The locomotives were part of an electrification project undertaken by the New Haven between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut.

[3] Finally, the New York Central employed overhead lines over railroad switches in place of third rail electrification.

[4] To support these myriad methods, Westinghouse installed two sets of pantographs, one for AC and one for DC collection, and a contact shoe for third rail operation.

Control devices within the locomotive prevented drawing power from multiple sources and enabled transition between them without stopping.

After oscillation problems the New Haven added an unpowered axle to each end (1-B-B-1), which resolved the issue.