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yankeedog — Buttons
Published: 2006-04-16 14:58:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 5441; Favourites: 97; Downloads: 93
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Without a doubt, the most successful locomotive ever built was the Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1 Electric locomotive. Pennsy crews called these elegant machines "Motors". The GG1 was a powerful 4,620 horsepower, high speed passenger locomotive, overhead power lines carried 132,000 Volts, that was reduced to 11,000 and again reduced to 600 straight AC voltage in the locomotive. The GG1 was capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph along the electrified Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC and New York City! The beautifully streamlined car body was designed by the greatest industrial designer of our times, Raymond Loewy. The first locomotive of the class was No. 4899, later renumbered 4800, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. The car body on 4800 was riveted together. When Loewy first saw her, he commented: "What are all those buttons?" All other subsequent GG-1 car bodies were welded. The Pennsy and Baldwin built 138 of these locomotives. At least 16 GG1's survive today at museums throughout the country. GG1's operated on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Conrail, Amtrak, and on New Jersey Transit. In later years, some GG1's were converted for freight operations. GG1's were in operation from 1935 to 1983!Adobe Illustrator 8.0, Apple G4 Power Mac, OS 9.2
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Comments: 62
I have photos of 4800 in in CR blue after it was donated to the RRMPA, I much prefer the Pennsy paint scheme.
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Actually, the term "Motors" existed long before this lumbering monster (Incapable of running under standard 600v D.C. current without gutting the whole thing) was made. It comes from traction line's electric locomotives, most commonly steeplecabs and the rarer boxcabs, as well as the "Box Motors", the true creators of the name since the others were locomotives, were older passenger traction cars converted to freight and given slower, but more powerful trucks. As well as that, the work motors are basically flatcars with a cab, usually in the middle or on one end, were used to pull freight on rare occasions as well as track maintenance. The most important work cars are the line cars, usually old freight motors, that were used to mend the overhead line with their platforms. This locomotive actually doesn't count as a "Motor" since it belongs on a steam railroad, not the traction lines that used actual motors. These are still nice locomotives, but a little too large and modern for my tastes. Poles for 600v d.c. would do her justice in running and preservation, however the locomotive's length makes it impossible for use on most traction museums, and the task of running it on this is either changing over of ALL of it's internals, or get it it's own line, which is pointless. I like GG1s, but they are more of diesel-looking engines than electric traction, mostly due to their lack of air whistles and the use of air horns. There isn't even a gong, just an E-bell, so it is much more diesel style.
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The GG1 was designed by Raymond Loewy, it was capable of speeds up to 100 mph, it can hardly be called lumbering. The Pennsy crews called the GG1 a "Motor" because it's an electric locomotive as opposed to a steam locomotive. It had twelve 385-horsepower electric traction motors. I have no idea what you are talking about. You might want to read up on it, I think you are confused. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRR_GG1
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No, I work on an actual traction line. This is all accurate. A GG1 is more of a locomotive than a work or freight motor. Much too big to be actual traction (South Shore's track barely handles a Little Joe and there system was incredibly extensive in comparison to most
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Cool! I got you now, the South Shore is a commuter line. The Pennsylvania Railroad was a Class 1 Railroad. The GG1 is not in the same class as what you guys are running, yours are more like the "T" Light Rail Transit system that we have here in Pittsburgh. The GG1 is a big locomotive, it could pull heavy weight passenger cars or freight trains, it was an incredibly powerful and versatile locomotive. The beginning of this video shows a Conrail freight GG1 being passed by an Amtrak passenger GG1 on the Northeast Corridor, Washington to New York City. www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BgPOh… In Pennsy nomenclature, they referred to the GG1 as a motor, but it was way more than that.
What do you do on the South Shore? I always liked the South Shore Line logo.
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I don't work on South Shore and you are still missing what I am saying. Quit changing the conversation and misreading stuff! I specifically said South Shore could nearly handle Little Joe, which is slightly shorter than a GG1 and much more flexible. I am talking traction, not "LRVs" or commuter trains, just pure traction.
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but it's electric. (just joking)
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Excellent job. A great way to honor a timeless classic.
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Thanks and thanks for the 
-YD
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No problem. And you're welcome for the fav. I have a HO scale GG1.
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It's hard to believe they were designed in 1935! I wish they made a cheap one in N-Scale.
-YD
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I didn't know that! Thanks! I have a bunch of old HO scale stuff. We used to have a table in my basement for them. We took that apart, unfortunately. All my stuff has what I think is called the long horn couplings on them.
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Yeah, the GG-1 is old school. They might be still running today if they had not been plagued with cracks in their frames. Someday I plan to build a model railroad in N-Scale.
-YD
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The GG1 is actually incredibly modern for it's time. Old school is the steeplecabs on the 600v D.C. systems and the interurbans and streetcars doing their on-coast-on speed regulation, unlike the straight forwards motion of the more advanced controllers on the GG1. They are still my favorite steam-railroad traction to this day, but aren't really traction.
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They were some of the finest locomotives ever built.
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In the world of steam RR electrics, they are really beautiful beasts! In my own words while being Heavy in TF2 versus 6 scouts, "Overpowered much?". Perfect way to describe the GG1!
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Yeah, that is a shame. I think a few are still around though.
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Buttons is at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, but the there are a lot of other GG-1's at RR museums all over the country. I know they have one up at Altoona at the Railroaders Museum and there was one at the PRR station in Harriburg. It has to be the most popular and as well as successful locomotives ever built.
-YD
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"Buttons" is my favorite of them all!
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Mine too. I even liked it Conrail blue.
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I've been to Altoona. It's just been a while for me. I want to go to the horseshoe curve again.
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I haven't been up to Altoona in years. A friend of mine was just up there for Railfest a few weeks ago.
-YD
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Yeah. I'd love to get up to Horseshoe Curve again.
-YD
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Truly amazing locomotives. Very well done piece too!
I only wish I got to see them run. There is currently a GG1 in Lebanon, NJ being restored and another one in NJDOT/NJT Black at Ridgefield Park, NJ with an E8. I'm trying to get photos of them.
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Yeah, they truly were. If they hadn't been AC, they might still be running today. I have 35mm photos of 4800 in Conrail blue when it was first delivered to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. As much as I liked the CR Blue and the Surf's Up logo, It really looks nice in the original PRR Brunswick Green and cat whiskers stripes. I'd like to see photos of those Jersey G's. I remember years ago that NJT had a GG1 in Pennsy Tuscan Red paint, I thought that was cool.
-YD
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I remember that Tuscan paint unit too. For the longest time it sat in Hoboken Terminal and the the Meadowlands Maintenance Complex because they had no idea where to put it. Then I think it sat in New York Penn Station for a while. From my understanding, it's the unit that is currently in Lebanon, NJ being rebuild by the UHRS at Iron Horse Enterprises.
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Cool! I wish somebody would rebuild a GG1 to run excursions on the Northeast Corridor.
-YD
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Well, I dont know the exact plans the UHRS has, but maybe there is a chance they will rig it up to run under it's own power again.
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That would be cool to see a GG1 running again. Keep me posted if you hear anything.
-YD
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Thanks! Yeah, they are cool. I was on one up at the Railroader Museum in Altoona, PA. There are almost all electric motors, the crew compartment is really small and cramped, sandwiched between the massive motors. Here's another GG1 I did an illustration of: [link]
-YD
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Thanks! Have you seen the other PRR locomotives in the series? PRR No. 60 [link] PRR Trio: [link]
-YD
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I really like this one.
You nailed this one Don, great job.
The color choice is outstanding.
Can I have seconds please.
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Whoa...Remind me why I haven't added you to my watch list already!
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You're reminded! 
-YD
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Ditto for trains too.You and I share that love of working machines my friend.Wonderful image!!
Peace&Respect Jojo
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Thanks Jojo! I love machines, especially plane and trains.
-YD
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Its truely a shame that locomotive aren't used that much anymore. Aside from being able to stick it to gas prices, there is just something about the idea of riding on a passenger train. 
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