Pennsylvania Railroad Class R1

Pennsylvania Railroad Class R1
PRR R1 4999.
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works, Westinghouse Electric
Type of locomotive	Electric locomotive
Constructed	1934
Number built	1 car
Classification	2-D-2
Dimensions	776 in (19,710 mm) × 126 in (3,210 mm) × 180 in (4,570 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	11 kV AC (25 Hz)
Service information
In service	1934 – 1959
Formation	Single car
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	4999 (formerly 4800 and 4899)
Preservation information
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	1 car

The Pennsylvania Railroad Class R1 was a 2-D-2 prototype electric locomotive constructed for the Pennsylvania Railroad by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and Westinghouse Electric. Originally numbered 4800, the R1 was used as a competitor to the GG1 design and was used in service from 1934 until its eventual scrapping in 1959.

History

The R1 was designed by Baldwin Locomotive Works and Westinghouse Electric as a competitor to the GG1 design. One single locomotive, numbered 4800, was built in 1934 to compete against the GG1; however, the GG1 was selected as it was deemed to have superior tracking and riding qualities. Despite this, however, the sole prototype remained in service.

The R1 was used for many years on the westbound Broadway Limited service on the PRR. Some time later, the R1 swapped numbers with the victorious GG1 prototype and was renumbered 4899; in May 1940, the R1 was renumbered again to 4999 to make way for the expanding GG1 fleet, and remained as such. However, due to its long rigid wheelbase, derailments were somewhat frequent, in places such as Sunnyside Yard and elsewhere. The R1 was withdrawn from service in 1959 and sent for scrap the same year; as such, the sole R1 is no longer in existence.

Design

The R1's appearance is rather similar to that of the GG1, DD2 and later-build P5s.

Specifications

Construction was most likely of welded steel plates. The R1 had four driven axles in a rigid locomotive frame, with each axle being driven by two 625 HP (634 PS, 466 kW) traction motors through a quill drive and sprung cups, with each end of the locomotive having a four-wheeled truck to help guide it at speed.

In many aspects, the R1 did actually resemble the older P5s in both appearance and design, with the exception of having an additional axle and lower axle loads.

References

• Wikipedia.org