Thanks Paula for your detailed reply.
These GG-1 locomotives were masterpieces for it's time and I regret never have seen them at work or travelled behind one of them.
I work in the POCO utility industry on the network and in substations, and same here in New Zealand no one cares much about electric or diesel electric traction from the railways. Some are into steam but electric seems not to interest too many.
I think that electric locomotives are fascinating with their designs and different approaches to traction, especially over the last 100 years or so.
The way traction is done via quill drive, büchli drive, gears and jackrods, or monomotor bogies which the French have used on the Alsthom locomotives is a very smart system and even allows for a gear change when the loco is stationary to allowe for freight or passenger option.
Then there is a lot of electrical control equipment and auxillaries which makes it a great topic to read and talk about.
Same applies to diesel electrics. "powerstation on wheels" Big V 12, V16 or bigger diesels 2 and 4 stroke and a generator or alternator to furnish the traction motors.
Then of course the different traction systems DC , AC , 1Ø and 3Ø, and low frequencies wheater direct or via rotary or solid state converter stations. OH or 3rd rail. Interesting how to sort matters like passing points and crossings without shorting out and or stalling a train.
Hopefully we can keep this topic alive at ECN. there seem to be some train buffs around. [Linked Image]
BTW: in New Zealand we use mostly diesel electric traction, about 400 kms is 25000 Volts 50 Hz 1Ø on the main trunk.
By Wellington there is 1500 Volts DC in use for the suburban network. ( about 50 kms radius ).
Kind regards
Ray

The product of rotation, excitation and flux produces electricty.