In 1917, when the Milwaukee Road decided to proceed with the electrification of the Coast Division, it ordered five new electric locomotives from General Electric for $200,000 apiece.
In 1917, following the tremendous success of the 1915 electrification of the Mountain Division, the Milwaukee Road decided to proceed with electrifying the Coast Division. As part of this project it ordered five new electric locomotives from General Electric for $200,000 apiece.