THE MILWAUKEE ROAD WITH ITS LONG 3000 VOLT D.C. ELECTRIFICATION AND ELDERLY MOTIVE POWER WAS BY FAR THE BEST POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FOR BUYING THE 20 "LITTLE JOE'S" AS THEY SOON BECAME KNOWN. AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMAN PUT AN EMBARGO ON SHIPMENTS OF STRATEGIC ITEMS TO THE SOVIET UNION. THE MILWAUKEE ROAD PUT FORWARD AN OFFER TO PURCHASE ALL 20 UNITS BUT THIS WAS REJECTED BY GENERAL ELECTRIC. THREE LOCOMOTIVES ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO THE CHICAGO, SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND RAILROAD IN 1949. AN AGREEMENT WAS FINALLY REACHED IN 1950 . THE PRICE WAS ONE MILLION DOLLARS !

WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL QUOTE FROM GENERAL ELECTRIC FOR ALL THE 20 LOCOMOTIVES. THIS PRICE WAS FOR 12 UNITS IN AN "AS IS" CONDITION, AFTER RECEIVING THE 20 UNITS THE MILWAUKEE SHOPS MADE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS. 2 UNITS RECEIVED TRAIN HEATING BOILERS FOR PASSENGER OPERATION. THE REST WERE  USED IN FREIGHT SERVICE. ALL UNITS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION BETWEEN HARLOWTON & AVERY (IDAHO). A DISTANCE OF 438 MILES.

MILWAUKEE ROAD "LITTLE JOE" ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

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SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA

TYPE.  2-D+D-2.

DATE BUILT.  1948. ( E20. E21.) PASSENGER.

DATE BUILT.  1948 - 1949. ( E70 - E79.) FREIGHT.

BUILDER.  GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY.

MULTIPLE UNIT.  CAPABLE OF M.U. OPERATION.

LENGTH OVERALL.  88ft. 10ins.

WIDTH OVERALL.  10ft. 7ins.

HEIGHT OVERALL. 15ft.

STARTING TRACTIVE EFFORT.  110,750 POUNDS.

MAXIMUM SPEED.  68 MPH.

HORSE POWER. 5,110 H.P.

MOTORS.  EIGHT DC SERIES-WOUND. GE 750.

TRUCKS.  GENERAL ELECTRIC CASTINGS.

WEIGHT ON DRIVERS.  405,000 POUNDS.

TOTAL ENGINE WEIGHT.  623,000 POUNDS. PASSENGER.

TOTAL ENGINE WEIGHT.  586,600 POUNDS. FREIGHT.