History of American Trains | GG1 

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The GG1 was not just an engine, Lowey made it a work of art.

I was a firearm an fired and or operated GG-1’s,E-44’s, E-33’s,E-60’s and the many types of Diesel Electric Locomotives,from March 1974 to July 1976 when I graduated to from LETP and was promoted to Locomotive Engineer. The Passenger Geared GG-1’s would easily go in excess of 100MPH on passenger trains that were authorized to be pulled at 100MPH. All single or multiple unit GG-1’s maximum authorized speed was 50MPH. A Single GG-1 pulling a dead not as a multiple unit GG-1, was considered a coach, maximum speed was 100MPH. When the new Amfleet Coaches started arriving in the mid to late 70’s, ( As the Self Propelled Multiple Unit Bud Metroliners were being retired and scrapped.These were not very reliable, and broke down regularly). Amtrak was purchasing E-60 Locomotives starting in 1972. They were supposed to be able to go anywhere from 100MPH to 120MPH maximum speed. These locomotives were poorly designed and really scary to operate at speeds of 80MPH and above. The side to side lateral Motion was so extreme, banging against the sides of the rails and the wheel flanges.That you would wonder how it didn’t either break the rail or the wheel flange causing it to derail. The E-60 was quickly restricted to 80MPH maximum speed. The Lateral motion was somewhat corrected by adding stabilizing Shock Absorbers that would wear out regularly. So Amtrak had no choice but to begin using GG-1’s on their Metroliners. The train would consist of a GG-1 a mail coach with updated trucks to allow 120MPH Maximum speed, used as a baggage & mail coach. Installed was a Diesel engine coupled to a Alternating Current generator set, providing Head End Power for the 3 to 5 Amfleet Coaches it pulled. The GG-1 easily got up to maximum authorized track speed. During this particular time. Amtrak was desperately trying to get ridership up. So for an incentive,if the Metroliner was more than 5 minutes late at its final destination. You would be refunded the price of the ticket and rode for free. There were times when something occurred that delayed the Metroliner. Such as restrictive signals,temporary speed restrictions, train ahead broke down and many other various reasons delaying the Metroliner. During these years North East Corridor was in desperate need of being rehabilitated. On tracks that had 120MPH authorized speed. The GG-1 would easily exceed their maximum authorized 100MPH. The speed indicator went to 100MPH and at that speed you still had 4 to 5 notches of additional amperage left on the throttle, to get the train speed up to 120MPH. If you were running late. Doing this allowed you to make up lost time and get the train back on time. I can’t recall one time that any Metroliner that I was either the Locomotive Engineer or Fireman on, that was more than 5 minutes late at the final destination. Most of the time the Metroliners were generally a minute or two early or right in time at its final destination.The GG-1’s were removed from Metroliner Service service as the AEM-7 Locomotives were put in service. The AEM-7 was a extremely reliable, comfortable seating , easy to operate locomotive. It had excellent heat and air conditioners, dynamic braking and electro pneumatic braking system, cruise control. Would go 125MPH with ease, was real smooth running at any speed. The GG-1 on the other hand had terrible seats, basically no heat,no air conditioning.It was extremely loud and filthy. All the widows leaked when rained. The main transformer was filled with PCB Oil, that is extremely dangerous. It was very narrow walking from one end to the other from the inside. The crew space was very small. With all these faults I still consider it to be the most reliable indestructible electric locomotives ever made. Not one time did a GG-1 break down and not make it from point A to Point B. Many would still be running today if they weren’t removed from service. When NJTRO started operating on January 1,1983. They had the last of the operating GG-1’s left, and were used to pull passenger trains from South Amboy NJ to either Penn Station NYC or Sunny Side Yard Queens NYC and back. These few GG-1’s could still easily get a 14 car passenger train to 100MPH. Going East from the PA&W mainline branch and onto the North East Corridor at Union Tower, Rahway NJ. Switching to either Track Two or Track Three. Providing you have clear signal on the cab signal rack and clear wayside signals. You could easily get the train up to 100MPH Until you had to slow down to 55MPH for Elisabeth Curves. The Freight GG-1’s had lowered gearing and would only go around 70MPH while pulling a Dead GG-1 that was only using the Brake Pipe and Main Reservoir Hoses. This dead GG-1 was then considered a Coach. A single or multiple units GG-1’s maximum speed was 50MPH. 2 or more Locomotives connected in multiple are considered as one Locomotive. Loaded Ore trains maximum speed was 30MPH. On mixed Freight maximum speed was 50MPH. On TTX Truck Trains maximum speed was 60MPH.

One of the most successful pieces of engineering and design ever. I rode many trains pulled by them and their unique look ensured they were always an object of interest during their long service. Thank you for a great summary.

The Leslie A200 horn is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard ❤

Just found this and subscribed. The GG1's hold a special place for me. My dad was station master @ Penn Station Newark, N.J. I got to drive one from Newark to my hometown of Rahway when I was 14

The Jan 15 1953 wreck was just days before the inauguration of president Eisenhower, Jan 20. The station is DC was going to be very busy with people coming to the city. That is why they boarded over the GG1. It was going to take a lot of time to get the heavy locomotive out of the basement so they just waited until after the inauguration, when the station wasn't going to be as busy.

With people possibly relying on this video for complete knowledge, I'd just like to make one adjustment and one addition, both involving the accident with 4876 at Washington's Union Station. This video is entirely about the GG1, so when the narrator states the train started in Boston, I'd like to add that the GG1 replaced the original diesel locomotive in New Haven. The portion of the NEC from New Haven to Boston was only electrified starting in 1996. Also, the most amazing part of the entire accident story is that it occurred only five days before the inauguration of Eisenhower, with hordes of people scheduled to pass in and out of Union Station. That made the construction of the temporary floor over 4876 all the more urgent, with it being reported that thousands of passengers walked over the engine lying in the basement without even knowing about it.

Eastbound out of DC Union Station the PRR and B&O ran parallel for a mile or so after clearing the switches. A B&O train, accelerating up the grade out of the station with three E8 Diesels pulling ten cars or so would be making about 50 mph . It would be passed by a Pennsy train of 16 cars or so doing 70+ mph pulled by a single GG1.

It’s nice knowing that the GG1 was designed and built solely for the Pennsylvania Railroad and when that couldn’t survive, PENN CENTRAL, then CONRAIL and New Jersey Transit, but it mainly reminded on the East Coast. For not only the GG1 but other designs of railroad locomotives and other forms of transportation, Raymond Lowey was a genius in his own right. Great video. Thank you for sharing

A Unique And Beautiful Engine. Thank You PRR And Raymond Lowry.

Great history concerning the Pennsy GG1. THANK YOU

A fine film, I was the individual who allowed Liberty Historic Trust to use my cab ride film of the early 1980s.

Nice job. You kept it short, sweet and factual.

You sound young man but you are very informed about this stuff Keep making Videos!❤

I visited the B&O Rail Museum back in August (2022) and I saw 4876 in the storage tracks while on a tour. If there's a chance of these engines ever returning to service, it would be to have better electric systems and traction motors than the original ones they used.

In 1979 we took a trip to the east coast. I knew the end was near for the GG1 so we made it to northern NJ to see them. We saw about 10 of them running on various trains.

Probably the most beautiful thing ever to roll on rails

I remember one GG1 had the seal on it advertising to buy U.S. Savings bonds, We called it the Bond Engine,

Hey this is pretty good!

I just picked up a new Lionel GG1. Thanks for the history lesson!

I used to watch PC and later Conrail GG1s pull freight past my house along the Trenton cutoff in the 70s..

If you dig deep enough you will find out that 4876 for the most part was scrapped after the crash in Washington. There was some components from the original locomotive used but a brand new car body, frame, trucks and so on were all fabricated to build what was basically a brand-new gg1.

Nice work Train Master 26.

I just watched a video of 2 GG1's abandoned in N.Y.

I inherited the Lionel GG-1 as a kid. I never realized how truly big it was until We went to Harrisburg one day and I saw a real one at the train station. My poor little chin almost hit the floor! They really WERE that big! I never forgot realizing that.

When I was a kid, I'm 69, my parents gave me a train set, the locomotive was a gg1.

I recall reading in a Trains(?) magazine back in the 1980s about the GG1. The article said one was put on a dynamometer test bed in the 1950s and they accelerated it. It hit 120mph and it was still accelerating but they reached the physical limits of the dyno so they stopped it. The conclusion was they couldn't really know what the top speed was. The 100mph was probably the limit on a track with the overhead catenary.

My favorite loco of all time. Next comes the Big Boy

gg1s could produce 10000 hp for a short time only so the motors wouldnt overheat.

If you've seen videos from the IRM, the "Little Joe" makes the GG1 look small (IIRC, the IRM has CSS&SB #803).

Outstanding! Incredibly well done!!

I could've sworn that's some kind of experimental nuclear train if i didn't learn what i did today. Anyways GG

That was an excellent, concise history given 🙂 Thankyou gor making this vid 🙂

Thank you for this Faaantastic collection and presitation

I’m still holding out hope that maybe one day a gg1 will operate again. I mean. Just a decade ago no one would’ve thought a big boy would run under its own power. What makes it so different. Aside from steam vs electric power

I rode in the cab of the last GG1 to ever operate. It was October 29, 1983. The GG1 was in service for N. J. Transit.

Fantastic job explaining young man, I'm a huge GG1 fan !

Amazing video!subbed!

Nice job!

I grew up in NE Philadelphia, we would always hear them and when we fishing we cross the rail lines and watch the GG1's go by. In high Schooll we would ride up to NYC on trains that were pulled by GG1's. In Sky Captain, and the World of Tomorrow there a GG1 in the battle in NYC

Good video man.👍🏾👍🏾

They need to restore a gg1! I want to see one running!

Keep up the great work!

I'm not a great fan of north american railways, but i love american electric locomotives especially the gg1 who also remind me the fs E428 (the italian gg1, although it was 2-b+b-2). Love from italy

Nicely done!

Excellent research!

Great video!

I always thought the GG1 was the best looking locomotive ever. Glad that i was able to the pulled by one once from NYC to New Haven, although it was painted Penn Central black instead of being in the sweet PRR livery.

Great video!! Thank you! I really enjoyed it! I have 2 scale lionel models I absolutely love.

I had the opportunity to see the GG1 up close at the Baltimore railroad museum. It hadn't been restored yet, but still an awesome behemoth!

Excellent overview! I’m surprized, though, that you didn’t mention that the “GG1” designation came from PRR using “G” for its 4-6-0 steamer and this was a (sort of) 4-6-0+0-6-4. Hence GG1. (There were no GG2s ever made.)

Holy crap, it’s a miracle no one was killed in 4876’s derailment

The red GG1 4877 footage you used is from the Michaela and Marianne Autorino film GG1: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC. I bought a 16mm copy in 1984 after he finished it.

The AEM-7 replacement locomotive is a bit ironic as EMD built the locomotive and ASEA provided the innards. The locomotive is a Swedish Rc4 at it's base modified for American needs. Usually when it comes to Diesel locomotives in Sweden it was the other way around EMD provided the diesel engines and NOHAB built the locomotive. NOHAB existed untill the late 80's and built most of Sweden's diesel locomotives and exported many locomotives to the rest of Europe including across the Iron Curtain. Rc4 no:1166 that was brought over the the USA for testing prior to the AEM-7 order seems to be still in service. As far as i know the Rc4 class will continue in service for many years to come. Rc locomotives where built new in classes Rc1-6 and they replaced the first electric locomotives generation of electric locomotives the D-class built from 1925-1943 it's the biggest class of locomotives in Swedish history with 366 locomotives built between 1967-1988.

I hope the GG1s come back!

My favorite American electric locomotive!

Guau! , debieran re-hacerla por que es muy hermosa, gracias.

6:26 the frames weren't just cracked man. They were ROTTING away

This is great content! Are you going to make more videos like this?

What someone should do is Motor a GG1 to Diesel electric, it would look the same, just no cantinary.

great engine

Al menos tengo una GG1, a escala H0 en mi librero. Gran locomotora eléctrica

Very well done. @ 4:10 you show the GG1 as the Broadway Limited... where did they replace it with a steam engine, as I don't believe it was electrified all the way to Chicago

Other than sound levels being too low, a good documentary!

Back when people used to walk I'd often walk the tracks to and from school. The 1st time I saw the GG1s I knew what I wanted to do for a living. It was larger than life and I fell in love. It's still my favorite locomotive, thanks for the video.

The EP-3 looks better

Isn't the music from this video used in Sonic Mega and Gems Collections? =)

Great channel. No crappy music and good info.

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There's one still in Harrisburg pa

Love your videos, thanks! One suggestion, refer to the "engine" as a "locomotive". More accurate!

The locomotives🚂 ♥ 😍 ❤ ✨ 👌 🚂 of usa 🇺🇸 ♥ 👌 😀 ♥ looking like from another planet

#GG1 | GG1

my question is How was it that they could pull a GG1 out of a collapsed building but couldn't rebuild a derailed ACS64?

like gg1 train

If BigBoy can get restored, so can a GG1.

Unfortunately there's nowhere you can run them due to the voltage they used

Drain the transformers of PCB and replace with current safe silicone-based dielectric coolants, perfectly safe for curious chipmunks & climate friendly for Johnny Polar Bear.

0:43 that's an EP-2

Why do you call the GG1 "infamous"?

I doubt it pulled a freight train at 90 MPH

i mostly prsumed they were unrelaible

The narrator's sound is too low

Stopped watching after you showed the picture of the R1, and said it was a 2-D-2 arrangement instead of 2-C-2. That throws everything else you have said out the window as far as reliability.

Can barely hear the narrator.

Great job!

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