PENNSYLVANIA #5764

Builder: EMD
Build Date: November 1952
Type: E8A
Status: Restoration

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 5764 is the largest locomotive in the Monticello Railway Museum’s collection. Built at the LaGrange, Illinois factory of the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors in November 1952, the 5764 operated for 16 years on the Pennsylvania Railroad as a passenger engine, pulling trains such as the Pittsburgher, Cincinnati Limited, and most notably, the Broadway Limited. In 1968, the Pennsylvania merged with the New York Central Railroad to form Penn Central (PC). The 5764 continued to see use under PC ownership as No. 4264.

Similar in appearance to Wabash No. 1189, this locomotive is essentially two 1200hp locomotives on one frame. E-series locomotives have two three-axle trucks (but with only two traction motors per truck) designed for higher speeds and passenger service. The longer car body houses two prime movers, instead of one like their smaller F-series counterparts. E8As can generate 2,250 horsepower with the two prime movers, with each prime mover feeding power to one truck. This creates redundancy in case of problems, as the problem will likely only affect one of the two prime movers, allowing the other continue working and moving the train, making them ideal for long distance passenger runs.

In the mid-1970s, the 4264 was sold to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), who used it on commuter trains into the 1980s. It was later sold to the Tennessee Central Railroad, a tourist line in Nashville, Tennessee and was once again numbered 5764. In 2004, it was sold again to a Monticello Railway Museum member. Presently, the 5764 is in the museum’s locomotive shop being restored and slightly altered to appear as an Illinois Central (IC) locomotive. When complete, it will be numbered 4044, one digit higher than the last E-series locomotive on the Illinois Central.

Once repainted into IC colors, No. 4044 will match our fleet of historic Illinois Central passenger cars.

Scroll down to see more photos of this locomotive.