New York Central No. 5344 aka The Commodore Vanderbilt Locomotive 5344 was a class J-1e 4-6-4 steam locomotive, built by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Works in November 1931 for the New York Central Railroad.
New York Central Streamlined Hudson No. 5344 "Commodore Vanderbilt"; December 1934.. 5344, Press Preview, December 14, 1934
This locomotive was designed to haul passenger trains, including the "20th Century Limited" for much of its career.
In December 1934, No. 5344 was given a bathtub streamlined shrouding designed by Carl Kantola. It was Originally fit with 25" x 28" Cylinders with 225 Lbs. PSI. of Boiler Pressure. But was fitted with slightly smaller cylinders (to fit within the streamlined casing), with a higher boiler pressure. By July 1939 the No. 5344 was Re-Streamlined to Henry Dreyfuss’ Streamlined design being the Only Hudson and New York Central Steam Locomotive ever to be Shrouded Twice. At the end of the War in Mid 1945 the Locomotive hit a Sand-filled Dump Truck on a Crossing severley damaging the Shrouding but Minor Damage was done to the Locomotive.
The streamlining was removed permanently in 1945, finally after several more Years into the Late Steam Era the No. 5344 was Retired from service in July 1953 and was almost Preserved but the Attempt Failed as She was eventually Scrapped in Early 1954. Only the headlight remains at Hill's Hobby in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Trivia[]
- 5344 was named Commodore Vanderbilt after a pioneer of the NYC.
- Lionel Trains produced a model of the 5344 known as the 700E from 1937 to 1939 (albeit in a non-streamlined form). The Prewar 700E is one of the most highly sought after products produced by Lionel. Several re-releases of the 700e Hudson's have been made over the years, the most recent being the Vision Line version, released in 2011.
- It is the only NYC Hudson to have been streamlined twice.
- The color of the Commodore Vanderbilt is "Dark Metallic Gray" which was Similar to "Gunship Gray".
- The #5344 was the very last J-1e built for the New York Central, being Delivered to the Railroad in December 1931. 
- The Locomotive was considered to be the Most Famous Locomotive on the New York Central at one time.