Chicago South Shore & South Bend 802




Facts and Figures


Current Number802
Railway RepresentedChicago South Shore & South Bend
BuilderGeneral Electric
Built In1948
Builder's order id29931
Currently in (State)Pennsylvania
--(Locality)North East
Totally out of svc date1983
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typelocomotive
-subtype"Little Joe"
-designation
Statusdisplayed inoperable
More info
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length88'10"
Width10'7"
Height15'0"
Weight545600
#Seatsn/a
#Wheels/Conf.24
Total HP5100
TrucksGSC
Brakes8EL
CompressorGE CP39 (2)
ControlGE P (C195D1)
MotorsGE 750 (8)
Voltage (if not 600DC)1500vDC
NotesOriginally built for Russia

Locomotive 802 on display at LSRM in 2016
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124809215@N04/32006223752/

Locomotive 802 on display at LSRM in 2017
Flickr
photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fan-t/33270736406/

Car History by Frank Hicks


Chicago South Shore & South Bend 802
Some of the largest single-unit electric locomotives ever built were the GE "Little Joes" that were built in 1948. General Electric built 20 of these streamlined locomotives for export to the Soviet Union, which at the time was expanding its electrified trackage. Increasing tensions in the Cold War and the designation of railroad equipment as strategic material, though, nixed the export. By that time, though, the locomotives were already under construction, and GE offered them at a reduced price to whomever would take them. The South Shore seized the chance to expand its heavy freight business and bought three units; five more were exported to Brazil and the Milwaukee Road snapped up the remaining dozen. The South Shore didn't actually call them "Little Joes" but rather 800's. Units 801-803 operated for three decades, until electric freight operations ended around 1980. In 1983, 803 was acquired by the B&ORRM because at the time the South Shore was owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio. However, since the locomotive wasn't actually native to the east coast, the B&ORRM sent it to LSRM on semipermanent loan in 1994. There, close to its birthplace at Erie, the locomotive is on static display.


Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
Chicago South Shore & South Bend (Indiana, Michigan City)8021948 1983 NO NO
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum (Maryland, Baltimore)8021983 1994 YES NO
Lake Shore Railway Museum (Pennsylvania, North East)8021994 present YES YES


Additional Media

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Walkaround tour of locomotive 802 from 2018
YouTube
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpE7Ozgt2K8