PHOTO GALLERY

The track pans at Lydick, Indiana, where this photo was taken, were situated at MP 459.5, 22.7 miles from Elkart and 4 miles east of Terre Coupee elevator but only about two miles east of the Terre Coupee westward siding used for CSS interchange (the mileposte location was at the pump station at Vine Creek, MP 444.74 in current mileposting). There were two sets of pans on the Division, the second set being at Chesterton. The Lydick pans were only 20 miles west of Elkhart Yard and a train originating there would not need a drink. However, this is a solid train of C&O-originated coal junctioned at Toledo, and L-4a 3110 (built Lima, December, 1942) has come through from Stanley Yard with just a crew change. The date is May 26, 1952. The heavy black smoke reflects the fireman over-compensating for the drop in steam pressure as the drag on the water scoop calls for a lot more throttle. He has hit the stoker valves and piled on green coal much too fast. The overflow blasting out the bottom of the tank is by design-to keep the hydraulic pressure from rupturing the tank. The pumphouse and water tank are on the other side of the the train, with the top of the water tank just visible where the smoke curls down the train level. Note the South Shore closed by to the left of the picture. The 50 L-4a's and L-4b's of 1942-44 were a continuations o9f the highly successful L-3 design with few modifications, making a block of 115 highly productive freight locomotives to expedite war tonnage (besides the 25 dual-service L-3a's).

Photograph from Trackside on New York Central's Western Division 1949-1955 with Sandy Goodrick..

ORDER TODAY

Back to Special Features Photo Gallery