Great Northern W-1

The W-1 was a class of electric locomotive used by the Great Northern Railway. They were constructed to haul trains on the 73-mile (117 km) 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.

Great Northern W-1
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder GE Erie Works Serial number 28448, 28449 Build date June 1947 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-4-8-8-4-0OE  • AAR B-D+D-B  • UIC (Bo′Do′)(Do′Bo′) Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 42 in (1.1 m) Minimum curve 17 degrees (locomotive only) 10 degrees (with train) Length 101 ft (31 m) Height 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) Adhesive weight 720,000 lb (330 t) Loco weight 720,000 lb (330 t) Electric system/s 11 kV, 25 Hz AC Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors 12 GE 746 of 420 hp (310 kW) Transmission AC Synchronous motors (2×), DC Generators (4×), DC traction motors (12×) Train heating None Loco brake Air/Regenerative Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h) Power output 5,000 hp (3,700 kW) Tractive effort 119,000 lbf (530 kN)
Career Operators Great Northern Railway Class W-1 Number in class 2 Numbers 5018, 5019 Delivered 1947 Retired August 1956 Scrapped 1968, 1959 Disposition 5018 sold to Union Pacific in 1960, rebuilt in 1962, and scrapped in 1968. 5019 scrapped in 1959.

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 5,000 horsepower (3.7 MW), and at that time were the largest single-unit electric locomotives used in North America. The engines share a great resemblance to the Virginian EL-2B locomotives.

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.