Vision Line GG-1 Rivet Counter Special: A Photo Comparison of the Lionel JLC GG-1, Third Rail GG-1, MTH GG-1, Williams, and Weaver GG-1

The Lionel body looks naked w/o the rivet detail.

Here is the 4800...

here is the 4882.

That's why I mentioned in the other thread that Lionel has a real chance to emphasize a unique offering with their VL GG1 in the rivet paint schemes.  I'm just surprised they're only doing 3 of the 8 with rivet detail.  Again, assuming they're offered at a market-competitive price, it wouldn't surprise me if those 3 rivet models turn out to be the best-sellers. 

David

BTW, fabulous collection, Eliot!!! 

I am planning to look very carefully at Lionel's Vision Line model. After spending some time looking at the various models and their level of detail, it seems to me there is quite a bit that Lionel can do to improve the trucks and screen vents. The JLC screen vents are just "OK." Front pilot detail and cab detail needs to be improved for me, too.

If the GG-1 is diecast, they will have to work hard to get good rivet detail Perhaps the most important piece of the new Lionel GG-1 will be color. The colors have to be RIGHT ON. Hopefully, someone is listening. If you look closely at the Lionel JLC details, they are pretty "muddy." Hopefully, the crispness we see in the Third Rail model will be a motivating factor here for the =orange boys. If they want to paste an $1800 MSRP on this version, it has to get much better than just arcing panties.

I am a big GG-1 fan.  I get very sad when passing by (I will never go in) the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  The icon of the PRR GG-1 4800 is left to sit outside in the elements and rust away.  Much lesser rolling stock gets to stay inside.  Shame on whoever runs this museum.  They should be ashamed of themselves for letting this happen.  Whoever this person is, he/she is not a Railroad person.

I am glad they have nothing to do with the Enola Gay or the Liberty Bell.  Throw stones at me for my comments but  many great people of the great State of Pennsylvania had relatives who worked for the PRR.  The PRR will live forever but thanks to whoever runs this Museum not so for the equipment that was the Pennsylvania Railroad.

yeah besides the black PC version the Bicentennial paint scheme really pops the detail.

I may get suckered into the Conrail Bi-Centennial scheme but at this point I dont really care

Here she is  See attachment

Scrap, hands down the 3rd Rail is the nicest one.

Clear winner all the way.  Love it.  Can easily see that pulling a silver passenger train. 

Above:

"Scrap, hands down the 3rd Rail is the nicest one."

Apparently, it's also the only one that needs "some work on the front truck..."  

====

The riveted loco (there was only one of these, am I correct?) is interesting; has an archaic,

box cab-era look. I also prefer the shape of the top of the nose - it's flatter, more Modified P5-like - to that of the production models. 

I do have one scale GG-1; it's no NYC P-2, but, hey, mine is in Penn Central "colors", anyway. It's the Williams scale GG-1. Nice, basic model, runs well (once I fixed the bad solder situation). I thought that it was a "bargain" for a scale GG-1 years ago at $275,

Now, barely over a hundred bucks will get you one.

Fine. 

I'd like to know where a scale Williams is $100 maybe certain road names most are well over $200 that I can find. But then I don't have outings around here I have to rely on the internet to find them. 

Three years ago Train World was blowing them out at York.  I paid $140.00 each for 12 of them.  I sold off some and got my money back and converted the rest to PS2.  They run on my layout today.

There's a hand wrought character to ol' rivets that the other butt welded bodies can't duplicate.  The construction method and extra detail, like the side door and window treatment, does make it look dated.  It's almost more center cab P5a than GG1.  They even transferred the pantograph access steps and guards from earlier equipment. 

The less angular, compound curves of the later bodies give them a clean, slip stream modernism.  Cutting edge in locomotive construction when you think of it.  Fitting for hauling the popular high speed passenger trains of the era, or just about anything else that Pennsy chose to throw at it.

Over time, I've grown fond of everything electric from the PRR.  My first electric was a scale MTH PS1 GG1 and more recently a scale PS2 P5a.  It will be interesting to see if this new VL offering is value for the money.  Awfully tough convincing me that a few cents worth of electronics is a major improvement over the JLC version.

Bruce

Bruce

You just nailed it, Bruce.  And therein lies the rub here.  That's why I can't see folks going "goo-goo ga-ga" over the Vision Line label here.  Unless there's a new paint scheme that calls your name, the JLC's are the best bang for one's dollar out there right now.  Even rivets and paint schemes may not be enough to get folks to part with their hard-earned dollars if Lionel pushes the envelope to far.  Time will tell.

David

Interesting facts about the riveted body.  Great info here.

Look at the colors pop on that bicentennial scheme!  And the silver paint is an added bonus for showing truck detail.  Lionel won't be able to make enough of this model if they price it right.  Then again, they may choose to price it so that only "money is no object" enthusiasts take the plunge.  My prediction:  they're gonna make it hurt, 'cause they know they can.

David

 Hey, maybe the will make a Nice Five stripe Tucson colored VisionLine GG1, to pull my Congressional set that I purchased last Year. wow, it's going to be great....Great Post.

I don't like that Bicentennial paint job at all.  Call me boring, but the green five strip is the most pleasing to my eyes.  Might help that that's the only paint scheme in all the old PRR calendars my grandpa had hanging up in house (And now I have hanging in my house.).

Now if you would please excuse me, I'm off to run my semi-scale K-Line green five stripe.

Somebody distract Marty while I steal his GG1 chassis. 

Bruce

I love the WB.  Great paint job.

Now, we just need to find catenary somewhere in Missouri

Heh Guys - I don't think Elliott will mind me piping in here - I have over 30 NEW in the box, unopened MTH Premier GG-1's and Little Joe Electrics and my Halloween weekend would be a lot less frightening if I could share some of these with you guys. Here's what I have with BLOWOUT pricing and free shipping - how about one of these? Pretty please?

I will add the pictures, in the same sequence:

20-5639-1

20-5640-1

20-5641-1

20-5643-1

20-5644-1

20-5675-1

20-5676-1

20-5677-1

20-5678-1

Steve I wish you had the MTH blue American Railroads GG-1.

i need that paint scheme. I also need the MTH white Bi-Centennial scheme.

Scrapiron, No need to worry about the dirt and dust on your GG1s. It's prototypical!!! See below...

Don't forget this one!

The tough part was coming up with a plausible road number...

Mitch

Santa Fe GG1???? What??

I think this proves any scheme looks good on a GG1!

Thanks for the photos.  The Lionel detail does look pretty good, although it is difficult to tell just from photos which would win a contest.

Hard to believe Lionel will only make three rivet GGs.  Did you mean lots of them, but only three paint schemes?

Finally, the all-time easiest paint job is a GG1.  All you need to do is shoot it.  Decals are still apparently plentiful, and go on easily.  Thus, if you do not care for the pinkish Tuscan (which is correct for faded PRR equipment) you can find some Scalecoat, which is a deep, rich wine-like color.

These are bronze, and 2- rail, so they really don't count.  But I painted them . . .

Those are great colors, Bob !!

You can always paint for me.

In what God forsaken universe would we see a GG1 look like this, O the humanities!

4919 at the Virginia Transportation Museum in 2010.

Well, if UP had decided to electrify between Chicago and LA, they MIGHT have borrowed the design from the Pennsy... 

Mitch

(who mainly did the color scheme to annoy the rivet counters) 

I might have the white one - I will look tomorrow....

Probably Lee Willis would have done this one!  

What a shame that gorgeous, and historically important, locomotives like the #4919 are left to rust and rot outside at an important railroad museum. Is it not better to scrap these beasts instead of letting them rust to death in misery? Do non railroad people appreciate history better by seeing such a spectacle? Certainly, as a railroad person, I hate to see that. I would prefer that it be sent to the torch than allowed to rust.

Scrapiron's Torch

 Probably Lee Willis would have done this one!  

With Veranda Turbine at the controls! 

Mitch

That's not rust, it's skillful weathering. 

Mitch

LMAO, Mitch. I'm surprised Lionel isn't offering this scheme...I'd be in.