Cincinnati Steam Classics, B&O, NYC, N&W, L&N in 1955 & 1956

Cincinnati Steam Classics takes you to the Queen City when Norfolk & Western was 100% steam, with the New York Central and Baltimore and Ohio still running steam locomotives on some of their passenger trains.

You’ll find NYC Hudsons and Mohawks, B&O Pacific’s in several classes and N&W J class 4-8-4s. Trains include the New York Central’s “James Whitcomb Riley”, “Queen City”, “Chicago Express” and more, plus we see the B&O’s “Cincinnatian”, “238” and others. N&W’s “Cavalier” is found on several occasions, all with the famous J class. Also, On May 5, 1956, a Ky Derby Special departs with L&N M1 class 2-8-4 1960, the only day L&N ever ran those trains with the M1’s. By the end of 1956, everything in and out of Cincinnati – except the N&W – would be dieselized.

We’ll visit NYC Steam freight operations in Cincinnati with 4-8-2 Mohawks, 2-8-2 Mikados handled freight assignments and 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 switchers worked the three yards. These wonderful steam scenes were filmed by David J. Kreines on several visits in 1955 and 1956. Here are the last months of service for NYC and B&O steam at the now restored) and housing several museums), Cincinnati Union Terminal.