Virginian EL-2B

The Virginian Railway's class EL-2B comprised four two-unit electric locomotives with AAR (B+B-B+B)+(B+B-B+B) wheel arrangements. The locomotives were used on the 133-mile (214 km) electrified portion of the railroad, from Roanoke, Virginia to Mullens, West Virginia. These large motor-generator locomotives weighed 1,033,832 pounds (468.938 t), were 150 feet 8 inches (45.92 m) long, and were capable of producing 6,800 horsepower (5.1 MW).

Virginian Railway EL-2B Class
Virginian EL-2B, near Salem, VA., July 11, 1953
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder GE Erie Works Build date 1948 Total produced 4 (8 individual locomotives)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte (4-4-4-4)+(4-4-4-4)  • AAR (B+B-B+B)+(B+B-B+B)  • UIC (Bo′Bo′)(Bo′Bo′)+(Bo′Bo′)(Bo′Bo′) Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheel diameter 42 in (1.1 m) Length 150 ft 8 in (45.92 m) Width 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) Height 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) Adhesive weight 1,033,832 lb (468.938 t) Loco weight 1,033,832 lb (468.938 t) Electric system/s 11 kV, 25 Hz AC Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors 16 × 500 hp (370 kW) GE 746 Transmission AC Synchronous motors(2x)/ DC Generators(4x)/ DC traction motors(16x) Train heating None Loco brake Air/Regenerative Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 mph (80 km/h) Power output 6,800 hp (5,100 kW) Tractive effort 260,000 lbf (1,200 kN)
Career Operators Virginian Railway Class EL-2B Number in class 4 Numbers 125–128 Delivered 1948 Retired 1959 Disposition All scrapped by 1959

The EL-2B locomotives were built at General Electric's Erie works in 1948. Numbered 125–128, they were the largest two-unit electric locomotives used in North America.

The locomotives were retired and sold for scrap shortly after the 1959 merger of the Virginian with the Norfolk and Western Railway. None of the 4 examples built have survived.

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