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New York Central class J-1e 4-6-4 No. 5344 received sheet-metal shrouding in 1934, making it the first streamlined steam locomotive in America. Carl F. Kantola of NYC’s equipment engineering department created the design. The Hudson was named Commodore Vanderbilt after the NYC’s famous early leader, but initially displayed no road number. Glenn Grabill photo
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Note that the iconic NYC 4-6-4 #5344 was built by Alco-Schenectady in 1931… It received a newer streamlining during a rebuild in 1939. Sadly, the streamlining lasted only 6 years before being removed in 1945 to improve ease of maintenance mostly. After representing the “modern image” of the New York Central Railroad, it was sadly retired in 1953 and uncerimoniously sold for scrap in 1954.