Great Northern W-1 Explained

Great Northern W-1
Powertype:Electric
Builder:GE Erie Works
Serialnumber:28448, 28449
Builddate:June 1947
Totalproduction:2
Whytetype:0-4-8-8-4-0OE
Aarwheels:B-D+D-B
Uicclass:(Bo′Do′)(Do′Bo′)
Wheeldiameter:42inches
Minimumcurve:17 degrees (locomotive only)
10 degrees (with train)
Length:101feet
Height:15feet
Weightondrivers:720000lb
Locoweight:720000lb
Electricsystem:11 kV, 25 Hz AC
Collectionmethod:Pantograph
Tractionmotors:12 GE 746 of 420hp
Transmission:AC Synchronous motors (2×),
DC Generators (4×),
DC traction motors (12×)
Maxspeed:65mph
Poweroutput:5000hp
Tractiveeffort:119000lbf
Trainheating:None
Locobrakes:Air/Regenerative
Trainbrakes:Air
Operator:Great Northern Railway
Operatorclass:W-1
Numinclass:2
Fleetnumbers:5018, 5019
Deliverydate:1947
Retiredate:August 1956
Scrapdate:1968, 1959
Disposition:5018 sold to Union Pacific in 1960, rebuilt in 1962, and scrapped in 1968.
5019 scrapped in 1959.

The W-1 was a class of electric locomotive used by the Great Northern Railway. They were constructed to haul trains on the 73miles electrified portion of the railroad across the Cascade Mountains from Wenatchee, Washington to Skykomish, Washington, including the Cascade Tunnel. Only two locomotives were built, and they had an AAR B-D+D-B wheel arrangements.

The locomotives were built at General Electric's Erie works in 1947, and were numbered 5018 and 5019. They were powered by two W-1 motor-generators, with a total 5000hp, and at that time were the largest single-unit electric locomotives used in North America. The engines share a great resemblance to the Little Joe locomotive.

Both locomotives were retired in August 1956 when the electrification system was switched off and diesel locomotives started operating. Unit 5019 was scrapped in 1959. Unit 5018 was sold to the Union Pacific, who used its body and running gear as part of the unsuccessful experimental coal burning turbine-electric locomotive #80. It was eventually scrapped in 1968.

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