First "Main-Line" electrification using Alternating-Current?

Question

Which railroad first used hi-tension Alternating Current, AKA the "Single-Phase system", to operate a "Main Line" , or "Trunk Line" railroad between "major" transportation centers.

Answer 1

I'm 100% sure on full scale electrification with overhead wires, it would be the New Haven's (New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co.) mainline in 1907... They beat the Pennsy and other carriers with a full blown electrification of the 4-track mainline between New Haven and New York. I have heard it touted as the first large scale electrification by the railroad and Westinghouse.

The system was 11000vAC 25Hz

This line was one of the busiest ever, with trains every few minutes and remains one of the busiest in the US.

Addendum: I think you missed the mark here Hoghead.. B&O may have had the first little set, and the NH had third rail trolleys longer than NYC had third rail after the steam engine and pollution ban of 1903. NH experiments go back to 1895 and earlier. The GG1 definitely was not the first - very far from it.

Quickly, from page 310 regarding the New Haven RR electrification, more text below:

" It represented the first American use of electric locmotives for considerable distances and for heavy local and express passenger service as well as through freight, local freight and yard switching. With 35 miles of track under wire, Oak Point was once the largest electrified yard in the world... No previous electrification of such magnitude had been carried out anywhere, and for years the New Haven had the greatest electrified milage of any American Railroad."

On page 308 of "New Haven Power", the NHRR:

"At 11:00am May 22, 1982, a small group gathered at the Consolidated Rail Corperation's ancient steam power plant in Cos Cob, Conn. to honor men long dead but an idea still very much alive. This commemoration by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers was made official by the presentation of a bronze plaque reading: ' NATIONAL HISTORIC ENGINEERING LANDMARK... ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRIFICATION OF THE NEW YORK, NEW HAVEN, & HARTFORD RAILROAD 1907'.

Thus official recognition was finally made of one of the boldest technological breakthroughs of its era, a breakthrough which was at first severely criticized and which underwent many trials by fire, emerging triumphant to become a worldwide standard for over half a century."

"Electrical Engineer W.S. Murray finally made his recommendation to the Board of Directors, and in 1905 the New Haven rocked electrification circles by announcing that it would go with 11,000 volts single phase alternating current. Westinghouse got the nod for 35 B-B locomotives, plus power plant and transmission equipment."

Page 310:

"On April 18, 1907 the New Haven's wires were energized between Cos Cob and Woodlawn; the locomotives were delivered from late 1906 into 1907. Test runs commenced, and the first regular electric train rain from Grand Central to New Rochelle, NY on July 24, 1907. By October, the entire 21 1/2 mile route from Woodlawn to Stamford (110 Track Miles) was in electrified service.

The rest is history. Despite many early teething troubles with both equipment and power distribution the system was a resounding success..."

"The total of 152 route miles (672 track miles) under catenary proved the New Haven's daring step back in 1905 had been a wise and farsighted one indeed. <*> It represented the first American use of electric locmotives for considerable distances and for heavy local and express passenger service as well as through freight, local freight and yard switching. With 35 miles of track under wire, Oak Point was once the largest electrified yard in the world... No previous electrification of such magnitude had been carried out anywhere, and for years the New Haven had the greatest electrified milage of any American Railroad.<*>"

According to the roster, class EP-1 "Pioneers" number 01-041, with a 1-B-B-1 wheel base, gearless quill drive, 62" drivers, 1016 continuous horsepower, weighing in at 204000lbs, built by BLW-Westinghouse, would be the *FIRST* American electric units to run under heavy electric wire, having been built and run regularly in 1906-1908.

And, the GG1 was a late arrival and was based off the New Haven EP-3!!!!

Page 352 of New Haven Power:

"Meanwhile, all was not well with the Pennsy's new AC electrfication. The initial P5 2-C-2 passenger electrics built starting in 1931 were not only too light for consists over either or ten cars but suffered tracking problems. Thus starting in April 1933 almost two years of high speed testing was begun by the PRR near Claymont, Del., and here our New Haven 0351 series re-entered the picture. At least the 0351, 0354, and 0359 joined in the tests and some were regeared by Wilmington shopes for 120mph. With their articulated truck frames and weight/power spread over many more axles than the rigid-framed P5, the New Haven electrics tracked much better at high speeds.

The rest is history. The Pennsylvania built two large experimental electrics after the initial tests, with 1934 testing demonstrating that the one based on the NH 0351 series tracked much better than the expanded varant of the P5. The NH-based engine became the 4800, the first of 139 GG1's....."

So there you have it - the New Haven lead the way, and the PRR and GG1 were light years behind and owe their success to the New Haven.

Answer 2

1835. As early as 1829, a man from Vermont, Thomas Davenport, had developed an electromagnetic motor, and patented in 1835, and operated on a short section of track of the same year.

Development of generators and motors with sufficient output to power locomotives began in the 1860-1870s. Electrification in the US was minimal compared to that of Europe.

The first locomotive to power mainline movements in the US came along when the Baltimore & Ohio railroad began running electric engines #1 to #3, which were put into service in 1895. Built by GE, these locomotives operated on 675 volt DC, with power being distributed via overhead catenary. These engines stayed in use until 1912.

In 1904, GE had developed a locomotive that ran on 660 volts DC, supplied by "third" rail, and was the first purchased by the New Yor Central. 1910 saw the development of a 660v DC engine with both overhead and third rail pick up.

Pennsylvania railroad's GG-1 was the first AC powered locomotive, running on overhead AC lines catenary, at 15,000 volts and 25Hz., in 1928. Power from the overheads was stepped down, by on board transfomers, to 12, 410 HP single phase traction motors.

So, the answer to your question is, 1928, in the US. Good question.