The Minneapolis, St.Paul, Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Co. (better known as the "Dan Patch Electric Line" began construction in the early 1900's with the intention of it being an electric railroad with overhead wire. As a stopgap during construction, they purchased some GE boxcab electrics in IIRC 1910 that had a oil-powered electric generator installed inside them. The idea was they could use them without needing to do the expensive overhead wiring until after the track etc. was in place. As it happened the railroad just used them as "oil-electrics" until the railroad's owner died and it was reformed in 1918 as the Minneapolis Northfield & Southern. The engines were sold to other railroads, at least one or two were eventually converted to electric engines.
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