VGN EL-1A "Squarehead" Electric Engines Questions

[NW Mailing List]

That picture of the units from the side shows off just how massive they
were. I can't imagine what people who lived along the right of way thought
of those things when they arrived on the railroad. I guess at least they
had side rods, so they probably seemed somewhat familiar.

Mike Rector

On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 11:30 AM NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
wrote:

> We young whippersnappers are really grateful for you Old Geezers who so
> willingly answer our questions.
>
> Now, since the Virginian bought out the N&W in 1959, I guess it is
> permissible to ask a few VGN questions in this august forum.  So here
> goes...
>
> In the University of Pittsburgh Historic Pittsburgh Collection, I found
> the first attached image, which appears to be a Westinghouse image taken
> before the engine was delivered (witness front platform transverse grab
> irons are not yet installed, and the front roof high-current electrical bus
> cable is not installed.)  I was unable to download a good copy of this
> file, so what I have attached is only a screenshot dipped in the Photoshop
> bath a couple times.  Translation:  It ain't very sharp.
>
> FIRST QUESTION:
>
> The first thing that caught my eye in this photograph is the double
> classification lamps (two on each side, in an over/under arrangement.
> Don't understand the application, but love it anyway.  The more lamps, the
> better.
>
> The next thing to catch my eye was the adjusting hand-wheels on both sides
> of the front drawhead.  Where they for adjusting lateral alignment of the
> drawhead?  Also note the transverse pipe-like structures on both sides of
> the drawhead, which may contain springs or a screw/ratchet arrangement.
> (My guess is that a fine example of Westinghouse's standard marketing
> policy:  Convince the customer to buy more than he actually needs ! )
>
> The second photo attachment shows a better view of this arrangement on Eng
> 107 (from the Barriger collection) but the side adjusting wheels have been
> removed, perhaps indicating the railroad figured out they did not need all
> the contraptions Mr. Westinghouse had charged them for.
>
> SECOND QUESTION:
>
>  After someone explains to me the gizmo contraption with handwheels down
> near the drawhead, the second question will pertain to those flamboyant
> loop guards attached to the right and left ends of the pantograph in later
> years.  (Also shown in the second photo attachment.)  They remind me of the
> feather plume on the helmet of a Seventeenth Century Dragoon soldier.
> Almost certainly placed there to keep the engines from "running out from
> under the wire" on curved track, and I can understand that.   But what,
> pray tell, did that do to the clearance issue in the VGN's plethora of
> tunnels?  Were any tunnel modifications necessary when those ungainly
> pantograph extensions were hung atop the EL-1A Engines ?
>
> Sign me perplexed.  I need counsel from the Sages.
>
> -- abram burnett
> WhippersnapperTunips.com
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