VGN EL-2B

[CBQ Fan]

So, would you like to see one of these made in N scale?  I just saw film footage on RFDTV.  I think they are pretty cool.  I have never seen them before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGN_EL-2B

[sirenwerks]

The GN W-1s were similar in design.

[CBQ Fan]

Even Better!!

[Bob Bufkin]

That GN unit went to PRR and if i'm not mistaken the nose wound up on an F unit which was wrecked and repaired.

[wcfn100]

That GN unit went to PRR and if i'm not mistaken the nose wound up on an F unit which was wrecked and repaired.

Wrong GN unit I think.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1199/gn5011a.jpg

Jason

[bbussey]

The only way we'll see any of those electrics in N is if someone scratchbuilds them.  The good news is that it's getting easier to do that technology-wise with each passing day.

[sirenwerks]

That GN unit went to PRR and if i'm not mistaken the nose wound up on an F unit which was wrecked and repaired.

Just the opposite - As visually displayed, #5011 was the victim of two FT A-unit donors, and reclassified after the rebuild as a Y1A. Funnily, a F unit wearing the original nose of the pre-accident GN Y1 design would look more like a RI AB unit, as the Y1s were a box cab design, not like the streamlined W1 I posted. But yes, the PRR ended up with seven of the GN Y1s in '58, I think.





The GN W1, of which there were only 2 units - 5018 and 5019 - never went to the PRR. 5019 was scrapped but 5018 was sold to the UP, where it lost its cabs and pantographs and its frame ended up as a UP turbine unit joined to a PA1 (80/80A). 

[Bob Bufkin]

I know I read that the PRR got one of the streamlined units when they got the others to be used as parts.

[jmlaboda]

"I know I read that the PRR got one of the streamlined units when they got the others to be used as parts."

It was the other way around... Y1a 5011 was acquired for parts while the Y1s served on the PRR from 1956 to 1966.

[CBQ Fan]

Just the opposite - As visually displayed, #5011 was the victim of two FT A-unit donors, and reclassified after the rebuild as a Y1A. Funnily, a F unit wearing the original nose of the pre-accident GN Y1 design would look more like a RI AB unit, as the Y1s were a box cab design, not like the streamlined W1 I posted. But yes, the PRR ended up with seven of the GN Y1s in '58, I think.

The GN W1, of which there were only 2 units - 5018 and 5019 - never went to the PRR. 5019 was scrapped but 5018 was sold to the UP, where it lost its cabs and pantographs and its frame ended up as a UP turbine unit joined to a PA1 (80/80A). 

The PA set would be another cool unit to own!!

[nkalanaga]

The GN's W1s were quite different from the VGN EL-2Bs, although they ran on the same voltage and frequency.  The EL-2Bs had 8 powered axles under each of two units, (2)B+B-B=B, where the GN was a single B+D-D+B monster.  The GN units were built a year before the VGN, and I suspect that someone decided that the VGN needed something that could better handle curves...

The MILW's Little Joe electrics looked like smaller versions of the W1, and were also built starting in 1948, the same year as the EL-2B.  In spite of having only 8 motors, instead of the W1's 12, the continuous horsepower rating was almost identical, 5110 for the Joe, 5150 for the W1.  Wikipedia says the EL-2B's rating was 6800 Hp, so the extra motors made a big difference.  And, of course, the Joes were DC.

[PGE-N°2]

I would rather see a Milwaukee Little Joe and Boxcabs first (not to mention a non-brass Bi-Polar), but I also wouldn't mind if someone ever created these in N scale, because some have speculated that the Milwaukee should have constructed its own direct current version of these locos since the drivers were well spaced and would have been ideal for running on the Milwaukee's curvature with minimal rail wearing. So it would be nice to have a set because a fantasy paint scheme would be amusing.

A member of the local club had designs for building an EL2B using the chassis from a pair of old Con-Cor GE U50 because they already have four trucks per unit.

[nkalanaga]

It would have been easy enough for the MILW to have bought the GN's electrics.  They all used rotary converters, so all the MILW would have had to do was change the 11,000 V AC / DC traction current converters to 3300 Volt DC / DC converters.  Yank the old ones out, drop the new ones in, and off they go.  And you're right, they would have been ideal for the MILW, as they were designed for the same type of service, unlike the Pennsy's fast, light trains on relatively flat, straight track.  All the PRR used them for was helpers, as they were too slow for most trains, and too wide for some routes.

Like you, I'd rather have the MILW Boxcabs.  A pair is exactly what I need for my interchange, and I'd buy more if I could afford them.