View source for GE three-power boxcab

{{Infobox locomotive
| name             = GE three-power boxcab
| image            = NYC 1528.jpg
| alt              =
| caption          = [[New York Central]] #1528
| hatnote          =
| powertype        = Electro-diesel & battery
| designer         = [[General Electric]]
| builder          = [[ALCO]]
| ordernumber      = S-1690
| serialnumber     =
| buildmodel       = 404-OEB-255
| builddate        = 1930
| totalproduction  = 41
| rebuilder        =
| rebuilddate      =
| numberrebuilt    =
| aarwheels        = [[AAR wheel arrangement#B-B|B-B]]
| uicclass         = [[Bo'Bo']]
| gauge            = {{track gauge|ussg}}
| bogies           =
| leadingdiameter  =
| wheeldiameter    = {{convert|44|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| trailingdiameter =
| minimumcurve     =
| wheelbase        = {{convert|34|ft|1|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
| bogie            =
| pivotcentres     =
| wheelspacing     =
| length           =
| over couplers    =
| over bufferbeams =
| body             =
| width            =
| height           =
| axleload         =
| leadingbogie/pony=
| weightondrivers  =
| trail bogie/pony =
| locoweight       = {{convert|255000|lbs|t|1|abbr=on}}
| fueltype         = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]]
| fuelcap          =
| lubecap          =
| coolantcap       =
| watercap         =
| sandcap          =
| powersupply      =
| electricsystem   =
| consumption      =
| watercons        =
| primemover       = [[Ingersoll Rand]]
| rpmrange         = 550 maximum
| rpmrange low     =
| rpmrange idle    =
| rpmrange max     =
| enginetype       = 4-stroke diesel
| aspiration       =
| displacement     = {{convert|942|cuin|L|1|abbr=on}}
| alternator       =
| generator        = GE {{convert|200|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 600 V
| tractionmotors   = GE-286-B
| t/m amps 1 hr    =
| t/m amps cont    =
| headendpower     =
| cylindercount    = 1 x 6
| cylindersize     = {{convert|10|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} bore<br>{{convert|12|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} stroke
| transmission     =
| gear ratio       =
| multipleworking  =
| trainheating     =
| locobrakes       =
| dynamicpeakeffort=
| trainbrakes      =
| reservoircap     =
| compressorcap    =
| exhaustercap     =
| safety           =
| coupling         = [[Railway coupling#Janney/MCB/ARA/AAR/APTA Coupler|AAR knuckle]]
| maxspeed         = {{convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput      = Diesel: {{convert|300|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput start=
| poweroutput 1 hr = Electric: {{convert|1580|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput cont =
| tractiveeffort   = {{convert|30000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}  <br />Internal power: {{convert|9|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} <br />Third rail power:{{convert|19|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| t/e starting     =
| t/e 1 hr         =
| t/e continuous   =
| factorofadhesion =
| f/adh starting   =
| f/adh 1 hr       =
| f/adh continuous =
| locobrakeforce   =
| operator         = [[New York Central]]<br />[[Rock Island Railroad|Rock Island]]: 1
| operatorclass    = Prototype: DEs-2<br />Series: DEs-3
| powerclass       = 600 V DC Third Rail
| numinclass       = Prototype: 1<br />Series: 40
| fleetnumbers     = Prototype: NYC 1525, later 525<br />Series: NYC 1526–1566, RI 10000
| officialname     =
| nicknames        =
| axleloadclass    =
| locale           =
| deliverydate     =
| firstrundate     =
| lastrundate      =
| withdrawndate    = 1960s, 1970s
| preservedunits   =
| restoredate      =
| scrapdate        =
| currentowner     =
| disposition      = All scrapped
| notes            =
}}
The '''GE three-power boxcab'''s were early [[electro-diesel locomotive|electro-diesel]] [[hybrid locomotive|hybrid]] [[switcher locomotive]]s. These [[boxcab]]s were termed ''oil battery electrics''<ref name="1:">{{cite magazine |date=1940 |title=Locomotives of the New York Central System |url=http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc_roster_rrmag.pdf |magazine= Railroad Magazine |access-date=2016-06-12 }}</ref> to avoid the use of the German name ''Diesel'', unpopular after [[World War I]].<ref name="Garrett2014">{{cite book|author=Mark Garrett|title=Encyclopedia of Transportation: Social Science and Policy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vnpNBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA469|date=13 August 2014|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4833-4651-9|pages=469–}}</ref>
== History ==
The prototype of these locomotives was [[New York Central]] 1525 delivered in February 1928. This locomotive had a center-cab design. After successful testing a series of 40 locomotives <ref name="1:"/> with [[boxcab]] carbodies were built along with the line of the [[ALCO boxcab]]s by a consortium of [[American Locomotive Company|ALCO]], [[General Electric]], [[Ingersoll Rand]] and [[Exide|Electric Storage Battery]]. ALCO built the [[locomotive frame]], carbody and [[running gear]], General Electric built the generator, [[Traction motor|traction motors]] and controls, Ingersoll Rand provided the diesel engine, and the traction batteries were made by the Electric Storage Battery Co. of [[Philadelphia]] (now Exide).
The locomotives were mainly used in city areas for switching work, where exhaust-emissions-free operation was required at spurs entering factory halls. The main batch was ordered by New York Central Railroad to be used in the [[New York City]] area operating on the [[West Side Line]] and the [[High Line]]. Some three-power boxcabs also worked [[Chicago]], [[Detroit]], and [[Boston]]. One locomotive was built for [[Rock Island Railroad|Rock Island]], which used it for switching the [[LaSalle Street Station]] in Chicago.
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[[File:NYC 1525.jpg|thumb|left|Prototype of GE three-power-boxcab delivered as NYC #1525]]
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== Technical description ==
The principle of operation was similar to that of modern hybrid locomotives, the diesel engine driving a main generator of 600&nbsp;volts DC, which provided charging current to a bank of [[Battery (electricity)|batteries]] which powered four [[traction motors]], one per axle. In addition to being powered by the diesel engine, these locomotives were capable of operating as [[electric locomotives]]. Two of these locomotives were equipped to operate off of 3000 volt [[overhead lines]], and 34 were capable of operating off of a 600 volt [[third rail]]. The locomotives were equipped with a six-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine of {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|lk=in}}. The diesel motor was used to charge the batteries, which could not be charged by third rail power.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bVEhihy7tKEC|title=American Diesel Locomotives|last=Solomon|first=Brian|date=2000 |publisher=Voyageur Press|isbn=9781610606059|page=37|language=en}}</ref> The battery consisted of 240 Exide Ironclad cells with a total capacity of 301 [[Kilowatt hour|kWh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/1528-NEW-YORK-CENTRAL-AMERICAN-LOCOMOTIVE-COMPANY-NEW-YORK-SPEC-PHOTO-CARD/131814598629?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D37183%26meid%3D225715ef3e8642f5b8998c75939bcd41%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D351687864244 |title=#1528 New York Central (Specification Photo Card) |website=eBay |access-date=2016-06-12 }}</ref>
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[[File:NYCentral_DEs-3.png|thumb|left|New York Central Lines’ “three-power” DEs-3 locomotive operating past the R.C. Williams warehouse at 259 Tenth Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York in 1934.]]
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==See also==
* [[ALCO boxcab]], and [[GE boxcab]], [[Diesel electric locomotive|diesel-electric]] variants of these locomotives.
==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book
|author=Pinkepank, Jerry A.
|title=The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide
|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Company
|location=Milwaukee, WI
|year=1973
|isbn=0-89024-026-4
|page=GE-143
}}
==External links==
*[http://sbiii.com/boxcabs.html ALCo-GE-IR Boxcabs Page]
* Denver Public Library Digital Collections
** [https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p15330coll22/id/45533 Rock Island bi-power locomotive 10,000] (1930 photo)
{{NA Electro-diesel}}
[[Category:Diesel locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Electro-diesel locomotives]]
[[Category:General Electric locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1930]]
[[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]
[[Category:Shunting locomotives]]