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NEW YORK CENTRAL'S COMMODORE VANDERBILT 4-6-4 As the United States staggered out of the economic depression, the management of the New York Central decided to make a commitment to the "Age of Modernism" and streamline one of their steam locomotives. Mr. Karl F. Kantola, an engineer who worked in the New York Central's Motive Power Department, was tasked with designing a streamlined shroud for a J-1 Class 4-6-4, and in two months the design was finished. J-1E Number 5344 (built in 1931 as just another 4-6-4) was just emerging from the West Albany Shops after a complete overhaul and this locomotive was selected as the subject to be streamlined. The rebuilding was completed on December 14, 1934 and Number 5344 emerged from the shop carrying the new streamlining with the name COMMODORE VANDERBILT painted on the side. While some referred to the streamlining as an "inverted bathtub" a number of ingenious features were present on the 4-6-4, including smoke lifters, a canvas partition between engine and tender and covers on the streamlined tender coal bunker that could be moved to load fuel. The locomotive and tender were painted in very dark grey metallic lacquer overall with silver lettering and striping. Mechanically the locomotive was unchanged and kept its spoked drivers. The 4-6-4 was taken to Grand Central Terminal in New York City and placed on display on December 27, 1934 after which it went on an exhibition tour around the vast New York Central System. At the completion of this tour the Number 5344 was placed in 20th Century Limited service on the route from Cleveland to Chicago. The New York Central advertised that Number 5344 was the worlds first streamlined steam locomotive. In mid 1935 the 4-6-4 was again shopped and equipped with Timken roller bearings on the main and s rods and new disk drivers. Number 5344 was already equipped with roller bearings on the engine driver and truck axles. The drivers enhanced the streamlining effect. After these changes the 4-6-4 returned to 20th Century service west of Cleveland. As it turned out the COMMODORE was a testbed for the J-3A class of "Super Hudsons" which were built in the late 1930's with most of the mechanical features of the 5344. Ten J-3A's Numbers 5445-5454 were also streamlined, but to a different design than the 5344. Since maintenance and design consistency were desired, Number 5344 was sent to Collingwood Shop and rebuilt with streamlining matching the J-3A's in July 1939. The modernized 4-6-4 no longer carried the name COMMODORE VANDERBILT on her flanks after this rebuilding. The tender remained slightly different from the new ALCO'S and the 5344 was slightly more powerful than her streamlined sisters. As with the J-3A's, Number 5344 received a new PT tender during the war years. Number 5344 was damaged in a wreck in 1945 and the streamlining was removed in October 1945 at the Collingwood Shops. Bumped from premier assignments by new S-1B 4-8-4's and diesels, the 4-6-4 remained in passenger duties until 1954 when she was withdrawn and sold for scrap. SPECIFICATIONS
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