Pennsylvania Railroad class O1

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class O1 comprised eight experimental boxcab electric locomotives[4] built in 1930 and 1931.[1] They were built in preparation for the New York to Washington Electrification project.[5] They had the wheel arrangement classified as 4-4-4 in the Whyte notation (UIC: 2'B2'; AAR: 2-B-2). Although successful, they were not powerful enough for the railroad's increasingly heavy trains. For production, the PRR chose to concentrate on the P5 class, effectively an enlarged and more powerful version of the O1 with an additional pair of driving wheels.

PRR O1
PRR official photo of #7850
Type and origin
Power typeelectric
BuilderPRR Altoona Works[1]
Build date1930–1931
Total produced8
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-4-4
  AAR2-B-2
  UIC2'B2'
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.72 in (1,829 mm)
Trailing dia.36 in (914 mm)
Wheelbase40 ft (12.19 m) (overall)
10 ft (3.05 m) (fixed)[1]
Length52 ft 8 in (16.05 m)[2]
Width10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)[3]
Height15 ft (4.57 m) (over locked-down pantographs)[2]
Axle loadO1,O1b,O1c: 75,000 lb (34,000 kg)[3]
O1a: 78,000 lb (35,000 kg)[2]
Adhesive weightO1,O1b,O1c: 150,000 lb (68,000 kg)[3]
O1a: 156,000 lb (71,000 kg)[2]
Loco weightO1,O1b,O1c: 300,000 lb (140,000 kg)[1]
O1a: 309,400 lb (140,300 kg)[1]
Electric system/s11 kV 25 Hz AC Catenary[1]
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motors4× (2 per axle), power output each - O1: 500 hp (370 kW); O1a,O1c: 625 hp (466 kW); O1b: 550 hp (410 kW)[1]
TransmissionAC current fed via transformer tap changers to paired motors driving geared quill drive[1]
Train heatingSteam generator
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
Safety systemsCab signalling
Performance figures
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)[1]
Power outputO1: 2,000 hp (1,500 kW); O1a,O1c: 2,500 hp (1,900 kW); O1b: 2,200 hp (1,600 kW)[1]
Tractive effortO1: 28,500 lbf (127 kN);
O1a,O1c: 37,500 lbf (167 kN);
O1b: 35,000 lbf (160 kN)[1]
Factor of adh.O1: 5.26; O1a: 4.16; O1b: 4.29; O1c: 4.00
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad
Class7850–7857
Retired1948–49 (6), 1961 (2)
DispositionAll scrapped

The eight locomotives were divided into four sub-classes — O1, O1a, O1b, and O1c.[6] Each sub-class was fitted with a different combination of traction motor power output and drive gear ratio. In addition, three O1 locomotives were fitted with General Electric equipment, three with Westinghouse, and two with Brown Boveri. The O1b locomotives used a Buchli drive between the traction motors and the driving wheels. Double traction motors were used, with two motors geared to each axle.

Class Numbers Motors Power Gear Ratio Maximum Tractive Effort Continuous Tractive Effort
O1 7850–1 500 hp (370 kW) 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) 31:91 28,500 lbf (127 kN) 13,200 lbf (59 kN) @ 56 mph (90 km/h)
O1a 7852–3 625 hp (466 kW) 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) 36:103 37,500 lbf (167 kN) 14,900 lbf (66 kN) @ 63 mph (101 km/h)
O1b 7854–5 550 hp (410 kW) 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) 49:114 35,000 lbf (160 kN) 17,800 lbf (79 kN) @ 46 mph (74 km/h)
O1c 7856–7 625 hp (466 kW) 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) 31:91 37,500 lbf (167 kN) 14,900 lbf (66 kN) @ 63 mph (101 km/h)

They were generally employed in pairs by sub-class, generally on short-distance passenger trains between Newark, New Jersey and New York City's Pennsylvania Station. During World War II they were used on the "Susquehannock" between Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and New York City. Later in life, they were used for transfer work around Penn Station and Sunnyside Yard, mostly hauling empty passenger stock. They were all out of service and scrapped by the mid 1960s.

References

  1. Barris, Wes (2007). "The O-1". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  2. Pennsylvania Railroad (1932-08-18). "PRR Equipment Diagrams: Tracing #E-93844: O1a". PRR.Railfan.net. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  3. Pennsylvania Railroad (1933-09-27). "PRR Equipment Diagrams: O1, O1b, O1c". PRR.Railfan.net. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  4. 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.
  5. Soloman, Brian (2003). Electric Locomotives. Saint Paul, MN: MBI Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7603-1359-6.
  6. Schafer, Mike; Solomon, Brian (1997). Pennsylvania Railroad. Osceola, WI: MotorBooks International. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7603-0379-5. OCLC 36676055.
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