Colorized History

The Commodore Vanderbilt was a streamlined version of the venerable Class J1-E 4-6-4 Hudson locomotive that ran on the New York Central System.

The first of its kind to be modified for streamlining on the New York Central, it was christened in 1934 and pulled the Empire State Express for the duration of its career. Two more locomotives were streamlined in its pattern, designed by Karl F. Cantola. Later streamlined engines on the system would take after the pattern designed by Henry Dreyfuss.

Sadly, none of the Hudsons survive today. All were scrapped by 1954