Electric, Diesel and Steam Locomotives

Posted by Sterling1

on Fri, Oct 1 2004 7:04 PM

One electric locomotive that I am curious about are the Milwaukee Road's "Little Joes." What was their tractive effort, horsepower, use and original use.
Thanks in advance for all the information.[8D]

"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]

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Posted by DSchmitt

on Fri, Oct 1 2004 10:31 PM

http://www.highironillustrations.com/railfan_specification/spec_littlejoe.html

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

Posted by ndbprr

on Mon, Oct 4 2004 8:57 AM

Little Joe's are called that because they were originally built to be sold to Russia. Joseph Stalin was in power and they were nicknamed Little Joes when the government stopped the sale. They were regauged from 5' to 4' 8 1/2" for US usage. Milwaukee Road and South Shore purchased them. I only saw the South Shore version and the pantograph had so much slop in it that it would stay in one place when the engine started for 6" to a foot before it would start to move making it a parallelagram rather than a diamond. The South Shore never taxed them and they were phased out when they went to GP38's for freight service. they were the last electrics the South SHore had in freight service. Now the only equipment runnng off the overhead is the NICTD woned Kawasaki cars.

Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

on Mon, Oct 4 2004 2:05 PM

A total of 20 Little Joes were built. Twelve were sold to MILW, three went to South Shore, and five went to the Paulista in Brazil (5'3" gauge). The Joes in Brazil may have been the last to operate and some were re-equipped with Faiveley (single-arm) pantographs.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

Posted by espeefoamer

on Tue, Oct 5 2004 9:34 PM

The Little Joes lasted longer on the South Shore than on the Milwaukee Road.
The MILW. units lasted until the end of electrafication in 1974. On the South Shore the last unit was retired in 1982.Two South Shore units are in museums.
One is at the Illinois Railway Museum.The other was at the B&O museum,but has since been moved. They had 5000 HP and were longer than a GG1.
A MILW. Joe has been preserved in Deer Lodge,Montana.

Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.

Posted by Sterling1

on Sun, Oct 10 2004 11:50 PM

Are there any real reasons why GE locomotives seem to have turbo fires?

Posted by Sterling1

on Sun, Oct 10 2004 11:52 PM

Does anyone know if there are design papers for the control stands Knee knockers and all the others?

Posted by Sterling1

on Mon, Oct 11 2004 10:28 PM

Does anyone of good websites of pictures of locmotive toilets? Some have appeared writing as being unkempt in adequacy.

Posted by railman

on Sun, Oct 24 2004 4:32 PM

Sterling1-

This forum isn't going to get your answers very quickly- over the past few weeks it seems to be quite dead in terms of posts, new topics, and people answering them. Try posting in the trains magazine forum- more people go to that one.

Posted by jdolan

on Tue, Oct 26 2004 12:40 PM

There is a Little Joe at Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.