a ‘must have” for anyone who cherishes the memory of the New York Central System. 

Rich Stoving, Wellsboro, PA

NYCSHS Director Emeritus, Editor, Central Headlight

“Having grown up on the west end of the system, I found this fantastic book to be full of interesting facts and pictures.  The picture quality is excellent.  I especially liked the layout by stations progressing from GCT to Albany.  If you don’t already own this terrific book, you should add it to your library.”

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With A Check

MSRP $79.95  NYCSHS Members’ Price $59.96 

and that is 25% off MSRP!

Shipping is extra and Ohio residents pay 8% Ohio Sales Tax

The book is expected to be released in late October 2021!!

It is Never Too Early to Renew!!!

NYCSHS 2022 Is Just Around

The Corner

Don’t Miss Out on a Year of

NYCSHS Excitement!!!

You can renew online now by

Clicking Here

Or

Download a membership renewal

form by Clicking Here

If you would like to join us online Click Here

Or

To download a mail in new

membership application,

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And while you are at it, order the new

2022 NYCSHS Calendar

The NYCSHS 2022 Calendar is now available with eleven color and three black & white photographs.

With our New York Central calendar for 2022, we’ve done more than to provide you with the days of the week, some historical dates, and some nice train pictures. We want to take you on a trip around the vast New York Central System with stunning photos that are evocative of the seasons. In February, you’ll sympathize with a South Bend operator as he hoops up orders to The Chicagoan in bitterly cold South Bend, Indiana; and in April you’ll see a conductor and rear brakeman conversing while their local freight pauses in still-chilly Hudson, Michigan. In July you’ll feel the heat of The Bronx as a P-motor wheels a two-car Empire Service train past what is left of Mott Haven; and in December you’ll be glad to be warm at home when you observe a classic Hudson departing nearly snowed-in Buffalo Central Terminal. Our calendar will also take you inside Harmon’s roundhouse as two Century-styled Hudsons are prepared for another westward voyage. And our two covers will help you to recollect the final years of the Age of Steam. All this from fine, high-resolution photos carefully selected from hundreds of candidates.

Price is still $16.00.

Free shipping on US and Canadian orders, and Ohio residents pay 8% Ohio Sales Tax

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New Items in the Collinwood Shop

Dining A La Pullman – The History of Pullman

Dining Service, 1866 – 1968

Following up on his successful sleeping “hotel” cars of the 1860s, George Pullman invented the first railroad dining car, starting a century-long tradition of the Pullman Company providing its passengers with restaurant-quality meals on rails. This is the first telling of the story of Pullman’s dining service, with colorful menus, tasteful china and silver, popular recipes, and extensive interviews with retired Pullman chefs and waiters who served opera singers, actors, businessmen, and even the President of the United States. Authors Mulligan, Tilp, and Zimmermann explore the history, equipment, food, and people that made this unique era of travel possible. Tilp also covers the story of his company’s 1968 purchase of the Pullman restaurant-sleeper Lotos Club and the subsequent restoration and operation of what remains the most authentically restored Pullman car in the United States. Recipes for numerous classic Pullman meals and a selection of complete, historic Pullman menus round out this definitive volume on Pullman’s culinary legacy.

Paperback – 172 Pages

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