New Haven EP-5's

A good reference for the EP-5 (if you can find it) was published in 1991 by N.J. International:

It covers the EP-5 from beginning to end, along with technical information.

Also there's "New Haven Power" published by Alan Staufer.  I also recall the New Haven Historical Society covered the EP-5 in an issue of their publication, The Shoreliner.

Rusty

Lionel and American Flyer both popularized that engine beyond New York and Connecticut.  A small class of engines like the EP-5 would not draw much attention in San Diego if not for the toy train manufactures.  

I saw EP-5s a bunch of times when I was a kid. I wished I had gotten to see the EP-4s and EF-3s which were far more impressive machines and contemporaries of the PRR's GG1s (My all-time favorite electric motors.)

The initial paint scheme proposed by General Electric for the EP-5 was the traditional New Haven green and gold but with silver trucks. GE later proposed another green/gold color scheme with black trucks and a third scheme unlike anything the New Haven had used previously. Lucille McGinnis, the wife of New Haven Railroad president Patrick McGinnis, then suggested that something more stylish should be developed including the new NH logo. She, in conjunction with Florence Knoll and Herbert Matter, a graphic designer and instructor of photography at Yale University in New Haven, developed the red/black/white scheme eventually selected for the EP-5s. She had also suggested a similar yellow/black/white scheme which was painted onto one of the first EP-5s but she eventually chose the red/black/white scheme for production. Thus, there were five paint schemes designed for the EP-5 before it went into service. They are the ones that I would like to see on a model. I believe that MTH previously made the green/gold and yellow/black/white schemes in its O gauge Premier line.

MELGAR

FWIW - here's a complete collection of pictures (which I just stumbled upon) of the Penn Central's E40's - all six in PC black, including #4971 which shows the fire damage.  http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...lthumbs.aspx?mid=874

#4973 and #4977 survived long enough to see some service in the Conrail era - at least the pictures show #4973 still active in 1976 and #4977 active into 1977.

I thought PRR tested one?

I saw a mention don't remember where...the PRR did test run one to Washington,according to what  I read,the long run caused the unit to overheat....

Just my own opinion, but these locomotives were built with 1954 technology, and, during their service life, great advances were made in electric profile locomotives in Europe, where they were abundant.  That technology came to North America and made the EP-5 so obsolete that capital rebuilding was pointless.  Otherwise, these -- and the Virginian units -- might have been able to continue running for decades like some old diesel-electrics which have been rebuilt with more modern on-board technology.  I always wanted to see one, but never did.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

You're right Tom, GE used outdated technology even before they were finished. The EP-5's used Mercury Arc ignatron rectifier tubes that were high maintenance, and from what I read, fragile and unreliable. Same with the Virginian E-33 rectifiers. In 1960 when the big Pennsy E-44's were built, they had solid state rectifier diodes. I read that the NH tried to convert one EP-5 to solid state that was a failure.

MELGAR posted:

 I believe that MTH previously made the green/gold and yellow/black/white schemes in its O gauge Premier line.

MELGAR

You are correct that MTH did the green/gold.  I have one.  MTH cataloged the yellow/black EP-5.  I have never seen one and I don't know if it was produced.  

Rapido is currently making very accurate HO EP-5 models.  They are advertising one with the yellow/black paint.  

I have never liked the various Lionel EP-5s with B-B trucks instead of the correct C-C trucks.  

NH Joe

Chuck Sartor posted:

You're right Tom, GE used outdated technology even before they were finished. The EP-5's used Mercury Arc ignatron rectifier tubes that were high maintenance, and from what I read, fragile and unreliable. Same with the Virginian E-33 rectifiers. In 1960 when the big Pennsy E-44's were built, they had solid state rectifier diodes. I read that the NH tried to convert one EP-5 to solid state that was a failure.

The first 60 E44s had Ignitron rectifiers. The last 6 were built with silicon rectifiers and produced 600 additional HP for a total of 5000. They were classed E44a. GE subsequently upgraded 22 of the original 60 to E44a standards. (4438-4459). The PC bankruptcy halted the upgrade program. Conrail replaced the Ignitron rectifiers with silicon components on the remaining (4400-4437) units but without the horsepower upgrade.

I saw the "Bricks" many times. Regrettably, I never trained my camera on one. I thought they were utilitarian looking and quite uninspiring to look at.

They could never draw my attention away from the magnificently styled GG1s, any more than a geep could compete with an F-unit, or any diesel with a live steam locomotive.

Note: There is no hyphen. PRR never used hyphens. (K4s, M1a, T1 GG1 etc.)