The New Haven used Grand Central Station as its terminus in New York City, which was operated by New York Central. The New York Central had already electrified the line to Woodlawn, Connecticut with 650 V DC via third rail when the New Heaven decided to also electrify the section from Woodlawn to Stamford. The system with 11,000 V AC was chosen for the overland line, so that the locomotives to be procured had to have pantographs on the roof in addition to the contact shoes for the conductor rails. Since the DC network in the station areas was supplied via a conductor rail above the track, an additional small pantograph had to be installed on the roof for these sections.

The 41 delivered locomotives could even switch between the individual power systems while running. They were also the first locomotives to be equipped with multiple controls and to also use them in service. They ran on two two-axle bogies, to which soon one carrying axle was added each due to oscillations when running. Later, the line to New Haven was also electrified, so that these locomotives were soon used there as well. They were retired between 1936 and 1947.