Pennsylvania Railroad class E3b

Pennsylvania Railroad class E3b was an experimental electric locomotive supplied by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.[1] The locomotive was of the two unit design, with each unit having a B-B-B (AAR) or Bo-Bo-Bo (UIC) wheel arrangement.[1] The bodywork and running gear was produced by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton while the electrical equipment was provided by Westinghouse, who also acted as the main contractor.

Pennsylvania Railroad E3b class
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderBaldwin-Lima-Hamilton
Serial number75482, 75483
Build dateNovember 1951
Total produced2
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B-B
 • UICBo'Bo'Bo'
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Loco weight378,000 lb
Electric system/s11 kV, 25 Hz AC
Current pickup(s)Pantograph (2 off)
Traction motorsWestinghouse 370 (6 off)
TransmissionAC fed via a transformer tap changer through 12 Ignitron (Mercury arc) rectifier to DC traction motors.
Performance figures
Maximum speed63 MPH
Power output3,000 hp (2,200 kW)
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad
ClassE3b
Numbers4995, 4996[1]
Scrapped1964

In 1952 and 1953 the Pennsylvania Railroad took delivery of ten experimental locomotives, six 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 two three-axle trucks (E3c), while the other two had three two-axle trucks (E3b).[2]

The locomotives were scrapped in 1964.

Footnotes
  1. Middleton (2002), p. 108.
  2. Staufer, p. 300

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. pp. 300–301. ISBN 978-0-9445-1304-0.
  • Volkmer, William D. (1991). Pennsy Electric Years. Edison, New Jersey: Morning Sun Books, Inc. pp. 31, 126. ISBN 978-1-878887-01-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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