I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but here goes. The very same company that made themselves famous by manufactureing washers, refrigerators, and light bulbs, was one of the very first of the pioneers in the internal combustion rail car movement. In 1905.
Even when I was an employee of General Electric back in the sixtys and early seventy in New Jersey, I was not aware of this particular history of the company.
GE acquired a bagage car, a Woolsey automobile engine from England,
tied one their own generators to the engine and powered one truck. That was the beginning of a flood that ultimately covered over the steam locomotive.
I believe these were seventy foot cars, which could carry passengers and bagage. Like doodlebugs of other builders of the time, these cars served mostly in branch line service. General Electric stayed in the gas electric business until around 1918.
There was produced a number of double gas engined locomotives also.
GE continued to build industrial diesels for many years. However, they never got back in the "doodlebug" business.
Take care,
Bruce
Even when I was an employee of General Electric back in the sixtys and early seventy in New Jersey, I was not aware of this particular history of the company.
GE acquired a bagage car, a Woolsey automobile engine from England,
tied one their own generators to the engine and powered one truck. That was the beginning of a flood that ultimately covered over the steam locomotive.
I believe these were seventy foot cars, which could carry passengers and bagage. Like doodlebugs of other builders of the time, these cars served mostly in branch line service. General Electric stayed in the gas electric business until around 1918.
There was produced a number of double gas engined locomotives also.
GE continued to build industrial diesels for many years. However, they never got back in the "doodlebug" business.
Take care,
Bruce
