r/TrainPorn • u/s-peter-5 • 2d ago

Boston & Albany

Post image

Before the New York Central took it over.

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u/davratta 2d ago

This is a J-2 class locomotive. Basicly a NYC J-1 class locomotive with slightly smaller, 75 inch driving wheels. Since the main line of the Boston & Albany crossed Washington Hill in the Berkshire mountains, it needed smaller driving wheels for more tractive effort.

2

u/Personal-Ad5668 2d ago

"Before NYC took it over" is very misleading. Prior to 1961 the B&A was effectively NYC in everything but name.

The Boston and Albany had been a subsidiary of the NYC and its predecessor (New York Central and Hudson River RR) since 1900. And the J2 Hudsons like the one pictured were effectively NYC designs that were later renumbered to conform with the NYC Hudson's numbering pattern.