Pennsylvania Railroad class L6

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class L6 comprised three electric locomotives of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation. The intention was to build a whole class of freight boxcab locomotives using this design, but the displacement of class P5a to freight work after the introduction of the GG1 meant that there was little need for more electric freight locomotives.

Pennsylvania Railroad L6
L6 #7825
Type and origin Power type Electric Builder PRR Altoona Works Build date 1932–1933 Total produced 3
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • AAR 1-D-1  • UIC 1'Do'1 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 62 in (1.575 m) Adhesive weight 220,000 lb (99,800 kg) Loco weight 300,000 lb (136,000 kg) Electric system/s 11 kV, 25 Hz AC Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors 4x 625 hp (466 kW) Transmission AC current fed via a transformer tap changer to AC traction motors. Train heating None Loco brake Air Train brakes Air Safety systems Cab signalling
Performance figures Maximum speed 54 mph (87 km/h) Power output 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) Tractive effort 55,000 lbf (244.65 kN)
Career Operators Pennsylvania Railroad Number in class L6: 2, L6a: 1 Scrapped 1966–1967 Disposition All scrapped

Two L6 class locomotives were built at Altoona Works as prototypes in 1932. Numbered 7825–7826, they were renumbered 5938–5939 in 1933. Sixty production L6a locomotives were planned, with the car bodies of thirty subcontracted to Lima Locomotive Works (order number 1128, construction numbers 7587–7616). One was completed as PRR 5940, while the other 29 car bodies remained in store at Altoona until scrapped in 1942 for the war effort.

The 5939 and 5940 were renumbered 4790 and 4791 in 1966, with the 5938 scrapped the same year. The last two were scrapped in 1967.

References

• Volkmer, William D. (1991). Pennsy Electric Years. Edison, New Jersey: Morning Sun Books, Inc. pp. 16, 126–127. ISBN 978-1-878887-01-6.
• Train Misc NE Rails
• PRR Chronology 1937
• PRR Chronology 1968
• Staufer, Alvin F.; Pennypacker, Bert (1962). Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900-1957. Research by Martin Flattley. Carollton, Ohio: Alvin F. Staufer. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-9445-1304-0.