Pennsylvania Railroad class E2b

Pennsylvania Railroad class E2b comprised six experimental B-B electric locomotives built for the railroad by General Electric.

Pennsylvania Railroad E2b
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder General Electric Build date 1952 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Electric system/s 11 kV, 25 Hz AC Current pickup(s) Pantograph Transmission AC current fed via transformer tap changers to AC traction motors.
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 MPH Power output 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) Tractive effort 35,400 lbf (157 kN)
Career Operators Pennsylvania Railroad Class E2b Numbers 4939–4944 Scrapped 1964

In 1952 the Pennsylvania Railroad took delivery of eight experimental locomotives:

• 4 locomotives of the class E2b with the road numbers #4939–#4942 built by General Electric
• 2 locomotives of the class E3c with the road numbers #4995 and #4996 built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton & Westinghouse
• 2 locomotives of the class E3b the road numbers #4997 and #4998 built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton & Westinghouse^[1]

GE built two demonstrators to show the Great Northern Railway. These two were sold to the PRR in March 1953 and numbered #4943–#4944.^[1]

The class E2b locomotives were commonly used in three pairs. Like most previous PRR electric locomotives, they were straight AC-powered, and did not use rectifiers. Because of this, they could work in multiple with existing PRR locomotives, and generally did so with class P5a.^[1]

The locomotives were scrapped in 1964.

Notes

1. Staufer & Pennypacker 1962, pp. 300–301

References

• Middleton, William D. (2002). The Pennsylvania Railroad - Under Wire (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-617-7.
• 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. ISBN 978-0-9445-1304-0.
• Volkmer, William D. (1991). Pennsy Electric Years. Edison, New Jersey: Morning Sun Books, Inc. pp. 30, 126. ISBN 978-1-878887-01-6.