PRR Class L5 electric locomotive builder's photo.
(CAMESINTRA, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
PRR CLASS L5 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The Pennsylvania Railroad Class L5 was the railroad's second generation of production electric locomotives after the DD1, and the last to use a jackshaft and side rods to drive the wheels. The L5 was a single-unit locomotive instead of the twin-unit DD1. The wheel arrangement in Whyte notation was 2-4-4-2, or 1-B-B-1 in the AAR scheme. Twenty five were built in 4 distinct subclasses. The lead unit of the class was equipped for AC operation with an overhead pantograph (later two), while the other 24 were third rail DC units to work on the existing PRR third rail electrification in the New York area.
The class was built with an eye towards future long distance electrification with the idea of a single class that could be used interchangeably between the present and future AC electrified zones and the DC electrified zone in New York City. The PRR also used the L5 order to try out electrical equipment manufacturers other than Westinghouse, which had provided the propulsion equipment for both the DD1 and FF1 classes. The original classes were to be simply L5 for the AC units and L5a for the DC units, but as the additional equipment suppliers were brought on the scheme changed to include the intended function (passenger), the current used and finally the electrical supplier. Westinghouse supplied the majority of the units with 1 L5Paw class and 12 L5pdw class. General Electric and Brown Boveri each supplied 6 classed L5pdg and L5pdb respectively.
The L5 was not as successful as the DD1 as the side rod electric locomotive concept proved to be unsuited to the demands of long distance electrification. Even in the existing short haul service the L5's long rigid wheelbase and poor weight distribution caused it to be withdrawn significantly before the older DD1s.
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Electric
Builder: Altoona Works
In association with:
Westinghouse
General Electric
Brown Boveri
Build date: 1924-1928
Total produced L5paw: 1
Total produced L5pdw: 12
Total produced L5pdb: 6
Total produced L5pdg: 6
Total produced all models: 25
Specifications
Configuration:
• Whyte 2-4-4-2
• AAR 1-B-B-1
• UIC 1′B-B1′
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading diameter: 36 in (914 mm)
Driver diameter: 80 in (2,032 mm)
Wheelbase: 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m) between driving axles
Length: 68 ft 2 in (20.78 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Adhesive weight: 308,600 lb (140,000 kg; 140.0 metric tons)
Locomotive weight: 408,600 lb (185,300 kg; 185.3 metric tons)
Electric systems: 650 V DC; 11 kV 25 hz AC ( L5paw )
Current pickups: Third rail; Catenary (L5paw)
Traction motors: 4 × 835 hp (623 kW)
Transmission: Resistance controlled DC or tap changer controlled AC supplied to AC-DC universal motors connected to the axles through Jackshaft and side rods.
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 70 mph (110 km/h)
Power output: 3,340 hp (2,490 kW)
Tractive effort: 59,000 lbf (260 kN)
