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The N&W LC-2 was a class of boxcab electric locomotives built by Westinghouse and the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the Norfolk and Western Railway. ALCO and Westinghouse built four locomotives in 1924–1925 for use on the Elkhorn Grade. They were retired and scrapped in 1950 when the N&W discontinued electric operations.

Design

The LC-2 was an improved version of the N&W LC-1, which Westinghouse, with Baldwin, had built for the N&W in 1914–1915. The locomotives were a third more powerful than their predecessors.

History

After World War I the N&W extended electrification on the Elkhorn Grade to a total of 52 miles (84 km) and required additional electric power to handle demand. Westinghouse and ALCO delivered four LC-2s in 1924–1925, which the N&W operated alongside the older LC-1s. Following World War II the N&W bypassed the existing Elkhorn Tunnel with a new tunnel twice as long as the original, double-tracked, and on a gentler 1.4% grade. These improvements eliminated the need for electrification. On the opening of the new tunnel on June 26, 1950 the N&W retired the LC-2s.

Notes

1. ^ Middleton 2001, p. 185
2. Middleton 2001, p. 189
3. "Elkhorn Tunnel To Be Dedicated". The Bee. June 26, 1950. p. 11. Retrieved December 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

References

• Middleton, William D. (2001) . When the Steam Railroads Electrified (2nd ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-33979-9. OL 2510988W.

• 11 kV AC locomotives
• 1-D-1 locomotives
• ALCO locomotives
• Electric locomotives of the United States
• Norfolk and Western Railway locomotives
• Scrapped locomotives
• Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
• Westinghouse locomotives