Never thought I would have a GG1 but its a nice one . . .

It should have true blast horn and bell.  G

I amazed by the full-size GG-1, and I really like the Williams scale models (have three of them).

 

We always enjoy our visit to the PRR Museum, and seeing the 4935 is one of the high points.

Todd,

  As a young guy, I got to see the 4935 on the rails, a more chilling sight you never want to see, what an Engine, especially all cleaned up an in the museum!   Can you imagine seeing that big girl going down the line at over 100 miles an hours.   The big Green blurr!

PCRR/Dave

I grew up around GG1's. I well remember when Amtrak ran theirs up and down the NE sector. These locomotives were loud and very intimidating. Once, when I was little, I had an encounter with one. When you are little, everything seems so big and large. Well, this GG1 was no exception. For some reason, I was scarred of it. It was so menacing looking. Like a monster with all these things sticking out from it. LOL

 

Anyway, I eventually grew out of my hate for the GG1 and now I think they are pretty cool, but don't ever ask me to get in front of one.....LOL

 

 

Pete

There seem to be three toy locomotives that are iconic and have staunch, and I mean staunch supporters - often fanatics, who love them and really defend them if anyone says anything aobut them or questions there legitimacy as the greatest locomotive that ever was.  They are: the GG1, the NYC Hudson, and the ATSF Warbonnet EMD F units.  All were not only outstanding locomotives in real life, but are iconic model trains we all grew up wanting.=.  

 

I was just never into the GG1 mostly because I didn't even know it existed.  Growing up in the western US (NM, WY, CO) I knew about the Hudsons, particularly the scale ones, because I had seen them in stores, but owning one of those was about as likely to happen as owning a 200-foot yacht, and I had friends with Lionel F3s although we couldn't afford Lionel and had to stick with Marx four and six driver locos.  But I don't think I ever heard of the GG1 until I was grown.  

 

This is the first I have had.  I had two GG1s from RMT on order, but I have no doubt when they will arrive, they are reduced size, and I bought them more on general principles to bash (with all those wheels there must be something fun you can do with a mine-GG1 chassis). 

In my long ago youth, the only time I ever saw both pans up was in the winter with ice on the wires. The lead pan was used to knock the ice off so the rear could get power. Lot's of sparks!

 

There's an old black and white short film called "Wheels of Steel" on line. It shows some 'behind the scenes' shots of a GG-1 being sanded, fueled and watered (for the steam generator), and washed down before being sent out for service. A couple of nice 'from the cab' shots too.

 

 

Actually guys, I'm running it now with the pans off (see photo below).  They are neatly stored away in a box.  It looks cleaner and very pretty that way.  If anyone asks, I explain that this one has been modified to run on three-rail electric rails like many other electric locomotives and subway systems.  And guess what, it is running on three rails!

 

Strangely, given how unfamiliar I was with it, the GG1 ends up being featured much more often than any other locomotive, even the Veranda Turbine, in my fictional biography (nearly completely now) Veranda Turbine - A Life.  Not only is it in the title of her wartime comedy movie GG1-G.I., but I tell a tale of one modified to run in England during WWII, that features prominently in another of her great movies, The Third Rail.   I needed this particular Willaims model to take pictures off for a photo that will appear with that story. 

 

This loco sure is a jackrabbit though.  If I were going to run it much (still not sure) I'd take it apart and wire the motors in series.  Geez, it takes off like a skyrocket!

Here is a link:  Big Red

Marty-n-Dave, I'm right there with you guys. Never viewed but one, and that was at the Penn Railroad Museum. It surely wowed me though. I loved these engines when I first saw them in the "Sears-Roebuck" Christmas Window Display in Louisville, Ky early 50's. Marty, you say you got to ride behind them as a kid, well that's something you can tell your grand kids about. I even liked the "Little Joe's" that the Milwaukee Road used thru the Cascades Range I believe it was. I think if you can afford one for your layout go the extra step, and put up the over head wiring, as well. That in itself, will drive you to add more big electrics.

Lee I totally agree with you on the Locomotive Standard, and that was the GG1, NYC "Hudson", and Santa Fe War Bonnet, which to me is/was the most beautiful streamlined passenger train I ever saw or rode. ..........................Brandy!

"It takes off like a rocket"?

Yea, the real ones liked to shatter couplers. Its prototypical

 

Innovation, operation, power, reliability, style... I always loved GG-1s, planned a spring break trip to see them, but the accelerated mothballing schedule put the dream to an end the next winter, I went to south Daytona Beach instead, and almost drowned in a rip tide. 20 people around, thigh high deep, and 10ft from shore out, well past the south pier in seconds. The GG-1 trip was very much on my mind as I felt for bubbles in the dark to point me to the surface. And on the 2 1/2 mile walk back to the room. And the ride home etc, etc. My girl said others scattered thinking a shark got me.

 I often thought more centered roof placement of P.graph, would have looked much better, but the twins were used to address damage issues from the beginning I think. 

 I like the 3rd rail idea, I use it myself to address my no catenary situation 

But I like pantographs. The mechanical nature, and the resemblance to a praying mantis is to much for me to resist.

 

A childhood memory suddenly crept up. Praying mantis will pretty much fly off, or stay put, and ride taking in the sights and sensation, if in a green Burlington gondola, or red Lehigh Valley hopper, but they don't like black Lehigh, or NYC ones! So no NYC, or black LV, if your shopping last minute for your pet mantis  

 

  

I corrected 2 problems with my Williams GG1 by wiring in series:

1.  Jackrabbit speed

2.  Horn and bell would not activate until voltage was about 10 volts.  With a light load, speed is excessive at 10 volts.

 

Bob

The taking off like a rocket thing is typical for a Williams engine. The're pretty fast. I'm planning to put Proto 2 in my Williams GG-1 so it runs better with my other engines, which are mostly MTH. At the train club, we run conventionally, often with 2 trains on a mainline at a time. If one is a williams and the other isn't, it's quite a challenge to keep them from rear-ending.  

 

It's a shame there will probably never be a running GG-1 again. Their design and the transformer oil etc used doesn't come near meeting environmental restrictions. There a quire a few in museums but no running GG-1s anymore.  

My other Williams GG1 with the Cruise Commander behaves more properly, it'll creep along or run like a rocket.  I'm using the ERR GG1/EP5 electric sound set, it's the only one that's really available.  Having never actually heard one run, I can only judge from videos if the sound is prototypical.

I ought to like this twice:

1. Cool GG-1. The one at Altoona used to be open so you could put on the cab. No, not "get in", put on...back then I was much thinner and still had to squeeze around the corner if I had a camera bag at my waist. Now, they'd have to call out Hulcher to pry me loose.

 

2. You almost have Veranda's bio done! (Plus it was a great excuse for the GG-1.) We were lucky enough to find a Baby Stumbles stand-in that went to the toy drive after a couple of pictures. You get an actual likable engine to play with 

(Baby Stumbles annoys people in a couple of the Christmas stories. I haven't seen a real toddler tantrum doll yet, but some toy company will do it, just wait...)

The one in the Strasburg RR Museum is open at times to get into the cab.  I was kinda' surprised at how little there is in the cab, the engineer's side has a basic panel, and the fireman's side has almost nothing!

 

Arrggh! Forgot the link.

 

The link to Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 "Wheels of Steel". It runs a bit under 14 mins.

 

 

 

 

Im with ya Lee.

Never thought I would own a GG1 either. was working on trains for

a friend and he bought a box full of postwar Lionel. had a 2332 BLACK

GG1 in the mix, It was Beat!!!

Looked it up and in excellent condition it lists for $1000.

Before I started cleaning her up, asked my buddy what he was going to do with

it, he says if you can get it going, Ill list it for $100.00. I told him sold.

So I got her cleaned up and its heavy as all get out and pulls like a Bear!!!

Its got the weirdest sounding horn EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I love my K-Line 'short' GG1.  But then I grew up seeing pictures of them on my Grandpa's walls.  I think he was a big PRR fan.  This was one of them:

 

But with that said, I think it'd be cool to see you do some mods to it so that it looks like it shouldn't have the overhead wires and then you repaint in SF colors.

In real life the 'Gee' never had 3rd rail pick-up. But in our world who's to say a beam with pick-up couldn't be added, similar to what New Haven did with the FL-9 for operating in the New York City tunnels.

 

 

I always thought the Williams GG-1 was the best for the money. For one thing, it is scale length. I believe that if you have pantographs (insect legs) you need catenary as for things to look right. If I ever have the space it would be great to model the Pensy in the fifties with all the big electric locos they had and the full length commuter trains. House of Duddy made catenary at one time...don't know if they are still in business.

The GG1 is my favorite non-steam engine. My dream loco, to buy, is a brass bicentennial version, that a Hobby Shop near my house, has for sale. 2 in college, 1 more in HS and I can't have a $1000 loco. I am hoping they are still available in 3 or 4 yrs, or else I will have one custom painted. That and a REALLY BIG steamer.

 

So why am I posting here? I just finished putting a PS2 upgrade in the Williams Bicentennial GG1.

To plug a sponsor,  I got it a a great price from Trainworld. I had stopped in at Trainland and seen it. Decided I would wait. A few months later, I changed my mind. I called them and the way I remember it, they didn't think they had it. I described where I had seen it, they took the time to look and now it is mine! A yearish later, it's running. It creeps along as well quietly and steadily! Sound is great. I just need to find a sound file with some more light control, if and when I put the interior in. 

 When the mothballing was confirmed, the idea was kicked around in the Detroit newspapers, of buying a few GGs, and restringing some DT&I track that was once electrified by Henry Ford.   There was many more then, but there are still a few concrete catenary arches in place today.

Orange, it really looks like a caterpillar, or "worm".

My Williams runs great, and creeps. No updates at present, but will upgrade to TMCC in the future. Was going to sell it, but no interest, so now it goes back onto the layout. Love it. I do wish the sound was more dynamic.

You are aware that once the book comes out, GG1s will be scarce, and prices skyrocket.

Lee, since you run conventional, I wonder if there isn't just a better control board you could drop in cheap. With DCS, it creeps along at 5smph 2.5% faster than my DCS MTH gp9

I'd like to see that.

 

Kinda like an A-A welded together.

I guess it's not usual for an Aussie to be a GG1 fan, but I love them and have scale models of all liveries.

I got a real surprise in 2010 on my way to York when I discovered this at Harrisburg Station.

Somehow "creeps along" and "GG-1" in the same sentence just doesn't seem right. The prototype didn't "creep" anywhere, it stepped out and blew hats off as it went by.

 

 

Look at the Premier models, they'll typically have more controls enabled.

 

Lee thanks for the photo with the pans off, looks much much better that way.

 

Clem

Len - Can't rgue that. Someday, I will bring it someplace, or have a spot where it can run appropriately, but on the Christmas layout, Silence is king. I'd model Submarines, if I could

Premier improved the speed, funny, the one I found had no separate marker or interior light control. Don't need the markers and the interior is always on, so I'm set

Greatest engine that ever lived.

Lee,  what color is yours?  Looks black to my eyes...

 

We have No 4936 which IS Black and has been the only black one I've seen in person all these years.  Mine is non-powered and was pushed around by the JLC Tuscan 5 stripe...

It was black when I sent it to Lee, hopefully it still is.

You were black or the GG-1  G

Mine is black, as gunrunner says, a very lovely, shiny black.  It is a very handsome loco.

Yes Lee, the GG1 is a "very handsome loco".  I have 4, one being the Tuscan JLC, which I run with Weaver 80' streamliners.  Continue to enjoy.

 

George

 

 

Lee....The GG1 is my favorite electric locomotive.  I had decided years ago that I wanted to collect as many road numbers as possible.  I have a long way to go and honestly don't know if all of the numbers have been reproduced....but at 32 of these monsters, I really don't need any more....yeah, right!

 

Alan

I bought three from Trainworld's blowout last year.  Truthfully, I wish I would've just bought all of them.  Why Williams put the lid on em, at least temporarily (?), especially the "scale" versions - is beyond me because they are virtually indestructible, pull better than anything else I own (and I own over 150 engines), and because of their highly-efficient can motors, I can lash up two or three together and my ZW only barely gets warm after a few hundred laps.  And yes, they are gorgeous models.  -Scott

I'll spring for the rattle can of safety orange for John. He has enough black locos.

Is that how cbojanower got cleaner?