Single-Phase Electrification on the Pennsylvania Railroad

This paper describes the steps leading up to the present electrification of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the system used, the extent, and the operating results. The 4-track main line is now electrified between New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington, as are also the commutation lines around Philadelphia and New York. Since this paper was prepared, work has started on the extension of the electrification to include the connecting lines for both passenger and freight service west to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The chief parts of lines in the new electrification are the main line from Paoli, just west of Philadelphia, through Lancaster to Harrisburg; the low-grade freight line from Morrisville, Pennsylvania, near Trenton, New Jersey, via Columbia to Enola Yards, near Harrisburg; the freight line from Columbia following the Susquehanna River to Perryville, Maryland; the freight line from Monmouth Junction to South Amboy, New Jersey, with necessary yards, connecting branches, and equipment. The new work will involve the electrification of 315 miles of line and 773 miles of track. Upon its completion the Pennsylvania Railroad system will have 41 per cent of the total electrically-operated standard railroad track in the entire United States.