They were three-phase electric locomotives producing 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) each. The specification called for 1000hp, but the actual output was substantially greater, as described by the consultant engineer Cary T. Hutchinson[4]. They had a B-B wheel arrangement. They were built in February and March 1909, and delivered in Pullman Green. The GN numbered them 5000–5003 and they were used until May 1927[5].
Initially three locomotives were coupled together and hauled trains at a constant speed of 15.7 mph (25.3 km/h),[6] but when larger trains required four locomotives the motors were concatenated (cascade control), so that the speed was halved to 7.8 mph (12.6 km/h) to avoid overloading the power supply[4].