Electric locomotives (click here) are the epitome of efficiency. Even today, no other locomotive type can match the low operating costs, high tractive effort, and swift acceleration speeds of electrics. However, electrified operations do have one substantial downside; the initial cost of capital involved to reap the benefits afforded by electricity is extremely high, so much so that most railroads, even today, do not find it justifiable and choose to stick with diesel powered locomotives. The first electrics date back to 1879 when Werner Von Siemens demonstrated the first successful use of the propulsion on a small railway in Berlin, Germany. However, electrified rail operations in the United States did not come about for nearly another ten years when in 1888 General Electric successfully demonstrated the motive power on the Richmond Union Passenger Railway....
...While electrics may no longer be used in the U.S. to haul freight trains their reliability and efficiency in passenger service will likely keep them operating for decades to come, particularly as oil prices continue to rise. Extremely quiet and fast, motors are a very unique and interesting aspect of our nation’s rail system, even if they are somewhat rare in comparison to the U.S. railroad industry as a whole, and other systems around the world. Heck perhaps even one day we will again see electrics lugging freights over Stampede Pass or through the Rockies. One can always hope, anyway!
