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Great Northern (US) class 5000 boxcab
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United States | 1909
4 produced
General Electric works photo
General Electric works photo

For traffic through the Cascade Tunnel, the Great Northern received four four-axle boxcab electric locomotives in 1909. They were built by ALCO with their electrical equipment supplied by General Electric. Operating under 6,600 V three-phase AC at 25 Hz, each locomotive delivered 1,900 hp for an hour and 1,600 hp continuously. Power was transmitted via two trolley poles and the rails.

The locomotives were only used for the traffic in the tunnel and at both ends, steam locomotives took over. The electrified section through the tunnel was roughly three miles long and had a grade of 1.7 percent. Thanks to their multiple control equipment, three of the locomotives could be used to haul heavy freight trains at 15.7 mph (25.3 km/h). As train weights grew, all four locomotives were used together, but the speed had to be halved to 7.8 mph (12.6 km/h) to reduce the strain on the power supply.

General
Built1909
Manufacturermechanical part: ALCO, electrical part: General Electric
Wheel arr.B-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 2 in
Wheelbase31 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft
Service weight230,000 lbs
Adhesive weight230,000 lbs
Axle load61,910 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourceelectric - three-phase
Electric system6,600 V 25 Hz
Hourly power1,900 hp (1,417 kW)
Continuous power1,600 hp (1,193 kW)
Top speed15 mph
Starting effort57,500 lbf
Calculated Values
electric locomotive
freight
last changed: 06/2025
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