They had selenium disk rectifiers which probaby cost much more than the battery box. That's the big gold disk inside the transformers with whistle controllers.
Are you using the track voltage or dropping it somehow?
I think the best looking alcos are the Erie and Rock Island. Black and Yellow or Black and Red.
They also made 3 versions for UP - Yellow, Silver w/gray roof and all Silver.
The Eire's you can get the decal lettering off and run them as just black demons.