Steeple Cab 1544
Donald Duke Collection
Pacific Electric steeple cab locomotive no. 1544.
Donald Duke Collection
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I am not knowledgeable on subject of electricity, but I still find it comical that a small electric engine like the “Electra” #1544 drew such large amounts of electricity when it was a part of the North Shore Railroad that other electric cars along the line would slow to a crawl. For this reason, it was operated only during the early hours of the morning to prevent this.
The “Electra” performed its last duty as a switch engine a P.E.’s vast Torrence repair shops until its retirement in 1952. I wonder if the “Electric” has been preserved and is still in existence today. If so, does OERM have it? I hope so. E. Suydam & Co. imported the “Electra” as a brass HO scale model years ago and I’m looking to add it to my brass HO model train collection. The “Electra” is an odd, but, interesting looking piece of P.E. equipment.
I meant to say “I wonder if the “Electra” (not “Electric”) has been preserved”.
The Electra, PE 1544, was donated to Travel Town in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, in 1955. However, its motors were removed and retained by PE.
The problem of heavy current draw requiring “Electra” to only operate after the passenger cars were done for the night probably indicates that the electrification was done “on the cheap”, with just enough capacity for normal operations.