PRR-Engine #4465

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Class: E-44a

Built: 1963

Manufacturer: Pennsylvania Railroad and General Electric, Erie, Pennsylvania

Retired: 1991

The Pennsylvania Railroad #4465 is an E-44a class electric locomotive, built for heavy freight service on the PRR's electrified mainlines. It is equipped with 5,000 horsepower, using 11 Kvolt, 25 Hz AC catenary power. The E-44a was a rectifier locomotive, converting AC to DC using mercury-arc ignitron or silicon diode rectifiers to power its six traction motors. Crews appreciated the E-44a's raw pulling power and relatively simple controls, although the units were known to be loud and utilitarian compared to passenger locomotives.