electrification

[Anonymous]

what were sources of electric power for long haul lines like Milwaukee Road etc...for example how was power generated and what was typical distance between power generators..Did PRR generate their own electric or buy it from power companies...how did Illinois Central get electric for their commuters...

gunde
glenview illinois

[mudchicken]

Milwaukee and Illinois Terminal generated their own power from substations located along the line. Trains had an excellent article on the Western Extension of CMSt.P&P in 1980-81......

[jchnhtfd]

PRR, NYC and New Haven all generated their own power. They all three had big powerplants at various locations; the New Haven had three (that I can think of off hand) and the NYC at least one I can think of. NYC also took power from Consolidated Edison, and converted it for its track with banks of rotary converters on, as I recall, the second level below the lower platforms below Grand Central Terminal; at least one of the rotaries is still there. Both New Haven and PRR used 25hz power, instead of the 60 hz commercial. New York's subways also used to generate their own power.

Now it all runs on commercial power, though -- which is why New York City transportation came to a sickening halt in the recent blackout. The commercial stuff is cheaper, as the necessary environmental controls on the old powerplants would have been horribly expensive. However, cheaper does not always mean more reliable...

[espeefoamer]

The Pacific Electric built a dam in the Sierra foothills at Big Creek. This supplied all power for the railroad.The dam is now owned be Southern California Edison.