Two of the locomotives in the collection have historical significance related to
the electrification of New York Central lines into the "new" Grand
Central Terminal when it was constructed early in the last century.
(This was the subject of a recent PBS documentary.) The older of the
two electrics, a GE/Alco Type S, built in 1904, is the first such
locomotive used by the New York Central to haul trains between Grand
Central and Croton-Harmon. The other of the two electrics, a Type T,
was built circa 1928 and used for the same service, and is believed to
be the only example of its type still existing. There are two other
Type S electrics still existing, but ours is the first of that type
placed into service, and the one that was featured in the PBS
documentary.

Our Chapter acquired the Type S from the American Museum of Electricity
(no longer existing), which in turn had acquired it by donation from
the New York Central in the 1960's. The Chapter acquired the Type T
from Amtrak in the 1980's. Both of these locomotives were cosmetically
restored for display by the Chapter in the 1980's, but have since been
stored outdoors, and are currently in need of restoration again. They
are now located on abandoned trackage on privately owned property
between the Port of Albany and the PSEG power plant in Glenmont. These
two locomotives, along with several other pieces of rolling stock, were
acquired by the Chapter with the intent of creating a rail museum in
the Capital District. These plans never came to fruition, so we are
now trying to locate other organizations which might be interested in
restoring some or all of this equipment, but especially the two
electrics because of their historic significance.

We have contacted both the Danbury (CT) Railroad Museum and the New
York City Transit Museum in the belief that a museum in the New York
Metropolitan Area might be the most appropriate location. Each has
expressed some interest, but nothing specific has come of it.

We are also aware that Metro North Commuter Railroad has evidenced
interest in their railroad heritage by restoring two FL-9 locomotives
(built circa 1960) in New Haven and New York Central livery,
respectively. We were hoping that they might also be interested in
restoring the two electrics for display at either Croton-Harmon or
Grand Central. We were also hoping that you might know someone at
Metro North who might have an interest in this project that we could
contact to discuss it with.

Moving these two locomotives from where they are now will be a
challenge, but we need to find a willing recipient before we undertake
a detailed study of possible costs and logistics. Quite frankly, if we
can't find a new home, they will probably wind up being scrapped, which
would be a shame and certainly not what anyone had intended when they
were originally rescued from that fate on their original retirement
from service.

Any help you can offer in this regard to point us in the right
direction would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to forward
this message to anyone you can think of that might have an interest.

Thanks,

George Hansen, President
Mohawk and Hudson Chapter, NRHS