New York Central No. 3042 is an L-3b class 4-8-2 "Mohawk" type steam locomotive. It was built by Lima in December 1940 for the New York Central railroad.
Like all the Mohawks on the New York Central Railroad, No. 3042 was designed to haul passenger trains, including the famous 20th Century Limited. It was often used to haul freight trains, due to the Hudsons being occupied with pulling passenger trains; in later years, diesel-electric locomotives hauled the passenger trains.
At some point in the late 1950s, when the diesels replace steam to take over the NYC, No. 3042 was eventually withdrawn in September 1953 and scrapped a month later. However the tender was saved for non-revenue duty by the New York Central, and it became essentially a large diesel fuel tank car retaining the shape of a steam tender.
Later it was used behind Reading No. 2101 for used on the "American Freedom Train" and was converted into an Auxiliary water tender during its tour, as well as with the "Chessie System Special".
Today it is in the collection of the National New York Central Railroad Museum as RGSX 3001.
Trivia[]
- The Class L-3b engines were numbered 3035–3049.
- When the 2101 was stored in the Silver Grove Roundhouse in Silver Grove, Kentucky, and caught fire the tender is stored but unfortunately the tender was damage also.
- It survived in this modified way in company service into the Penn Central era, when it was relegated (numbered X26168) to a far off corner of the Van Wert, Ohio, railroad yard until purchased by Mr. Ross E. Rowland Jr." for use on the American Freedom Train.
- While the tender is on display at the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana it is coupled behind New York Central No. 3001.
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