The first streamlined steam

In 1934 the New York Central shops in West Albany, New York created the first streamlined steam locomotive. Streamlining, a less decorated off-shoot of the Art Deco style, was sweeping the country in the early 1930s. Buildings and even toasters and clocks had been given the sleek, aerodynamic design and now a young civil engineer at the New York Central decided a steam engine needed the new streamlined look.

Carl Kantola was that young man and he took his idea, with a pencil sketch, to his boss who then took it to the president of the railroad.