Pennsylvania Railroad class E3b built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton and Westinghouse in 1951.
(Pennsylvania Railroad "Pennsy Power" by Alvin F. Staufer and Bert Pennypacker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
PRR E3b ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
Pennsylvania Railroad class E3b was an experimental electric locomotive supplied by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. The locomotive was of the two unit design, with each unit having a B-B-B (AAR) or Bo-Bo-Bo (UIC) wheel arrangement. 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.
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 (E2c), while the other two had three two-axle trucks (E3b).
The locomotives were scrapped in 1964.
Pennsylvania Railroad E3b class Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Electric
Builder: Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, Westinghouse
Serial number: 75482, 75483
Build date: November 1951
Total produced: 2
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B-B
• UIC Bo'Bo'Bo'
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Locomotive weight: 378,000 lb
Electric system: 11 kV, 25 Hz AC
Current pickup: Pantograph (x 2)
Traction motors: Westinghouse 370 (x 6)
Transmission: AC fed via a transformer tap changer through 12 Ignitron (Mercury arc) rectifier to DC traction motors.
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 63 MPH
Power output: 3,000 hp (2,200 kW)
Career
Operators: Pennsylvania Railroad
Class: E3b
Numbers: 4995, 4996
Scrapped: 1964