One of the four Milwaukee Road class ES-2, Bo-Bo type locos from the 1910s.
From Wikipedia--
Two were built in 1916 and the final two in 1919. They were of steeplecab design, with a single roof-mounted pantograph to access the Milwaukee's 3,000 V DC overhead line. Originally numbered 10050–10053, they were renumbered E80–E83 in March 1939. The ES-2 was the Milwaukee Road's primary class of dedicated electric switchers.Electric switching on the Milwaukee Road was always limited to the Rocky Mountain Division, and to the middle and east end only, Avery being merely a power change, rather than a switching, location. Harlowton's switching demands eventually exceeded the capabilities of the ES-2, which was replaced in 1951 by a single GE Freight Motor (later reclassed ES-3) instead; thus from the 1950s to the 1970s the ES-2s were normally used only in the greater Butte area, in which the Deer Lodge shops were also located. The Coast Division eschewed electric switchers entirely, as its operating characteristics and economics were more favorable to otherwise underutilized steam (later diesel) switchers which also served the Milwaukee's non-electrified branches in the area.
Despite their highly specialized niche on the Milwaukee Road, the ES-2s were well-liked by personnel. Engineers liked them due to their rapid throttle response, preferring them over diesels which were slower to transition and accelerate. Their simple nature made them easy to service, and the units seldom needed major attention. Few changes were made to them over the years, the most important of which was the addition of extra steel plates, which added weight and reduced wheelslip.
In addition to the pantograph, the ES-2s were equipped with a wooden trolley pole which was spring-tensioned and manually-operated, in the same manner as on a trolley car, though it was never meant for use while in motion. Its sole purpose was to make stationary contact with the wire to charge an empty air compressor enough to raise the air-operated pantograph, usually when making a black start after dead storage or maintenance. For this reason, the pole was tipped with a metal plate rather than a shoe or trolley wheel.
In addition to the pantograph, the ES-2s were equipped with a wooden trolley pole which was spring-tensioned and manually-operated, in the same manner as on a trolley car, though it was never meant for use while in motion. Its sole purpose was to make stationary contact with the wire to charge an empty air compressor enough to raise the air-operated pantograph, usually when making a black start after dead storage or maintenance. For this reason, the pole was tipped with a metal plate rather than a shoe or trolley wheel.
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