Penn Central 4715



Facts and Figures


Current Number4715
Railway RepresentedPenn Central
BuilderAlco/General Electric
Built In1906
Builder's order id29950
Currently in (State)Illinois
--(Locality)Union
Totally out of svc date1981
(Initial retirement date)
Car Typelocomotive
-subtypedual-role locomotive
-designationType S-2
Statusstored inoperable
More infohttp://www.irm.org/player/pc4715
Gauge4'8.5"
Constructionsteel
Roof typeAR
EndedDE
Length38'7"
Width10'0"
Height14'4"
Weight228000
#Seatsn/a
#Wheels/Conf.16
Total HP2200
Trucks1-piece cast
Brakes6ET
Compressor[Gardner-Denver]
ControlGE M (C79E)
MotorsGE 84A (4)
Voltage (if not 600DC)

Locomotive 4715 during switching at IRM in 2016
Illinois Railway Museum
photo: https://www.irm.org/gallery/PC4715/aai

Locomotive 4715 in storage at IRM in 2013
Railroad Picture Archives
photo: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3592213
Car History by Frank Hicks


Penn Central 4715
One of the most famous electric locomotives of all time was the New York Central's S-motor. These were some of the earliest successful mainline electrics, built for the electrification of the New York Central's suburban operations in 1906. The S-motors, of which 4715 was part of the first production order, were 600-volt locomotives with bi-polar motors in which the driving axle formed the center of the motor armature. This turned out to be an extremely successful design, and a few of the S-motors - 4715 included - ended up running for an incredible 75 years in regular service. The duties of these workhorses included powering commuter trains out to Croton-Harmon Yard, where they were exchanged for steam engines, and switching cars in and out of Grand Central Station. By the end of its life, 4715 was among the oldest locomotives operating anywhere in North America. Originally bought in 1981 by the Branford Electric Railway Association, it was discovered that the locomotive was too heavy to be transported to the BERA site; so IRM took 4715 instead, moving it to Illinois. It was even operated occasionally for a time at IRM using an inauthentic South Shore pantograph until motor problems grounded it - the only operation of an S-motor ever outside the state of New York.

Ownership History


OwnerCar NumFromToPreservation?Loan?
New York Central (New York, New York)34151906 1908 NO NO
New York Central (New York, New York)32151908 1917 NO NO
New York Central (New York, New York)11151917 1936 NO NO
New York Central (New York, New York)1151936 1969 NO NO
Penn Central (New York, New York)47151969 1976 NO NO
Conrail 47151976 1981 NO NO
Illinois Railway Museum (Illinois, Union)47151981 present YES NO

Additional Media