ay 1993 NEWSLETTER OF THE MOHAWK & HUDSON CHAPTER, N.R.H.S. THE CALL BOARD 3

THIy

A C! yunnBy Don Barbeau

Depending on the perspective, purposeand/or perspicacity of the presenter, the ac-count of events near Batavia (NY) on May 10,1893 may read as follows:

The high-drivered, smoke eructing steedof steel known as the 999, with relentless

acceleration, was driving toward destiny. Themostcapableengineman of that era inched thethrottle wider and wider until the "EmpireState Express" had traveled in excess of 100miles-per -hour. It was humanity' s first eclipseof the century mark and the rat race quickenedirrevocably. The 999's accomplishment was

truly fabulous! But was it also partly fabulous(in the other sense of the word)?

When built at West Albany in early 1893,the 62-ton 4-4-0 was fitted with 86-inch diam-eter drive wheels. The size of the driversrepresented a diameter increase of from twoto six inches over those applied to the

.•.~------ ,

The 999 became a symbol of speed as she broke the century mark. Here she is at Grand Central Station.(Collection of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania)

4 THE CALL BOARD NEWSLETTER OF THE MOHAWK & HUDSON CHAPTER, N.R.H.S.

The locomotive shop atWest Albany probably hadn't changed muchbetween the time this photo was taken and when the 999 wasconstructed about fifteen years later. It wouldn't be long, though,before the locomotive shop was rebuilt to accommodate largerlocomotives brought by the rapidly changing technology of aprosperous railroad industry. (Collection of Dick Barrett)

various locomotives which had already poisedthe industry on the threshold of 100 mphoperations. Like most locomotives of hertime, she was small enough to still accommo-date Stephenson valve gear, which had thespecific ability to increase the lead (advancesteam admission) as the gear was hooked up.The combination of the higher drivers and theincreasable lead leaves no doubt in my mindthat the 999 as builthad the potential to exceed100 mph. Whether or not the ''Empire StateExpress" actually hit 112.5 mph on that fate-ful day, I have no method of determining. Butregardless of the specific clocking, I remaincontent that the century mark was exceededon May 10, 1893 by New York Central andHudson River Railroad Class N 4-4-0 No.999.

I also remain confident that the time wornaccountof engineman Charles Hogan inchingout the throttle wider and wider is bogus. Noless an authority than the Pyle-National Com-pany early this century proclaimed it highly

improbable that any steam locomotive couldattain maximum speed at full throttle. Hold itright there! If 01' Charlie wasn't working the

May 1993

throttle, what was he doing? Don' t tell me the999 did it all of her own free will! CharlesHogan was skillfully working the Johnson barto hook up the valve gear. That's how steamlocomotives accelerate. He may have workedthe 999 full throttle to overcome inertia whenthe train was leaving the station, but he soonbegan hooking up the valve gear and gradu-ally backing off the throttle. I know it lacksdramatics, but indicator card readings docu-ment that from half to no more than threequarter throttle, when the gear is hooked up,allows for the fastest running by further re-ducing cylinder backpressure. Anotherthwartto theatrics is that exhaust steam fully ex-panded draws very little smoke. This supportsallegations that a photo lab added the smoketo photographs of the racing 999.

But this is the centenary of the 999' s greattriumph, and I wish only to honor the immor-tal speed queen. Dramatics are probably pref-erable to technical explanations. So let' smakea deal. I'll omit additional particulars as towhy 999 possessed super ferroequine speed,if you will acknowledge that she did approxi-mately what history claims she did on May10,1893. And I'll even throw in apromise notto chortle derisively when I read the next tenaccounts of Charlie pulling the throttle fartherand farther as the smoke poured furiouslyfrom the stack. Agreed? Agreed!

999's SpecificationsAs she rolled out of West Albany, the

ClassN 4-4-0 measured as follows in work-ing order:Engine Weight 62 tonsTender Weight .40 tonsTotal Weight 102 tonsBoiler Pressure 180 Ibs.Driver Diameter 86 ins.Tractive Effort 15,415 Ibs.

The 999 was photographed by the author on a rainy day as theSeptember, 1959 railroad exhibit in Albany is being assembled.

May 1993 NEWSLETTER OF THE MOHAWK & HUDSON CHAPTER, 'N.R.H.S. THE: CALL BOARD 5

The 999 and the New York Central's last remaining "Mohawk" steam locomotive, No. 2933, are seen inNovember of 1960 at what remains of the Selkirk roundhouse. The 999 later went to the Museum ofScience and Industry in Chicago, while the 2933was sent to the Museum of Transport in St. Louis. (Photoby Don Barbeau)

~EWYORK(§NTRAL

o

•e 999 was placed on publice lbltlon at Selkirk in June of

S. Though her drivers, pilot, or tank had been replaced

cated and a number ofges had been made,

-n known as a symbols .ee and progress.

Ue4::t"1on 'ok Barrett)