Out of the huge number of those Hudsons and Niagras built, I cannot believe a single one didn't get saved to at least be put on display in any museums.

Every day when I got off the school bus, the 20th Century Limited passed by our home, through the rock cut and around the curve at Spuyten Duyvil and up the Hudson to it's awaiting Hudson. On weekends, my granddad and I would watch the "great steel fleet" arrive at Harmon, where the huge J-3 Hudsons backed down to the trains.. Then it was off to Peekskill to watch the Century rush by at speed, an incredible, never-to-be-forgotten sight for a youngster like me. The most spectacular steamer ever!

In 1954 or 1955 I spent the summer with my fathers parents in Eclectic Ala. My father was in the Air Force, stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton. Robbie Darnell my cousin and my grandmother ( we called her Mother Mary) came up to visit and took me back. We left Dayton Station about five on the Cleveland Cincinnati Express. Dayton was a two level station and the track from the north curved to the right as it entered the station complex. I will never forget the sight and sounds and smells of that Hudson (Big Four) as it rolled into the station pulling a long string of green heavyweight coaches. The rods were clanking and water was pouring from the injector overflow- the station rumbled as it passed me- AND the engineer gave a friendly wave as they all did in those days. That was one of those pivotal moments as a young man I never forgot- such beauty and majesty!

My dad worked for the NYC from the day he got out of the army. I fell in love with the Hudson and have them on my model railroad to this day 💕

My Grandfather worked for the NY Central System from 1916 to 1961. My Great grandfather, who was also a RR man, got him the job right after he got back from being part of General Pershing's expedition into Mexico after Pancho Villa. That job kept him from being recalled in 1917 and out of the hell that was WWI. He LOVED the steamers and had no love at all for the diesels, he said they had no souls. Thanks for the video, I know Gramps would have loved it, too.

I remember in 1951 going to the Poughkeepsie Station waiting for Aunts and Uncles from the city to arrive on one of these Big boys. What a thrill to hear the bell and see the steam and watch the wheels come to a stop

This film and SP's "This is My Railroad" are my two all time favorites. I've watched this so countless times........ thanks for putting this up

I'm 14 and I would give anything to see these beautiful class J3s in action.

Thank you up loader for sharing this video. My grandfather drove steam locomotives and diesels for the NYC. He would have wanted me to see this.

What a great video !!!! 4 -6-4 Hudson's Rolling along the Hudson river was a sight to see !!! Thank you,Ken

I'm glad to see this again; thanks for posting it. I had a number of these informative NYC educational films on VHS tapes, but a

I thought I knew a fair amount about how a steam locomotive operates but I learned quite a bit from this video.

Great shots of a mechanical stoker in action, and very interesting the care the Central put into getting the best out of these engines, including the use of graded coal.

Thank you for making this wonderful film available. Steam had all but disappeared by the time I left elementary (grammar) school, but I'll never forget watching (at trackside with my late father) the steam locomotives of Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe.

Watching this film and reading the comments..ugh to be alive during the age of steam would have been an experience for sure.

This video totally takes me back. It reminds me of why I am such an undying fan of 1940s technology. In those days, people did actual work, and things were made up of actual parts, you know, like metal things that went around and did stuff. And, make no mistake-- none of it was crude. A J3 Hudson, like a P51 airplane, is a phenomenally high-tech piece of machinery, even by today's standards. Get rid of all the computers and try to make something. You could not do better today than what they had then.

My Grandfather Dale Dorn was a locomotive engineer who operated (man handled) a New York Central passenger ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 #2913 out of the Beach Grove Indiana shops. ALCO Mountain Mohawk 2442 was the first production Steam Engine using Timken Roller Bearings. A huge deal back in the 20's that we all ride on today!

My father was a locomotive engeniere on the N Y C railroad. I had the chance to see these locomotives up close when I was a kid

I was lucky enough to experience these wonderful engines in the 1950's when I was very young.

This is literally the best video on youtube. Ever. Thank you.