PREORDER Rapido HO 52520 GE E44 Electric, Conrail #4427 (DCC & Sound Equipped) | 449.96

The Pennsylvania Railroad was well known for their usage of electrified freight railroading. They took advantage of their main lines being electrified for passenger usage from Washington to Harrisburg and even to New York. In fact, it was predicted that the future of rail would rely on electrifying future routes for this type of service. In the 1960s, the Pennsylvania Railroad needed a new electric motor to replace their aging P5a motors, which had been in service since the 1930s. The PRR settled on GE's E44 motor. The E44 was able to output 4,400 horsepower in a boxy shape, which ultimately helped gain its nickname of “brick". Sixty class E44 electric motors were built by GE, with a silicone diode rectifier.Sixty class E44 electric motors were built by GE, with an ignitron rectifier system. Six more were built using the new silicone diode rectifier system GE instituted and classified as E44a and rated at 5,500 horsepower. During the Penn-Central era, 22 E44 motors were upgraded to E44a specifications. However, when Penn-Central became embroiled in their bankruptcy woes, the program was halted.

The HO scale E44 Electric Motor features:
Accurately scaled from blueprints and prototype measurements
Operating pantographs on DC/DCC/Sound models
Road number-specific details
Three styles of roof vents
Various vent hoods as appropriate
Three styles of hood doors and end doors
Full cab interior with lighted consoles
Mo-Power capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
Suggested minimum radius: 22"