GE built two demonstrators to show the
Great Northern Railway. These two were sold to the PRR in March 1953 and numbered #4943–#4944.[1]
The class E2b locomotives were commonly used in three pairs. Like most previous PRR electric locomotives, they were straight
AC-powered, and did not use
rectifiers. Because of this, they could
work in multiple with existing PRR locomotives, and generally did so with class
P5a.[1]
Staufer, Alvin F.; Pennypacker, Bert (1962). Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900-1957. Research by Martin Flattley. Carollton, Ohio: Alvin F. Staufer.
ISBN978-0-9445-1304-0.