Technical aspects of providing service to single-phase 60-cycle railroad loads

IN EARLY 1956, representatives of Gibbs & Hill, Inc., approached the American Gas and Electric Service Corporation regarding participation in a study to investigate the feasibility of electrification of the Norfolk and Western Railway between Roanoke, Virginia, and Williamson, West Virginia, (approximately 200 route miles of double track), with particular emphasis on the phase unbalance problem. This problem is the particular concern of Subcommittee No. 5 of Committee No. 13 of the Association of American Railroads. Committee No. 13 has as its objectives 1. to recommend one or more standards for future electrification of railroads in the United States and, 2. to resolve the effect of single-phase unbalance imposed on 3-phase utility systems by single-phase loads from 60-cycle electrified railroads.