Rapido 052511 HO GE E44a Electric (DC/DCC/Sound): Penn Central: #4441

Specifications

HO Scale E44 Electric Motor Three E44s drag a freight along the Delaware River in a snowstorm. Photos courtesy of John Lassahn. A PRR ore train under wires. Electric freight at its best. Photos courtesy of John Lassahn. The Pennsylvania Railroad was well known for their usage of electrified freight railroading. They took advantage of their main lines being electrified for passenger usage from Washington to Harrisburg and even to New York. In fact, it was predicted that the future of rail would rely on electrifying future routes for this type of service. In the 1960s, the Pennsylvania Railroad needed a new electric motor to replace their aging P5a motors, which had been in service since the 1930s. The PRR settled on GE’s E44 motor. The E44 was able to output 4,400 horsepower in a boxy shape, which ultimately helped gain its nickname of “brick”. Sixty class E44 electric motors were built by GE, with a silicone diode rectifier. Sixty class E44 electric motors were built by GE, with an ignitron rectifier system. Six more were built using the new silicone diode rectifier system GE instituted and classified as E44a and rated at 5,500 horsepower. During the Penn-Central era, 22 E44 motors were upgraded to E44a specifications. However, when Penn-Central became embroiled in their bankruptcy woes, the program was halted. a Please note that the Amtrak Phase III E44a is a fantasy scheme officially licensed by Amtrak. The HO scale E44 Electric Motor features:

• Accurately scaled from blueprints and prototype measurements
• Operating pantographs on DC/DCC/Sound models
• Road number-specific details
• Three styles of roof vents
• Various vent hoods as appropriate
• Three styles of hood doors and end doors
• Full cab interior with lighted consoles
• Mo-Power capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
• Suggested minimum radius: 22"