The Empire State Express
Painting is better than these pictures make it look.
The Empire State Express was one of the named passenger trains and onetime flagship of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad (a predecessor of the modern New York Central Railroad). It became the world’s first high-speed passenger train on September 14, 1891, when it covered the 436 miles (702 kilometers) between New York City and Buffalo in just 7 hours and 6 minutes (including stops). The train averaged 61.4 miles-per-hour (98.8 km/h), a new world speed record in rail travel, with an officially-recorded top speed of 82 mph (132 km/h), though observers claimed to have clocked the train at 112 mph, or 180 km/h.1
In short order, the train would gain worldwide celebrity, and its route would later stretch to 620 miles (998 kilometers), with Cleveland, Ohio as its western terminus. In addition to its other notable accomplishments, the Empire State was the first passenger train to maintain a regular schedule speed of over 52 mph (84 km/h), and the first to make runs of 142.88 miles (230 km) between stops (between New York City and Albany: the longest scheduled nonstop run ever attempted).December 7, 1941, the New York Central inaugurated a new, all-stainless-steel streamlined (Budd) train, powered by a streamlined J-3a Hudson (4-6-4) steam locomotive. Passengers on the inaugural run were very surprised at the low turnout at trackside en route, before they learned later that same day that Pearl Harbor had just been bombed by the Japanese.
30×48 oil on canvas
The Empire State Express belongs to the following groups:
Green!, Trains and United States
Rita H. Ireland
I love this awesome train!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you Rita!! Need to get a much better image of it!!
Angel Gold
This is very cool
Van Cordle replied
Thank you Selina!!!! need a better image of it!!
Angel Gold
I think what you have done is great. I dont think a better image would make a difference. You would still do a fantastic job.
Van Cordle replied
Thank you Selina!! this and the last couple I uploaded were low res images that dont show the paintings very good- : )
Jerame *
nicely done!
Van Cordle replied
JerameS thank you!!
claudiu
Original painting, creative, perfectly done!
Van Cordle
Thank you claudiu very much!!
Tania Donald
beautiful work – great colouring ; D
Van Cordle
Thank you Tania Very much!!
Romo
Wow…this is awesome…love it:)
Van Cordle replied
Romo thank you very much : )
peyote
im sure the picture does look better in person
detail is not easy to share in a small photo is it ;)
Lovely
xXx
Van Cordle replied
peyote your right : ) thank you so much!!
Nathan Walraven
Its looks 3D, fantastic detail and colour! Love the shading! Beautiful painting!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you Nathan!!
flyfish70
This would have to be one of my favorites, I love the old locomotives.
Van Cordle replied
Flyfish70 thank you so much!!
Tahnja
there you go again, totally blowing us away
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much Tahnja!!
FAIRIEWOMAN1
The perspective, the sense of movement and details like crazy! I run out of compliments when I look at your portfolio.
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much Helena!!
vanvic
This is totally awesome to me. You really have outstanding work in your portfolio. WOW!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you very much Vanessa – so do you!!
vanvic
I appreciate that, too!
Teeze
Very Cool!
Van Cordle replied
Hay thank you Teeze!!
missmoneypenny
Excellent perspective – great shot
Van Cordle replied
Thank you missmoneypenny! Love your work!
handprintz
Wow ! your art amazes me this is just fabulous !!
Van Cordle replied
Thanks so much Trudi!!
Shanina Conway
Stunning Van I love the sense of strength in this, and of course the colours and artistry;)
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much Shanina !!
AnaCBStudio
Beautiful work Van!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much!! Love your work!
jerry alcantara
another fantastic work
Van Cordle replied
Thank you very much jerry!! your work is fantastic!
CanDuCreations
Awesome work!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much CanDu!!
cherylc1
love it!!!!!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you very much cherylc1!!
StarKatz
I love the detail and the fact you shared your knowledge on the subject, makes it even more surreal :)
Van Cordle replied
StarKatz thank you so much!!
Rusty Woodward...
This is wonderful!
Van Cordle replied
Thank you so much Rusty!!
Jack McCabe
Now that route is called the Lake Shore route, and it’s on time performance is miserable…a shame when you consider the history of that line.
By the way, you painted this?
Very Art Deco!
Van Cordle replied
Thak you Jack very much!! That is a shame, yes this is a painting of the actual sign, It was on the ground,(the sign) it had been taken down and some guy out in LA bought it!
mekea
Wow! Really cool work! Nice angle! Mekea :)
Van Cordle replied
Thank you Mekea very much!! Love your work!!
Stzar
beautiful work Van ~ i love trains, and your painting is so wonderful
Van Cordle
Thank you so much Crayon : ) Your comments mean a lot!!!
Xenia
FANTASTIC PAINTING AND GREAT STORY!
Van Cordle replied
Xhank you Xenia : ) Your comments mean a lot!!
Vanessa Anderberg
I am re-adding favorites…I started a new site….so do not be alarmed