New York Central No. 3001

New York Central No. 3001 is a class L-3a 4-8-2 Mohawk steam locomotive that was built by Alco in 1940 for the New York Central Railroad.
No. 3001 could often be seen hauling passenger trains on the Boston & Albany lines until 1949 when dieselization of that division was announced; in several instances it was used as "relief" or "protection" power for the 20th Century Limited, amongst other important trains. This engine was otherwise usually used to haul freight trains, due to many NYC Hudsons being occupied pulling passenger trains; in later years, diesel-electric locomotives hauled the passenger trains, so steam was on its last legs - 3001 included.
No. 3001 was finally retired from service on February 14, 1957. Later the same year, as one might expect the locomotive to be scrapped, it was instead sold (possibly donated) to the Texas State Fairgrounds, owned by the City of Dallas, to replace the heavily-vandalized locomotive Texas and Pacific No. 638. When the fair ground closed, it was donated to the Museum of the American Railroad in nearby Frisco, TX. Later still, it was traded for a GG1, thus the Mohawk made its move back to its old stomping ground. 
In 1984 No. 3001 was seen sitting in the Blue Island Train Yard. It was then donated to the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana where it is placed on static display with the collection. On 9 October 2024, the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society officially announced a campaign to fully restore 3001 to operational condition, with fundraising efforts estimated at over $4 million. If these efforts are successful, 3001 will become the first NYC mainline steam locomotive to operate in over 60 years. 
== Trivia ==
*During the late 1940's/early 1950's, many L3's (3001 being one of them) were fitted with smoke lifters, which until then, were never fitted when built. Between 1957 and 2012, it had none, but they have been re-instated during a recent cosmetic restoration.
*During its time disguised as a Texas and Pacific locomotive, its tender was cosmetically converted to look like an oil burner, receiving a welded flat metal cover over its tender. This change is still present to this day, but its original coal auger and coal bunker are still intact, as seen in the cab.
*No. 3001 is one of two preserved NYC Mohawks, with the other one being No. 2933, preserved at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.
*The sale to the Texas & Pacific Railroad - and eventual donation to the Texas State Fairgrounds in Dallas - is the sole reason why No. 3001 was not scrapped by the New York Central.
*No. 3001 is preserved with former NYC E8 #4085 and former PRR GG1 electric #4882, among other preserved NYC rolling stock.
*The locomotive has been in seen a couple Herron Rail DVD's on the New York Central such as the Steam & Diesel on NYC 3 volume series and the NYC Indiana Division 2 volume series.
==See also==
*New York Central No. 3001/Gallery
Category:American locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:ALCO locomotives
Category:New York Central locomotives
Category:4-8-2 steam locomotives
Category:4-8-2 locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Built in 1940
Category:Locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives