New York Central and Hudson River Railroad No. 999
Encyclopedia
In the early 1890s, the competition between the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad
s was growing fiercely. Their rivalry was particularly noticeable along their Chicago to New York corridors in the years leading to the Chicago World's Fair
, with both roads trying to provide the most swift service to the fair. The Pennsylvania had upgraded its Pennsylvania Limited with the most modern and efficient rolling stock of the time. The New York Central responded not only with new passenger cars for its Empire State Express
, but a new, faster engine as well.
The 999 was mounted on 86 inches (218.4 cm) diameter driving wheels, and was the first of its kind to have brakes mounted to the front truck. The bands, pipes, and trim were highly polished; the boiler, smokestack, domes, cab, and tender were given a black satin finish, and "Empire State Express" was applied to the sides of the tender in high gold leaf lettering.
No. 999 entered service in May 1893, making the trip from Syracuse, New York
. The Express was recorded traveling at 112.5 mile per hour by unofficial timers during an exhibition run between Batavia and Buffalo on May 10, theoretically making No. 999 the fastest-moving manmade invention of its time and the first object on wheels to exceed 100 mph. However as the recordings were never made by an official and lacked accreditation, the claim of 100 mile per hour could be disputed and should not be taken as fact. Over 3,000 gauge scale replicas (most likely made by the Cagney Brothers and known as therefore "Cagneys") were sold at $1,500 each and shipped to amusement park
s as far away as South Africa
and Thailand
; one such unit, nicknamed the "Little Puffer" is in service today at the Fleischaker Zoo in San Francisco, California
. Manufacturers of electric train sets began putting No. 999 on their locomotives.
Advances in locomotive design, particularly the advent of diesel-electric power, eventually rendered No. 999 obsolete. After touring the nation and making appearances at numerous expositions including the Chicago Railroad Fair
, the unit was retired from service in May, 1952 at which time it was relegated to yard
switching
service in western New York shuttling express service milk cars. At this time, the railroad appeared to turn its back to steam power, and consequently, the majority of their steam engines, including all of their famed Hudsons
, had been scrapped. Fortunately, when the matter of 999 came about, the road saw fit to preserve the famous engine. The New York Central donated the locomotive to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
in 1962, though it did not arrive at the museum until 1968.
Once there, while its preservation was assured, the engine was displayed outside where exposure to elements had taken its toll over the years. In 1993, the museum underwent a major renovation. This project included a cosmetic restoration of number 999, and it was placed inside the museum's main hall. The unit as displayed lacks its original 86" drivers, which were removed sometime after the historic speed run and replaced with smaller diameter driving wheels.
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
s was growing fiercely. Their rivalry was particularly noticeable along their Chicago to New York corridors in the years leading to the Chicago World's Fair
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
, with both roads trying to provide the most swift service to the fair. The Pennsylvania had upgraded its Pennsylvania Limited with the most modern and efficient rolling stock of the time. The New York Central responded not only with new passenger cars for its Empire State Express
Empire State Express
The Empire State Express was one of the named passenger trains and onetime flagship of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad...
, but a new, faster engine as well.
The 999 was mounted on 86 inches (218.4 cm) diameter driving wheels, and was the first of its kind to have brakes mounted to the front truck. The bands, pipes, and trim were highly polished; the boiler, smokestack, domes, cab, and tender were given a black satin finish, and "Empire State Express" was applied to the sides of the tender in high gold leaf lettering.
No. 999 entered service in May 1893, making the trip from Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The Express was recorded traveling at 112.5 mile per hour by unofficial timers during an exhibition run between Batavia and Buffalo on May 10, theoretically making No. 999 the fastest-moving manmade invention of its time and the first object on wheels to exceed 100 mph. However as the recordings were never made by an official and lacked accreditation, the claim of 100 mile per hour could be disputed and should not be taken as fact. Over 3,000 gauge scale replicas (most likely made by the Cagney Brothers and known as therefore "Cagneys") were sold at $1,500 each and shipped to amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s as far away as South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
; one such unit, nicknamed the "Little Puffer" is in service today at the Fleischaker Zoo in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Manufacturers of electric train sets began putting No. 999 on their locomotives.
Advances in locomotive design, particularly the advent of diesel-electric power, eventually rendered No. 999 obsolete. After touring the nation and making appearances at numerous expositions including the Chicago Railroad Fair
Chicago Railroad Fair
The Chicago Railroad Fair was an event organized to celebrate and commemorate 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago, Illinois. It was held in Chicago in 1948 and 1949 along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is often referred to as "the last great railroad fair" with 39 railroad companies...
, the unit was retired from service in May, 1952 at which time it was relegated to yard
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
switching
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
service in western New York shuttling express service milk cars. At this time, the railroad appeared to turn its back to steam power, and consequently, the majority of their steam engines, including all of their famed Hudsons
NYC Hudson
Hudson was the name given to the 4-6-4 steam locomotive wheel arrangement by the New York Central Railroad which was the first to use locomotives of this type in North America.-History:...
, had been scrapped. Fortunately, when the matter of 999 came about, the road saw fit to preserve the famous engine. The New York Central donated the locomotive to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
in 1962, though it did not arrive at the museum until 1968.
Once there, while its preservation was assured, the engine was displayed outside where exposure to elements had taken its toll over the years. In 1993, the museum underwent a major renovation. This project included a cosmetic restoration of number 999, and it was placed inside the museum's main hall. The unit as displayed lacks its original 86" drivers, which were removed sometime after the historic speed run and replaced with smaller diameter driving wheels.