Bringing the New York Central into Train Simulator
The New York Central was the most iconic railroad to operate in the eastern United States until its demise with the Pennsylvania Railroad under the Penn Central name. The new route currently in the works for Train Simulator "The Racetrack Aurora-Chicago" would be great to finally get some vintage New York Central locomotives into the game with their famous locomotives.
Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Rowland Smith.
The iconic Hudson steam locomotive was the primary work horse of the Central. Capable of high speed passenger service and redesigned streamlined variations handling the most famous passenger trains of the 20th century, the 20th Century Limited and the Empire State Express. All were doomed for the scrapyard, A common occurance with New York Central steam locomotives making them extremely rare.
I took this during a trip out to the New York Central Railroad Museum, Elkhart Indiana.
The Mohawk (what the central called their 4-8-2's) was their jack of all trades locomotive. They could handle high speed freight and passenger service and were used equally in both roles. Designed to be an upgrade to the hudson early models were often modified hudsons lengthened with more drivers and equipment. 3001 as shown here is the largest New York Central steam locomotive left on the planet and the staff at the New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart Indiana have done an excellent job preserving the engine.
Photograph copyright Ed Wittekind and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.
Photograph copyright Steve Patterson and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.
It would be interesting to see one of the most iconic railroad's in the United States finally have the chance to make an appearance in the Train Simulator series. The New York Central had such an important role in America's railroad history being the primary way to travel to the midwest from the east coast in under a day, something unheard of at the time this railroad peaked.