K-Line GG-1

FOxer, many K-Line GG1's already have TMCC command control built in. Either way the K-Line GG1 is a good runner - I have three or four. Non TMCC engines can be upgraded to TMCC. HTH

Paul

Railrunnin posted:

FOxer, many K-Line GG1's already have TMCC command control built in. Either way the K-Line GG1 is a good runner - I have three or four. Non TMCC engines can be upgraded to TMCC. HTH

Paul

Thanks.  The looks of these engines and cars and the prices are pretty satisfying.  They all seem to be NIB or almost NIB.

Just to add a comment, as I see the "can this be upgraded to TMCC" question regularly:

Anything within out 3RO world can be upgraded to TMCC (or PS2); essentially, this GG1 is a model containing 2 DC can motors hooked to some kind of reversing unit. Remove these electronics - unplug or even cut the wires - and install the command boards per the instructions and off you go. Lighting/smoke functions are available on the new boards. Sound plugs in. Experience makes the next one easier. And the next one...

So, when you see a loco that you like but it doesn't have the command you want, you do not have the excuse that it cannot be "upgraded" - heaven forbid you should have any reason to not spend your money. Nah - go ahead.

I added ERR Cruise Commander to a 1950's brass Mikado (Lobaugh?) once. It already had a DC (open-frame) motor, and off it went.

I love my K-Line GG1.  It came with factory TMCC and will pull stumps.

My GG-1 is a K-Line. Tuscan red single stripe and it has TMCC already installed. These are fantastic pullers and use very low power to get moving. The sounds are decent. Nice single chime horn. The only thing you need to watch for, or could expect to happen is the truck side frames falling/breaking off. Some were made with dirty metal and have been known to crumble into tiny pieces. Just replaced mine with a set of MTH trucks.

D500,

Thanks.

Stinky1 posted:

My GG-1 is a K-Line. Tuscan red single stripe and it has TMCC already installed. These are fantastic pullers and use very low power to get moving. The sounds are decent. Nice single chime horn. The only thing you need to watch for, or could expect to happen is the truck side frames falling/breaking off. Some were made with dirty metal and have been known to crumble into tiny pieces. Just replaced mine with a set of MTH trucks.

Yeah, I'm looking at the Tuscan Red 5 stripe and a set of matching Tuscan Red PRR passenger cars.  Nice stuff with a nice price.

For those K-Line GG-1's with factory installed tmcc, do they also have the equivalent of cruise or constant speed control? Irregardless of whether they navigate increasing or decreasing slopes and grades, do they mantain a steady preset speed moving along the tracks?

The promotion of TMCC in it's early years was a maze of product terminology, not meant to deceive, but in an effort to define just what form of fledgling CC was already installed.  When the packaging says " upgrade-able to TMCC", this means the engine already has some TMCC components installed that comprise mostly of a RailSounds system and electronic reverse.  Inside you'll find a motherboard that will accept a TMCC upgrade kit ( the type you find unavailable ).  The term upgrade-able on packaging isn't Lionel specific either.......other companies ( Weaver comes to mind ) around the turn of the century used the terminology to describe the same level of factory installed equipment.  That K-Line used it too is typical.

Unless you can provide original boards to add to the TMCC motherboard it's probably best to just upgrade with all new ERR components.

Bruce

I had one of the K-Line "TMCC Upgradable" GG-1 engines.  There was actually no TMCC compatible components inside, the only "upgradable" part was they had a wire from the pantographs that could be used as the antenna!  Be careful about your assumptions of what you have.

I can second John's assessment of the "upgradability" of the K-line GG-1.  The late Boxcar Bill told me the same thing when I was considering upgrade options for mine.

If memory serves me these engines were available as a Club engine for $99.00 or with TMCC installed for $149.00 . The graphics were sharp and all in all a very attractive product. 

Brad

graz posted:

I can second John's assessment of the "upgradability" of the K-line GG-1.  The late Boxcar Bill told me the same thing when I was considering upgrade options for mine.

 

Me too. I bought a couple of the "upgradable" ones and failed to see an acceptable way to upgrade. So I sold them and got a couple with factory TMCC. I think they were selling used a few years ago for around $250 and $150 or so without TMCC.

I just recently put new side frames on the trucks on one of them. I used the Lionel ones and did a very minor mod to them to fit them perfectly.

I have one for sale. $125 

I think they are the smoothest running gg1's around.

Mine is that #4892, and it has no cruise.  I have to keep playing with the red knob on my Cab handheld to keep it at speed as it goes around the loop.  I only paid $99 for mine, I think.  All I know was the price was so low I had to jump on it, and I have not regretted it once.  I bought one of the RMT GG1s so I could double head them.  Now I need to upgrade both of them with ERR cruise, and add TMCC and sounds to the RMT one.

I had a K-Line collector's club GG-1($99.00) and it mentioned upgrade-able to TMCC. The only thing there, like John mentioned was a cable to go to TMCC. Also the original K-Line GG-1's side truck assemblies would just fall off, they have Zinc pest! 

If somebody replaced the side trucks the on the K-Line collector club GG-1, it is good to go.

Buy the newer or "scale GG-1" by K-Line and not the collector's club edition.

Lee Fritz

sinclair posted:

Mine is that #4892, and it has no cruise.  I have to keep playing with the red knob on my Cab handheld to keep it at speed as it goes around the loop.  I only paid $99 for mine, I think.  All I know was the price was so low I had to jump on it, and I have not regretted it once.  I bought one of the RMT GG1s so I could double head them.  Now I need to upgrade both of them with ERR cruise, and add TMCC and sounds to the RMT one.

Now you're scaring me as I had a K-Line GG1 in mind.

phillyreading posted:

I had a K-Line collector's club GG-1($99.00) and it mentioned upgrade-able to TMCC. The only thing there, like John mentioned was a cable to go to TMCC. Also the original K-Line GG-1's side truck assemblies would just fall off, they have Zinc pest! 

If somebody replaced the side trucks the on the K-Line collector club GG-1, it is good to go.

Buy the newer or "scale GG-1" by K-Line and not the collector's club edition.

Lee Fritz

Not sure I understand.  There are several GG1s on the bay and they are marked 2780-4892 IC Upgradeable.

They say upgradeable but the upgrade kit is long gone or very rare. So you would have to upgrade with Electric RR kits, etc. I tried to do it but was unsatisfied with the results, so I sold them and found a couple of the factory TMCC K Line GG1s.

Foxer55 posted:

sinclair posted:

Mine is that #4892, and it has no cruise.  I have to keep playing with the red knob on my Cab handheld to keep it at speed as it goes around the loop.  I only paid $99 for mine, I think.  All I know was the price was so low I had to jump on it, and I have not regretted it once.  I bought one of the RMT GG1s so I could double head them.  Now I need to upgrade both of them with ERR cruise, and add TMCC and sounds to the RMT one.

Now you're scaring me as I had a K-Line GG1 in mind.

No reason to be scared.  It acts no differently than any locomotive that doesn't have cruise.  Yes, cruise is nice, but you can get by just fine without it.  You need to fiddle with the knob less the smaller the loop and the more power drops you have.  Mine was a large O72 loop with only one power drop, so it was running slow on the far side and fast on the near side.  Once I get more power drops it will no long be an issue.

I have the"blackjack model"with TMCC love it !!!!!!

its hard to find got mine at Nicolas Smith Trains