I read somewhere that these locomotives were built in 1949 for export to the Soviet Union. However, cold war tensions sprang up, and GE had some locomotives it could not sell to them., So, some were sold to South America, some to somewhere else, but Milwaukee Road got the bulk of them. In the late 1950s, they were equipped to run with diesel locomotives, provided the Joes were the lead engines. All were retired in 1974, when the Milwaukee Road fully dieselized.
Diselized just in the Oil crisis, humans stupidity can't be described, which probably broke their neck. It was planed to give them money out of the copper wires... Short thinking of a CEO?! I am asthonished to see these electric engines in this shape goid job GE, a bit sandblasting and grease and colour and it would look like new, dont expect a Diesel working that hard (cold winters) so long! A pity for all the work done for electric supply of the RR! Hope at least most of the hydro electric water- plants still work? I wonder why they didnt see the massive strategic advantage of these electric est-west railway, can have quite important to shift power fast and over several redundant (and therefor not easy to completely sabotage) RR from the atlantic to pacific and vice versa as fuel for planes and trucks may be short!
@@th.h.4947, Milwaukee's traction power system (substations and catenary) was weak for these machines. USSR forseed and has build a "heavy" (tons of copper) 3 kV DC catenary and traction substations with powerful mercury arc rectifiers (instead of Milwaukee's motor-generator rectifiers/converters) in 1950-s for future use of Little Joes. As of 1970-s, it was more efficient for Milwaukee Road to convert its DC electrification to more cheaper AC 25 kV or 2x25 kV catenary and substations. And also, to finalize full route electrification.
Milw was fully diesel long before 1974. The entries were just running out their last days by then. Also remember, the MILW's management had its head up its ass.
@@Joe-d7m6k Extending the Milwaukee Road to the Pacific coast was probably the biggest blunder by that railroad. It would have been much less expensive to have just built a bike trail which much of the 1909 "Pacific extension" right-of-way is today.
Very interesting. Not a lot of space to move from one end to the other. I wondered what is would have been like walking from one to the other as the train was speeding down the tracks? Sometimes I think I was born 15 years too late. Seeing steam and early diesels would have been a gas! Thanks for the tour.
Wonder why the 803 isn't operating are they planning to operate it in the future? If they do I hope that 2 electric trains to return to service the South Shore Line Little Joe 803 and the North Shore Line Streamlined Electricliner train set
@@gizmo98632 There is 8 powered axles (4 per truck). The two main trucks are independent of each other. They are connected by a hinge in the middle but they are built as a 4 axle truck. Then you have two pilot trucks at either end with two axles per truck. Here is a better view of a recent video I took of a Little Joe. ruclips.net/video/ig2WySnGoh8/видео.html
To put it in details I have learned, the kind of electricity was 25-cycles per second. The transformers in the GG1s all contained PCBs, and every one had to be removed.
Little Joe is a DC licomotive. Motor voltage/current are regulated by adding/removing additional ("ballast") resistance in series with motors. These resistors are above high voltage compartment in the center of the locomotive. Also, motors are grouping in several series/parallel power strings, according to position of "transfer" handle of main controller. These are the basics of DC locomotive control. GG1 has commutator motors, that were connected in parallel and fed with low frequency AC directly from locomotive's traction transformer through the tap changer switch, according to position of controller's power ("throttle") handle. These motors could be fed with DC, but we need some equipment to control DC current/voltage to the motors. As IRM has 600 V DC catenary, we need a scheme with several line contactors and high power resistors for this task. Or, we can install a high current DC chopper, like that in old BART motor cars. It can convert 600 V DC to any 0 - 600 V DC voltage at motors. But it also will make a non-authentic "electronic" noise. Also, we need to convert other auxiliary motors to 600 V DC: for blowers, air compressor, etc.
Actually this was my first time in this locomotive so I was not familiar with it at all. In the future I will try to explain what we are looking at or if possible have someone who works there give us a more detailed tour.
Huh youd think that as one of their crown jewels as an a rare example that is also operating; that IRM would've restored the interior. At the very least having paint chiping cant be good for the electrical systems
A very rare glimpse into the workings of a historically noteworthy locomotive model.
Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us.
Little joe is one of my favorite electric locomotives
Interesting and pretty impressive locomotive.
I read somewhere that these locomotives were built in 1949 for export to the Soviet Union. However, cold war tensions sprang up, and GE had some locomotives it could not sell to them., So, some were sold to South America, some to somewhere else, but Milwaukee Road got the bulk of them. In the late 1950s, they were equipped to run with diesel locomotives, provided the Joes were the lead engines. All were retired in 1974, when the Milwaukee Road fully dieselized.
Yes that is true and why they were called "Little Joe's" named after Joseph Stalin.
Diselized just in the Oil crisis, humans stupidity can't be described, which probably broke their neck. It was planed to give them money out of the copper wires... Short thinking of a CEO?! I am asthonished to see these electric engines in this shape goid job GE, a bit sandblasting and grease and colour and it would look like new, dont expect a Diesel working that hard (cold winters) so long! A pity for all the work done for electric supply of the RR! Hope at least most of the hydro electric water- plants still work? I wonder why they didnt see the massive strategic advantage of these electric est-west railway, can have quite important to shift power fast and over several redundant (and therefor not easy to completely sabotage) RR from the atlantic to pacific and vice versa as fuel for planes and trucks may be short!
@@th.h.4947, Milwaukee's traction power system (substations and catenary) was weak for these machines. USSR forseed and has build a "heavy" (tons of copper) 3 kV DC catenary and traction substations with powerful mercury arc rectifiers (instead of Milwaukee's motor-generator rectifiers/converters) in 1950-s for future use of Little Joes. As of 1970-s, it was more efficient for Milwaukee Road to convert its DC electrification to more cheaper AC 25 kV or 2x25 kV catenary and substations. And also, to finalize full route electrification.
Milw was fully diesel long before 1974. The entries were just running out their last days by then. Also remember, the MILW's management had its head up its ass.
@@Joe-d7m6k Extending the Milwaukee Road to the Pacific coast was probably the biggest blunder by that railroad. It would have been much less expensive to have just built a bike trail which much of the 1909 "Pacific extension" right-of-way is today.
Does the 803 still run at the Illinois Railroad Museum?
Yes it is operational.
Man I hope after collage I can get a job in a place like that I’d come to work everyday you wouldn’t even need to call me
Are you making art collages in college?
@@jimtalbott9535 that was 3 years ago never ended up going to collage and decided to work towards getting a cdl instead of a railroad career
Very interesting. Not a lot of space to move from one end to the other. I wondered what is would have been like walking from one to the other as the train was speeding down the tracks? Sometimes I think I was born 15 years too late. Seeing steam and early diesels would have been a gas! Thanks for the tour.
You're welcome. It was a pretty tight through the middle of the unit. You had to walk sideways through the locomotive.
Wonder why the 803 isn't operating are they planning to operate it in the future? If they do I hope that 2 electric trains to return to service the South Shore Line Little Joe 803 and the North Shore Line Streamlined Electricliner train set
The Little Joe is operational you can search for videos on You tube of it running.
Great video. I went this last summer but I didn't get to see GB&W 2407
Excellent!!!! the Cand NW f-7 too! thanks!
That was great! Mr. B.
How in gods name did this thing do curves in the tracks?!? Its axels from one end to the other!
It has a pivot pin in between trucks. So each truck moves into the curves. Still those huge 4 wheel trucks are very big.
@@travelingtom923 keep looking... looked as though there were more then 4 axels per.. or am I losing my mind
@@gizmo98632 There is 8 powered axles (4 per truck). The two main trucks are independent of each other. They are connected by a hinge in the middle but they are built as a 4 axle truck. Then you have two pilot trucks at either end with two axles per truck. Here is a better view of a recent video I took of a Little Joe. ruclips.net/video/ig2WySnGoh8/видео.html
@@travelingtom923 thank you for the information sir. Be well
Is this guy still running
Yes it is operational.
@@travelingtom923 this is so cool!!!!
So they can run a little joe but not a gg1 what’s the story behind that?
Is there any operational GG1's? That is another locomotive I would like to get a inside tour of.
Because GG1s run on a different voltage and would be too costly to restore and maintain.
To put it in details I have learned, the kind of electricity was 25-cycles per second. The transformers in the GG1s all contained PCBs, and every one had to be removed.
You probably could run any other PRR or NYC surviving electric but not a GG1 due to the PCB oil. and the frequency
Little Joe is a DC licomotive. Motor voltage/current are regulated by adding/removing additional ("ballast") resistance in series with motors. These resistors are above high voltage compartment in the center of the locomotive. Also, motors are grouping in several series/parallel power strings, according to position of "transfer" handle of main controller. These are the basics of DC locomotive control. GG1 has commutator motors, that were connected in parallel and fed with low frequency AC directly from locomotive's traction transformer through the tap changer switch, according to position of controller's power ("throttle") handle. These motors could be fed with DC, but we need some equipment to control DC current/voltage to the motors. As IRM has 600 V DC catenary, we need a scheme with several line contactors and high power resistors for this task. Or, we can install a high current DC chopper, like that in old BART motor cars. It can convert 600 V DC to any 0 - 600 V DC voltage at motors. But it also will make a non-authentic "electronic" noise. Also, we need to convert other auxiliary motors to 600 V DC: for blowers, air compressor, etc.
Where's the toilet. Most locomotives were equipped with one. It's a long ride in those cold mountains.
I didn't see one. If they had one it was probably in the nose. It may have been removed by the museum and never replaced.
It's inside the front doors on both sides.
Wish you could tell us what you are looking at !
Actually this was my first time in this locomotive so I was not familiar with it at all. In the future I will try to explain what we are looking at or if possible have someone who works there give us a more detailed tour.
does that little Joe run
Jmream2 Jmream yes on special events
I wonder if the cab(s) was air conditioned? Seems like it would get pretty warm in there…
Air conditioning was opening the window.
Man those chairs are up in the air I hate fall of of them.
Huh youd think that as one of their crown jewels as an a rare example that is also operating; that IRM would've restored the interior. At the very least having paint chiping cant be good for the electrical systems
Kinda cool...a train engine with a deck!