Pennsylvania Railroad class E3c comprised a pair of experimental C-C ( AAR) or Co-Co ( UIC) electric locomotives. The bodywork and running gear was produced by

Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railroad locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, in the early 20th century. The company was for decades t ...

while the electrical equipment was provided by Westinghouse, who also acted as principal contractor. In 1952 the Pennsylvania Railroad took delivery of eight experimental locomotives, four from General Electric and four from Westinghouse. While GE's were all of the same class ( E2b), the Westinghouse locomotives were split into two classes. Two locomotives had three two-axle trucks ( E3b). The significant technical difference between the locomotives was that those from General Electric used traditional AC traction motors. Those by Westinghouse had mercury arc rectifiers to convert the AC traction power to DC. In consequence they were able to use ordinary DC

traction motors A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric or hydrogen vehicles, elevators or electric multiple unit. Traction motors are used in electrically powered rail vehicles (electric multiple uni ...

, identical to those on contemporary diesel-electric locomotives. The locomotives were scrapped in 1964. However, the rectifier principle they pioneered soon became the standard for new AC electric locomotives,

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* * 11 kV AC locomotives E3c C-C locomotives Baldwin locomotives Experimental locomotives Westinghouse locomotives Electric locomotives of the United States Scrapped locomotives Standard gauge locomotives of the United States Railway locomotives introduced in 1952 {{US-train-stub Streamlined electric locomotives