The lonely "Box cab" electric has always been the basic entry level for the tinplate world ..with many thousands of happy junior engineers running thier powered brick ...with very little chance of ever actually seeing one outside of the metro NYC area. Same in the scale world ...both Ed Alexander and Fred Icken offered a New York & New Haven RR EY-3 by Alco- GE.
Prototype built 1926 ..O scale model 1933-40...offered with single and double motor versions.
Bronze cast body helps for maximum traction of the powered brick. Small in size ideal for even th smallest layout.
1934 Alexander catalog lists single motor box cab ready to run at a mere $75.00 ..a price to rival the most expensive tinplate standard gauge sets at the time .
Photos Green engine double motor Alexander ...outside 3rd rail ..Black engine Icken single motor ..overhead wire power.
To see the Alexander box cab in action please see link
https://youtu.be/53UtxCUSUyg
Cheers Carey