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New York Central Steam Locomotives

The classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! The New York Central steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of classes. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of NYC's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

Like its rival, Pennsylvania Railroad, entire libraries could be written on the New York Central System (the �System� was included to recognize the markets the railroad served and the number of railroads which comprised it) and its history ranging from its famous passenger trains (like the 20th Century Limited) and commuter operations to its fast, efficient, high-speed freight services. For history�s sake you cannot really speak of the New York Central System without also mentioning the PRR (and vice versa). It�s quite amazing how similar, outside of operations, both were. They were institutions, two of the largest railroads in the country, and the class of the industry for decades.

If more information on New York Central steam locomotives comes available I will very much include it here. Also, it should be noted that several NYC steamers remain preserved today. To learn more about these locomotives please click here.

Class B

The NYC's Class B designated its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class C

The NYC's Class C designated its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class F

The NYC's Class F designated its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class G

The NYC's Class G designated its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class H

The NYC's Class H denoted its fleet of over 600 2-8-2 Mikados ranging from Class H-1 to H-10.

Class I

The NYC's Class I designated its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics.

Class K

The NYC's Class K designated its fleet of over 1,000 4-6-2 Pacifics ranging from Class K-2 to K-14.

Class L

The NYC's Class L designated its fleet of over 500 4-8-2 Mountains ranging from Class L-1 to L-4.

Class J

The NYC's Class J was its fleet of 195 4-6-4 Hudsons, the locomotive that defined the railroad.

Class S

The NYC's Class S designated its fleet of 4-8-4 Niagaras (more commonly known as the Northern).

For much more information about New York Central steam locomotives please visit SteamLocomotive.com, the online source for steam locomotives (detailed information can be found there about several of NYC's steam classes).

If you're interested in learning more about some of the New York Central steam locomotives you might be interested in the book New York Central Steam Power West of Buffalo - Volume 2 by author Richard Stoving. While the book is not a definitive encyclopedia on the NYC's all-time steam fleet it does cover in detail the railroad's western lines and what type of steamers could commonly be found on that part of the system. If you are interested in NYC steam this book is certainly a good start. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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