Pennsylvania Railroad class E2c

Pennsylvania Railroad E2c

Type and origin
Power type	Electric
Builder	Westinghouse and Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton
Serial number	BLH 75484, 75485
Build date	February 1952
Total produced	2

Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR	C-C
• UIC	Co'Co'
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electric system/s	11 kV, 25 Hz AC
Current pickup(s)	Pantograph
Traction motors	Westinghouse 370 (6 off)
Transmission	AC current fed via a transformer tap changer through 12 Ignitron (Mercury arc) rectifier tubes to DC traction motors

Performance figures
Power output	3,000 hp (2,200 kW)

Career
Operators	Pennsylvania Railroad
Class	E2c^[1]
Numbers	4997, 4998

Pennsylvania Railroad class E2c comprised a pair of experimental C-C (AAR) or Co-Co (UIC) electric locomotives. The bodywork and running gear was produced by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton while the electrical equipment was provided by Westinghouse,^[2] who also acted as principal contractor.

In 1952 the Pennsylvania Railroad took delivery of eight experimental locomotives, four from General Electric and four from Westinghouse. While GE's were all of the same class (E2b), the Westinghouse locomotives were split into two classes. Two locomotives had three two-axle trucks (E3b).^[2]

The significant technical difference between the locomotives was that those from General Electric used traditional AC traction motors. Those by Westinghouse had mercury arc rectifiers to convert the AC traction power to DC. In consequence they were able to use ordinary DC traction motors, identical to those on contemporary diesel-electric locomotives.^[3]

The locomotives were scrapped in 1964. However, the rectifier principle they pioneered soon became the standard for new AC electric locomotives,

References

Citations

^ Carleton, Paul. Under Pennsy Wires. D. Carleton Railbooks, 1982, p. 153
^ ^a ^b Staufer, Alvin F.; Pennypacker, Bert (1962). Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900-1957. Research by Martin Flattley. Carollton, Ohio: Alvin F. Staufer. pp. 300–301. ISBN 978-0-9445-1304-0.
^ Bezilla, Michael (Autumn 1977). "The Pennsylvania's Pioneer Rectifiers". Railroad History. Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 137 (137): 64–79. JSTOR 43520656.

Sources

Middleton, William D. (2002). The Pennsylvania Railroad - Under Wire (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-617-7.
Volkmer, William D. (1991). Pennsy Electric Years. Edison, New Jersey: Morning Sun Books, Inc. pp. 31, 126. ISBN 978-1-878887-01-6.

v t e Electric locomotives built by the Westinghouse Electric Company
DC Electrics	PRR AA1 MILW EP-3
AC Electrics	NH EP-1 CN Z-2 NH EY-2 NH EF-1 NH EP-2 PRR P5a PRR R1 NH EF-3b
AC Electrics (side rod)	N&W LC-1 N&W LC-2 VGN EL-3a
AC Electrics (motor generator)	GN Z-1
AC Electrics (Ignitron rectifier)	PRR E3b PRR E2c
(see also: List of Westinghouse locomotives)

This electric locomotive-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This United States train or rolling stock-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 15:15

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

References

Citations

Sources