[Noisemaker]

Nice! Now what kind of engine is that? It looks electric, but no pantographs I can see?

[captain_bazza]

The original 'no smoking in public places' rule?

Cheers Bazza

[dcarleton]

Walter Conklin, on 19 April 2011 - 09:18 AM, said:

The reason why the New York Central operated the electric locomotive for a short portion of the trip is because New York City eventually barred railroads from operating steam locomotives in the city.

I would be interested to know if this prohibition is still on the books .

Sincerely,
Walter

It was (probably still is) a municipal ordinance banning "all locomotives which emit fumes" from Manhattan. However...

After dieselization the New York Central and successors have ignored this rule when they saw the need to do so. In the mid 80s I was working for an engineering consultant in mid-town, and one of our clients was located in the air-rights development over the Grand Central Terminal. There was a shaft running up through the building, and it always smelled strongly of oil smoke. So our guys concluded that it must be a chimney, until they realized that it didn't connect with the building's boilers, etc. I suggested that it might be a ventilating shaft for the railroad. So our people sent a letter to Metro North requesting information.

Metro North promptly replied that since there was an ordinance in place banning all locomotives which emit fumes, the odor could not be coming from their trains. I have wondered ever since - The person who wrote that letter, did they have a straight face, or were they rolling on the floor laughing?

David Carleton

[johnfrum]

If I remember correctly, it was actually the New York state legislature that banned steam locomotives from Manhattan because there were several nasty accidents in the Park Avenue tunnel due to poor visibility from all the smoke. That would have been back around 1900.

-JF-

[captain_bazza]

@Walter: in between riveting.

@David: great story, thank you.

Cheers Bazza

[D&RGW]

johnfrum, on 19 April 2011 - 04:56 PM, said:

If I remember correctly, it was actually the New York state legislature that banned steam locomotives from Manhattan because there were several nasty accidents in the Park Avenue tunnel due to poor visibility from all the smoke. That would have been back around 1900.

-JF-

Yep, that sounds right... I believe I originally read that in some Locomotive Encyclopedia under the NYC section. It'd be interesting to look into the original documentation...

Walter, is this still a WIP or will it never be released? It would be a great route to have; there's nothing (despite what some freight people may say) like pulling first-class varnish at high speeds over such amazing scenery! And with one of the beautiful Hudsons or Niagras up front... well, now we're talking!

Anyway, cheers!