Collectors' Item 2
by Omer Lavallee
The efficient combination of
high speed and adequate power characterized 65 familiar 2800 class 4-6-4 type
engines. This type of locomotive was popularized by the New York Central Railroad, who
appended the class name "Hudson" to them, after the river which the NYC parallels
between New York and Albany.
The "Hudson" type first appeared on Canadian Pacific lines in
1929 and 1930 when 20 locomotives were built for heavy passenger services requiring
reasonably high speeds. These original units, of classes H1a and H1b were unstreamlined,
but the remaining 45 units built in and after 1937 incorporated the
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distinctive Canadian Pacific
semi-streamlining in their design.
One of them, No. 2850, was specially selected to haul the 1939 Royal
Train and was refinished in royal blue and aluminum for the purpose, with a royal crown at
the front of each running board. The illustration portrays it in this livery, though the
standard tuscan red paint scheme was later restored. Subsequently, all of the 45
semi-streamlined 4-6-4s were provided with similar
running-board crowns, in token of the distinction carried by No. 2850; thus,
locomotives of classes H1c, H1d, and H1e came to be known as "Royal Hudsons".
A number of H1s have been preserved for historical reasons, notably No.
2850, the original "Royal Hudson".
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SPECIFICATIONS
Class
Numbers
Builder
Year
Serial Nos.
Cylinders (Dia x stroke)
Drivers (Dia)
Pressure (psi)
Tractive effort (Lbs)
Weight (Lbs)
Without booster
With booster
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H1a
2800-09
MLW
1929
68058-67
11 x 30
75
275
45,300
360,000
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H1b
2810-19
MLW
1930
68529-38
22 x 30
75
275
45,300
360,000
369,000
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H1c
2820-49
MLW
1937
69951-80
22 x 30
75
275
45,300
355,000
366,000
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Class
Numbers
Builder
Year
Serial Nos.
Cylinders (Dia x stroke)
Drivers (Dia)
Pressure (psi)
Tractive effort (Lbs)
Weight (Lbs)
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H1d
2850-59
MLW
1938
69100-09
222 x 30
75
275
45,300
355,000
366,000
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H1e
2860-64
MLW
1940
69292-96
22 x 30
75
275
45,300
366,000
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