View source for EMC EA/EB

{{Infobox locomotive
| name = EMC EA/EB
| powertype = Diesel-electric
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}}
| length ={{cvt|21.06|m}}
| image = Capitol Limited EMD EA and Tom Thumb 1937.jpg
| caption = [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|B&O]] EA 51 on the [[Capitol Limited (B&O train)|Capitol Limited]] sitting next to the Tom Thumb locomotive replica, in 1937.
| builddate = May 16th, 1937–1938
| builder = [[Electro-Motive Diesel|Electro-Motive Corporation]] (EMC)
| operator = [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]], [[Alton Railroad]], [[Gulf, Mobile and Ohio]]
| poweroutput = {{convert|1800|hp|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|251.3|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}
| locobrakes = [[Westinghouse air brake|Westinghouse]]
| trainbrakes = [[Westinghouse air brake|Westinghouse]]
| maxspeed = {{convert|68-99.4| mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| axleload = 25.5 t
| fueltype = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]]
| primemover = [[Winton Motor Carriage Company|Winton]] 201-A, twinned
| enginetype = 60 degree V
| cylindercount = 12 x 2
| transmission = [[Diesel-electric]]
| aarwheels = A1A-A1A
| totalproduction = 6 [[A unit]]s, 6 [[B unit]]s
| fleetnumbers = 51–56 (A units), 51X–56X (B units)
| disposition = number 51 on static display at the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum]]
}}
The '''EMC EA/EB''' is an early [[passenger train]]-hauling [[diesel locomotive]] built from May 16, 1937, to 1938 by [[Electro-Motive Diesel|Electro-Motive Corporation]] of [[La Grange, Illinois]] for the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]].<ref>Pinkepank 1973.</ref>{{page needed|date=July 2016}} They were the first model in a long line of passenger diesels of similar design known as [[EMD E-unit]]s. Each locomotive unit developed {{convert|1800|hp}} from two {{convert|900|hp|abbr=on}} [[Winton Motor Carriage Company|Winton]] 201-A [[diesel engine]]s, driving the wheels through [[Diesel-electric transmission|an electric transmission]]—the [[Electrical generator|generator]] driven by each engine provided current for [[traction motor]]s. The locomotives were of [[AAR wheel arrangement#A1A-A1A|A1A-A1A]] [[wheel arrangement]]—two three-axle [[Bogie|trucks]] of which only the outer two [[axle]]s were powered. Six two-unit {{convert|3600|hp|abbr=on}} locomotives were produced, each consisting of a lead cab-equipped '''EA''' [[A unit]] and a cabless booster '''EB''' [[B unit]]. They were numbered 51 through 56; the A units bore the bare number and the B units the number followed by 'X'.

== Trains hauled ==
The six locomotives hauled some of the major named trains of the B&O; the ''[[Royal Blue (train)|Royal Blue]]'', the ''[[Capitol Limited (B&O train)|Capitol Limited]]'', the ''[[National Limited]]'', and others. These trains were [[streamliner]]s in appearance, but they were built largely of refurbished heavyweight [[Passenger car (rail)|passenger car]]s rebuilt with smooth sides, smooth rooflines, air conditioning, new interiors and modern appointments.

B&O 52 was sold to the [[Alton Railroad]] in 1940. This locomotive became a [[Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad]] unit in 1947.

== Significance and influence ==
The EA/EB—along with the more-or-less simultaneous [[EMC E1|E1]] for the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] and the [[EMC E2|E2]] for the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], [[Chicago and North Western Railway]] and [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]—represented an important step in the evolution of the passenger diesel locomotive. While the EA, E1 and E2 were each built for a specific railroad, they were largely identical mechanically and were a step further away from the custom-built, integrated [[streamliner]] and towards mass-produced passenger locomotives—a step achieved with the [[EMC E3|E3]] and [[EMD E6|E6]], EMD's later models.

== Styling ==
The EA/EB and E1 featured largely identical and innovative styling showing the influence of the Electro-Motive Corporation's new buyer [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]. While mechanically they had much in common with previous, experimental EMC locomotives, GM understood the importance of looking new and exciting, not primerely being technically innovative. This basic "slant nose" style was continued in the subsequent E3, E4, E5 and E6 models, while a more "bulldog nose" style was tried in the E2 and a style somewhere in between was used for the [[EMD E7|E7]], [[EMD E8|E8]] and [[EMD E9|E9]], as well as the [[EMD F-unit|EMD F-Units]].

Its initial design was protected under US Patent D106,918.<ref>{{US patent reference
 |number = D106918
 |y = 1937
 |m = 11
 |d = 09
 |title = Design for a Locomotive Body
 |inventor = [[Harold L. Hamilton]], [[Richard M. Dilworth]], [[Martin P Blomberg]], [[Leland A. Knickerbocker]], and [[Chris J. Klein]]
}}</ref>

== Preservation ==
B&O #51, the first EA built, has been preserved at the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. The EA has completed cosmetic restoration and is now on exhibit.<ref>{{cite web |title=B&O Railroad Museum Unveils 1937 Locomotive Restoration |url=http://railpace.com/bo-railroad-museum-unveils-1937-locomotive-restoration/|website=railpace.com |access-date=29 January 2021 |date=26 January 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Lamb-Evolution}}
* {{Marre-diesel-50}}
* {{Pinkepank diesel spotters guide 2}}
* {{Schafer-Vintage Diesel}}
* {{Solomon-American Diesel|pages=53–56, 63, 65, 67, 68, 70}}
* {{Solomon-EMD Locomotives}}
* {{Solomon-Vintage Diesel}}
* {{Solomon-Electro-Motive}}
* {{Solomon-North American Locomotives}}
* {{Wilson-E Units}}
{{refend}}

{{EMD cab and cowl}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:EMC EA EB}}
[[Category:A1A-A1A locomotives]]
[[Category:Electro-Motive Division locomotives|E0]]
[[Category:Baltimore and Ohio locomotives]]
[[Category:Passenger locomotives]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1937]]
[[Category:Locomotives with cabless variants]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Streamlined diesel locomotives]]