Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific E70

Dave's Electric Railroads

Built in:1948 by General Electric (ord#29916)
Out-of-service/Retired:1974
Type of car:locomotive ("Little Joe") (Class EF-4)
Current Owner:Powell County Museum(Deer Lodge, Montana)

Car History by


Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific E70
This locomotive is the only survivor of the series of twelve units the Milwaukee Road nicknamed "Little Joes." In 1946, following World War II, the Soviet Union decided to extend the electrification of its railroad line across Siberia. From General Electric it ordered 20 prototype models of a 3000-volt, 5' gauge modern electric locomotive. Unfortunately, by the time the first of the 20 locomotives was completed in early 1948, the cold war had begun and the sale of railroad equipment - deemed "strategic material" - to the USSR was prohibited. GE was left with 20 virtually unsaleable units, but decided to equip the 15th unit off the assembly line as a demonstrator for the dubious Milwaukee Road. Numbered GE750, it arrived on the Milwaukee Road in 1949 for a series of tests. Railroad officials were not impressed, and no orders were forthcoming until, in late 1950, an upsurge in Korean War traffic brought with it a motive power shortage. The Milwaukee Road, desperate for locomotives, bought from GE its last twelve GE750-type units (eight had already been sold), suitably rebuilt for standard gauge operation. The former demonstrator, GE750, became Milwaukee Road E70 of class EF-4. It operated in freight service for nearly a quarter of a century, until the electric divisions of the Milwaukee Road were dieselized in June 1974; after retirement it was donated to the City of Deer Lodge, a terminus of the Mountain Division electrification, where it was put on display in the parking lot of the state prison.

Ownership History:General Electric #GE750 1948-1950 / Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific #E70 1950-1974 / Powell County Museum(Deer Lodge, Montana) 1974-present



Facts and Figures


Status:displayed inoperableGauge:4'8.5"
Construction:steelRoof type:AREnded:SE
Length:87'10"Width:10'7"Weight:586800#
#Seats:n/a#Wheels/Conf.:24 (2-D+D-2)Total HP:5110
Trucks:GSCBrakesCompressor
Motors:GE 750 (8)Voltage (if not 600DC):3000vDC


Notes

Originally built for Russia
PHOTO PHOTO