VGN EL-C
Encyclopedia
The Virginian EL-C was a type of electric locomotive
built for the Virginian Railway
by General Electric
in August of 1955. They were the first successful production locomotives to use Ignitron
(mercury arc)
rectifier technology. Although they proved to be a very successful design, no more EL-C's were ever built, due to the small number of railroads that had electrification
and the advent of improved electric locomotive technology.
The Virginian originally used a fleet of three-unit boxcab locomotives designated EL-3A. These were supplemented in 1946 by two pairs of two-unit streamlined locomotives designated as EL-2B
. By the 1950s, the EL-3A fleet was getting tired, and Virginian went to GE for new locomotives as replacements. The Locomotives were delivered to the Virginian between October 1956 and January 1957 and numbered 130-141. GE used then-new Ignitron rectifier technology, first used on the experimental Pennsylvania Railroad E2c and E3b
locomotives. Although this same technology was used with less-than-optimal success on the earlier EP-5
locomotives built for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
, it worked flawlessly on the Virginian’s EL-Cs (possibly due to the much larger area available in the EL-C).
In December 1959, the Virginian Railway merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway
. The N&W renumbered the locomotives 230-241. None of the locomotives were repainted except for #235 which was repaired after an accident. The N&W only routed eastbound traffic over the former Virginian, with all westbound traffic going over the N&W’s original route. The electrification system became surplus to requirements and was shut down in June 1962. Locomotive #230 was rebuilt as a road slug the next month and renumbered 180. All of the locomotives were sold to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
classified them as EF-4, and renumbered them 300-310(N&W #180 was used as a part source for the others). They continued in service through Penn Central, and Conrail as E-33s and renumbered 4601-4610(New Haven #301 was damaged in an accident and scrapped). They were retired in March 1981 when Conrail shut down it's electric operations.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
built for the Virginian Railway
Virginian Railway
The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads....
by General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
in August of 1955. They were the first successful production locomotives to use Ignitron
Ignitron
An ignitron is a type of controlled rectifier dating from the 1930s. Invented by Joseph Slepian while employed by Westinghouse, Westinghouse was the original manufacturer and owned trademark rights to the name "Ignitron"....
(mercury arc)
Mercury arc valve
A mercury-arc valve is a type of electrical rectifier used for converting high-voltage or high-current alternating current into direct current . Rectifiers of this type were used to provide power for industrial motors, electric railways, streetcars, and electric locomotives, as well as for...
rectifier technology. Although they proved to be a very successful design, no more EL-C's were ever built, due to the small number of railroads that had electrification
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
and the advent of improved electric locomotive technology.
History
The Virginian electrified a section of its line through the Appalachian mountains in the mid-1920s with a 11,000 volt, 25Hz AC system. The electrification was widely regarded as a success, but probably because of its huge cost, the Virginian never extended this electrification.The Virginian originally used a fleet of three-unit boxcab locomotives designated EL-3A. These were supplemented in 1946 by two pairs of two-unit streamlined locomotives designated as EL-2B
VGN EL-2B
The Virginian Railway's class EL-2B comprised four two-unit electric locomotives with AAR + wheel arrangements. The locomotives were used on the electrified portion of the railroad, from Roanoke, Virginia to Mullens, West Virginia...
. By the 1950s, the EL-3A fleet was getting tired, and Virginian went to GE for new locomotives as replacements. The Locomotives were delivered to the Virginian between October 1956 and January 1957 and numbered 130-141. GE used then-new Ignitron rectifier technology, first used on the experimental Pennsylvania Railroad E2c and E3b
PRR E3b
Pennsylvania Railroad class E3b comprised a pair of experimental B-B-B or Bo-Bo-Bo electric locomotives. 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...
locomotives. Although this same technology was used with less-than-optimal success on the earlier EP-5
New Haven EP5
The New Haven EP-5 was a double-ended mercury arc rectifier electric locomotive built in 1955 by General Electric, for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad...
locomotives built for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
, it worked flawlessly on the Virginian’s EL-Cs (possibly due to the much larger area available in the EL-C).
In December 1959, the Virginian Railway merged with the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
. The N&W renumbered the locomotives 230-241. None of the locomotives were repainted except for #235 which was repaired after an accident. The N&W only routed eastbound traffic over the former Virginian, with all westbound traffic going over the N&W’s original route. The electrification system became surplus to requirements and was shut down in June 1962. Locomotive #230 was rebuilt as a road slug the next month and renumbered 180. All of the locomotives were sold to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
classified them as EF-4, and renumbered them 300-310(N&W #180 was used as a part source for the others). They continued in service through Penn Central, and Conrail as E-33s and renumbered 4601-4610(New Haven #301 was damaged in an accident and scrapped). They were retired in March 1981 when Conrail shut down it's electric operations.