Kevin’s Komments 04/09/2021

Electric Locomotives

Our club doesn’t discuss much about electric locos – it’s not really a topic pertinent to the Cincinnati Northern. But I was looking at passenger cars and service, and caught some glimpses of the electric motive power used on some of the east coast lines…

We all know of, and I think most have an internal yearning to run a GG1. The five stripe Brunswick Green PRR version had to be the nicest looking one:

But the Penn Central version was pretty cool also. (Gotta keep Randy on board!)

The PRR experimented with an electric – E2c (2 built):

In the same experimental class, in 1951 – 52 was the PRR E3c – again two built by Baldwin – Lima – Hamilton, with Westinghouse:8.

PRR had quite a number of interesting electrics. The L5 class was considered a second generation electric. 25 were built at the PRR Altoona shops between 1924 and 1928.

During the testing phase of the GG1, the R1 was a competitor. Only one was built, 1934, because of PRR choosing the GG1 design to proceed. But the R1 was distinguished by pulling the westbound Broadway Limited for many years – it returned eastward with a mail and express train.

Going back earlier in electric development, the DD1 was built in 1910 – 11. Considered a boxcab, 66 units were built and used as part of matching pairs – 33 pairs. They were built at…yes – the PRR Altoona shops:

Another early PRR electric was the FF1. Only one unit was built at Altoona in 1917. The FF1, nicknamed “Big Liz”, was designed to pull freight over the Allegheny mountains, but proved too powerful for the cars of it’s day. It continually snapped coupler knuckles!

Another electric that was semi-permanently paired was the PRR B class. There were 28 BB locos built at Altoona and paired. The B1 was a later version that was built as individual units for switching:

…a pair of BB3 units:

Are you tired of seeing PRR? How about a Virginian EL-C. They were built in the late ‘50s by GE to haul coal out of the mountains.

How about a Milwaukee “Little Joe” E-78 (EF-4)? They were purchased in the ‘50s to replace older electrics:

The electrics that the “Little Joes” replaced were the “Bi-polars” EP-2. The EP-2s were first built in 1919 and continued in service until the late ‘50s when the “Little Joes’ finally replaced the need. The “Bi-Polars” were designed for passenger service (on the east coast).

Now I should go into the modern electrics, but…that’s enough for now.
Thx,
Kevin