During the World War I years of Model T's, flappers, and noisy steam locomotives, General Electric introduced the Bipolar Gearless locomotive. Instead of using high-speed motors turning gears on the axles, the Bipolar used low speed motors with the motor armatures mounted directly on the axles. This design made for a unique and silent locomotive.

The Bipolars were designed and assembled by General Electric at its Erie, Pennsylvania shop and, by 1919, were the "mightiest electric locomotives in the world." Hopes were high that these "juice jacks" would replace their steam counterparts and signal the dawn of the electric age for mainline railroads in the United States.

From its conception until 1957, the Bipolar operated on the Milwaukee's Coast Division. Its run was from Tacoma on Puget Sound to Othello, a 214-mile eastward trek through farming country. Although its primary job was pulling passenger trains, the Biplar also pulled ski trains to the Milwaukee Ski Bowl in Snoqualmie Pass.

Artist Jim Jordan has chosen the Bipolar E1 as his subject in this work. In 1948 the E1 became the first of the Bipolars to be painted in the distinctive Hiawatha color scheme. Up until that time the paint scheme was basically black with white trim.

By 1960 the rugged and reliable Bipolar could not compete with the more technologically advanced locomotives. One by one the mighty "juice jacks" were retired from active service.