Pennsy E-44 and E-44a units

I've been doing some reading on Pennsy electrics and have a question about E-44 and E-44a units.

From what I understand all 66 locomotives were originally delivered as Class E-44; numbers 4400-4459 were delivered with ignition rectifiers while numbers 4460-4465 were delivered with solid-state silicon diode rectifiers. A follow-on modification program upgraded 22 locomotives, numbers 4438-4459, to Class E-44a with solid-state silicon diode rectifiers and 833 hp traction motors. The modification program started with number 4459 and ran reverse order to 4438 (4438-4444 were actually not modified until after the PRR and NYC merge).

However, I have seen some instances were locomotives 4460-4465 are called E-44a units. Are these units Class E-44a vice E-44?

Thanks,

Mike

I have in a storage unit(former amtrak E44)control stand,insulators,pantographs,doors & handrails,
andybody have any intrest in it?

cnj1524 wrote:I have in a storage unit(former amtrak E44)control stand,insulators,pantographs,doors & handrails,
andybody have any intrest in it?

Try the Railroad Museum of PA - http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/

Pans can cost $30k-80k, I'm sure if you proved the pan was in good shape and donated it to a museum, your tax returns would look quite nice this year.

With regard to OP, I've heard the earlier E44's were retrofitted to make them produce 5,000 hp like the later E44a. Whether the model designation became retroactive, I'm not aware.

Thanks. Information I received from folks on the GE forum indicated road numbers 4400-4439 were 4400 hp E44 locomotives. Road numbers 4440, 4442-4447, 4449, 4451-4454 and 4456-4465 were 5000 hp E44A units with upgrade rectifiers and traction motors. The other interspersed road numbers remained E44 units.

Mike