The locomotives are long, tall and wide. The distance between the bogie centers is and the bogie wheel-base is . The wheel diameter is when new and when worn. Each locomotive weighs , of which is electrical equipment. Each locomotive has of dead weight to increase the locomotive's weight to the maximum axle weight, and further weight increase has been achieved by making the walls wide with armored steel. The extra wall thickness also provides for increased structural strength, to withstand collisions with snowdrifts and elk. The sides of the walls were built as flat as possible to reduce the sticking of blowing snow and ice formation.