Milwaukee Road class EF-1

They were fitted with multiple-unit train control systems, and could thus be joined together into larger sets and operated from a single control station. They were also retrofitted with a special multiple unit control system designed by an electrical engineer of The Milwaukee Road. This enabled the crew of a boxcab to control trailing diesel electric locomotives. However, the EF-4 "Little Joes", which were also retrofitted, were more often seen leading diesel electrics than boxcabs, which had by then been largely relegated to the role of helper or bank engine.

The maximum speed of an EF-1 as built was 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). Higher speeds led to excessive strain on the traction motor armatures. The rebuilding programme of the 1950s raised this to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) to help maintain faster schedules.

The two powered trucks were connected together with a ball-and-socket joint, and the couplers were also attached to the trucks. The bodywork, therefore, did not take the load of the train. Each truck had outside bar frames, allowing more room for the traction motors and equipment. The front powered truck's frames extended forward and carried an outrigger truck and the heavy snowplows the units bore.

In the 1930s, with train tonnage increasing, the Milwaukee began to create three-unit locomotives out of the boxcab units. A simple combination of three was classified EF-2. Twelve EF-2s were assembled, and renumbered 10500–10511ACB. On these, the cab on the center (C) unit was unnecessary and just added weight and length. The center units were therefore shortened by removing the cab, the pilot truck and the frame extension; these were nicknamed "bobtails". These were assembled in between two standard units to create EF-3 sets. These "bobtail" units weighed 52,000 lb (23.6 t) less than a regular unit. Additional EF-2s were created, but no more were modified into "bobtails". The locomotives were renumbered in 1939, the EF-3s being numbered E25–E36, and the EF-1s E50–E73.

In 1951, five four-unit locomotives were created; these were classified EF-5 and could have any combination of regular or bobtail units in the center two positions. Their numbers gradually increased until 10 were in service in 1961.

When an odd number of EF-2s were created, a single boxcab unit became surplus. This unit was classified as a heavy switcher and given class ES-3.

In 1953, two EF-1 locomotives, E69A/B and E28A/B were converted back into passenger service as class EP-1A to help the aging Bi-Polars on the Puget Sound Extension. The first to receive this treatment was E69, which became E22A/B. During the rebuilding process, they received steam generators, engine trucks from scrapped F7 Hudsons, and high speed gearing. E28 soon followed a few months later and emerged as E23A/B. E22A and E23A received some smoothing of their appearances, including somewhat "streamlined" cab fronts. They were later repainted into the Union Pacific Railroad scheme of Armour Yellow with Harbor Mist Gray roofs, and red dividing lines. After rebuilding, they could develop 4500 hp. These two locomotives served until March 1961 in this role; at which time, the E23A and E23B were renumbered E22D and E22C. The EP-1a's all became apart of EF-5 E22A/B/C/D until 1966 when E22C was wrecked and the 3 remaining units operated as A/B/D set. E22A/B/D was finally scrapped in 1973.

The fleet stayed intact until 1951, when two EF-1s were retired – E51A+B and E68A+B. Two units of an EF-2 were retired in 1954, and the remaining numbers held steady until the mid-1960s, when old age began to take its toll. Locomotives were patched-up until un-repairable, and units within were swapped between locomotives without being renumbered.

Most were retired by the end of 1973, but one unit, E57B and its "bobtail" companion, were kept in service as the Harlowton, Montana switcher until June 1974.

Unit E50A+B, originally 10200A+B, the first locomotive built, still survives and is preserved at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota. Unit E57B, originally 10211B, is now preserved at Harlowton, Montana. Both are on static display.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Milwaukee Road class EF-1 locomotives.

• Electrification by General Electric Co. Chicago, IL: Central Electric Railfans' Association. 1976. ISBN 0-915348-16-0. LCCN 76-22385. Bulletin 116.
• Holley, Noel T. (1999). The Milwaukee Electrics. Edmonds, Washington: Hundman Publishing Company.
• Chamberlin, Clint. "Milwaukee Data 5". North East Rails. Retrieved 2006-01-05.
• Edson, William D. (Spring 1977). "Milwaukee Road Locomotives". Railroad History. Boston, Mass.: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 136: 110–113. JSTOR 43523967.