Looking Back: “Pride of the Central”

This blog entry offers a behind-the-scenes look at my 1989 painting of a New York Central Hudson locomotive, “Pride of the Central.”  The scene I chose to paint shows J3a “Super Hudson” No. 5405 exiting the twin tunnel bore on the 4 track mainline at Oscawanna, New York, at a full gallop. This thoroughbred’s main claim to fame was its speed, having pulled the 20th Century Limited between Chicago and New York City in 16 hours.

My childhood memories at Detroit’s Michigan Central Terminal inspired me to paint this beautiful locomotive. My mother worked here in the engineers’ payroll department for the Michigan Central; on occasion, my father would take me down to visit her. It was here that I got my first close look at these coal breathing giants. The vivid memory still exists to this day. It is really hard to believe that not one of these magnificent machines were ever saved, but their legacy will live on forever.

“Pride of the Central” at 12 hrs Development

 

“Pride of the Central” at 45 hrs Development

 

“Pride of the Central at 162 hrs development

 

“Pride of the Central” at 300 hrs Development

 

“Pride of the Central” Complete at 370 hrs Development

 

History of the New York Central Hudson Locomotive

Out of a veil of steam and coal dust, “Pride of the Central”, J3a, Extra 5405 West storms out of the twin tunnel bore at Oscawanna, New York in September 1937. Take this opportunity to own a print of Tom Rock’s classic railroad painting.

Pricing:

• Limited Edition Prints (750) – $50.00
• Signed Only – $25.00
• Limited Edition Proofs (50) – $70.00
• 11″x14″ Decorator Print – $15.00
• 8″x10″ Decorator Print – $10.00
• 5″x7″ Decorator Print – $5.00

Shipping to be determined with order. To purchase a print, please follow this link to my website: T.D.R. Productions.

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Rock on Trains © 2022, Tom Rock + T.D.R. Productions.  All rights reserved.  Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Tom Rock is strictly prohibited.

ERIE Railway Steam Feature for May 2021

Featured ERIE Railway steam subjects for this May post include various locations in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania & Indiana:

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  ERIE #1613 – Secaucus, NJ – 7/4/38 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #1675 – Binghamton, NY – 5/29/48 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #3040 – Hawley, PA – 9/26/37 (Credit: Gary Everhart)

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  ERIE #3047 – Meadville, PA – 1928 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #3302 – Hammond, IN – 6/27/47 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #3305 – Meadville, PA – 6/29 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #3381 – Port Jervis, NY – 8/48 (Credit: Larry Berger)

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  ERIE #4032 – Meadville, PA – 1928 (Credit: Larry Berger)

All photos courtesy of www.rr-fallenflags.org.

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Rock on Trains © 2021, Tom Rock + T.D.R. Productions. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Tom Rock is strictly prohibited.

Depot Doings: Framingham, MA / Galion, OH / Mackinaw City, MI / Muncie, IN / Chatham, NY / Elkhart, IN / Bucyrus, OH / Sandusky, OH

Featured depots this February are from the New York Central System in Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana & New York:

NYC Depot – Framingham, MA – 2/29/00 (Credit: Dick Leonhardt)

NYC Depot – Galion, OH – 12/22/78 (Credit: Gary Morris)

NYC Depot – Mackinaw City, MI – 9/1/78 (Credit: Brian Woodruff)

NYC Depot – Muncie, IN – 5/8/88 (Credit: S.L. Dixon)

NYC Depot – Chatham, NY – 8/96 (Credit: Dick Leonhardt)

NYC Depot – Elkhart, IN – 9/21/01 (Credit: Dick Leonhardt)

NYC Depot – Bucyrus, OH – 10/4/13 (Credit: Stu Nicholson)

NYC Depot – Sandusky, OH – 10/4/13 (Credit: Stu Nicholson)

All photos courtesy of Railroad Picture Archives.

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Rock on Trains © 2021, Tom Rock + T.D.R. Productions. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Tom Rock is strictly prohibited.

Delaware & Hudson Steam Feature for April 2020

Featured Delaware & Hudson steam subjects for this April post include various locations in Pennsylvania and New York:

D&H #536 – Oneonta, NY – 11/1/47 (Credit: Chuck Maxium)

D&H #824 – Colonie, NY – 6/15/35 (Credit: Gary Everheart)

D&H #1013 – Carbondale, PA – 5/30/49 (Credit: Chuck Maxium)

D&H #1513 – Mechanicville, NY – 5/27/41 (Credit: Gary Everheart)

D&H #1530 – Carbondale, PA – 5/31/48 (Credit: Chuck Maxium)

D&H #1534 – Date & Location Unknown (Credit: Gary Everheart)

All photos courtesy of www.rr-fallenflags.org/.

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Rock on Trains © 2020, Tom Rock + T.D.R. Productions. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Tom Rock is strictly prohibited.

Depot Doings: Montville, CT / Kittitas, WA / Wallace, NY / St. Matthews, SC / Davenport, IA / Danbury, CT

Hope you enjoy this month’s mix of restored depot photos courtesy of GodFatherRails:

Central Vermont depot – Montville, CT – 5/24/67 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

Milwaukee Road depot – Kittitas, WA – 9/10/67 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western depot – Wallace, NY – 9/7/53 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

Southern Railway depot – St. Matthews, SC – 9/17/70 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

Rock Island depot – Davenport, IA – 5/15/67 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

New Haven depot – Danbury, CT – 10/4/53 (Credit: John Dziobko Jr.)

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Rock on Trains © 2020, Tom Rock + T.D.R. Productions. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Tom Rock is strictly prohibited.