View source for Pennsylvania Railroad class E2c

{{Infobox Locomotive
|name=Pennsylvania Railroad E2c
|powertype=Electric
|image=PRR E3c.jpg
|caption=
|builder= [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]] and [[Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton]]
|serialnumber=BLH 75484, 75485
|builddate=February 1952
|totalproduction=2
|gauge={{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|aarwheels=C-C
|uicclass=Co'Co'
|electricsystem=11 [[Volt|kV]], 25 [[Hertz|Hz]] [[Alternating Current|AC]]
|collectionmethod=[[Pantograph (rail)|Pantograph]]
|tractionmotors=Westinghouse 370 (6 off)
|transmission=AC current fed via a transformer [[tap changer]] through 12 [[Ignitron]] ([[Mercury arc valve|Mercury arc]]) rectifier tubes to [[Direct current|DC]] traction motors
|poweroutput={{convert|3000|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|operator=Pennsylvania Railroad
|operatorclass=E2c<ref>Carleton, Paul. ''Under Pennsy Wires''. D. Carleton Railbooks, 1982, p. 153</ref>
|fleetnumbers=4997, 4998
}}

[[Pennsylvania Railroad]] class '''E2c''' comprised a pair of experimental [[AAR wheel arrangement#C-C|C-C]] ([[AAR wheel arrangement|AAR]]) or [[Co-Co locomotives|Co-Co]] ([[UIC classification|UIC]]) [[electric locomotives]].  The bodywork and running gear was produced by [[Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton]] while the electrical equipment was provided by [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]],<ref name=":0">{{Staufer-Pennsy|pages=300–301}}</ref> who also acted as principal contractor.

In 1952 the Pennsylvania Railroad took delivery of eight experimental locomotives, four from General Electric and four from Westinghouse. While GE's were all of the same class ([[PRR E2b|E2b]]), the Westinghouse locomotives were split into two classes. Two locomotives had three two-axle trucks ([[PRR E3b|E3b]]).<ref name=":0" />

The significant technical difference between the locomotives was that those from General Electric used traditional AC traction motors. Those by Westinghouse had [[Mercury arc rectifier|mercury arc rectifiers]] to convert the AC traction power to DC. In consequence they were able to use ordinary DC [[Traction motor|traction motors]], identical to those on contemporary diesel-electric locomotives.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bezilla |first=Michael |title=The Pennsylvania's Pioneer Rectifiers |journal=[[Railroad History]] |volume=137 |date=Autumn 1977 |issue=137 |publisher=Railway and Locomotive Historical Society |pages=64–79 |jstor=43520656 }}</ref>

The locomotives were [[scrap]]ped in 1964. However, the rectifier principle they pioneered soon became the standard for new AC electric locomotives,

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Middleton-PRR-Under-Wire}}
* {{Volkmer-Pennsy-Electric |pages = 31, 126 }}
{{refend}}

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{{WH electrics}}
{{PRR locomotives}}

[[Category:11 kV AC locomotives]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives|E2c]]
[[Category:C-C locomotives]]
[[Category:Baldwin locomotives]]
[[Category:Experimental locomotives]]
[[Category:Westinghouse locomotives]]
[[Category:Electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1952]]

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[[Category:Streamlined electric locomotives]]