Saw My First Real GG1 Today

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Marlin338MX

Well-Known Member
I went to the Syracuse NY model train fair today, and as I was leaving the fairgrounds, a GG1 caught my eye. So I parked next to their static display of locomotives, caboose and passenger cars. I had no idea these trains were there, so that was a pleasant surprise.

These GG1's are big!
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Delaware and Hudson heavyweight
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Long Island
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B&O
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GE 44 Tonner, I believe...?
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All the doors were locked, but it's nice to be able to see them up close.
 
I went to the Syracuse NY model train fair today, and as I was leaving the fairgrounds, a GG1 caught my eye. So I parked next to their static display of locomotives, caboose and passenger cars. I had no idea these trains were there, so that was a pleasant surprise.

These GG1's are big!
View attachment 246427

Delaware and Hudson heavyweight
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Long Island
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B&O
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View attachment 246434

View attachment 246431

View attachment 246432

GE 44 Tonner, I believe...?
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All the doors were locked, but it's nice to be able to see them up close.
Really Cool. Way back when the GG1s were first retired, I drove all the way to St. Louis just to see the one they put in the transportation museum there.
 




We probably saw each other, as i was there also photographing after the show. The AHM GG1 models are basically Rivarossi clones, and they have screwed up nose profile.
I have one of the Rivarossi units, pretty powerful locomotive. Kind of like the full sized variety. One of these days I've got to take some new and better photos of it. This was on my old dining room table setup.
Rivarossi PRR GG1 4929 (My model) (2).JPG
 
It's like the steam locomotives with visibility. The whole idea behind the design of the GG1 was to eliminate possibility of crew getting killed in a crash. This was as a result of boxcab P5a running into a truck full of apples at Deans Lane crossing in New Jersey in early 1930s. The truck literally lodged itself inside the engineers cab of the locomotive, instantly killing the engineer. The fireman miracously escaped similar fate because he was attending to the steam boiler towards the back end of the locomotive.
 
It's like the steam locomotives with visibility. The whole idea behind the design of the GG1 was to eliminate possibility of crew getting killed in a crash. This was as a result of boxcab P5a running into a truck full of apples at Deans Lane crossing in New Jersey in early 1930s. The truck literally lodged itself inside the engineers cab of the locomotive, instantly killing the engineer. The fireman miracously escaped similar fate because he was attending to the steam boiler towards the back end of the locomotive.
The same reason some railroads run road switchers long end forward. Back in the day, the Burlington Zephyr "shovel nose" was a death trap in the event of a collision. Eventually resulted in design of the "bulldog nose" EMD E and F-units. Put the cab up higher and set back somewhat.
 
Actually, I believe they probably have the highest preservation rate of any locomotive. 11% of them have been preserved.
They have one at The Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco TX about 35 miles from me. It's PRR 4903. The same museum also has a Big Boy, UP 4018, and a whole lot of other equipment.
There are a total of about 16 or 17 GG1s saved. They are in various state, from spic and span museum pieces, to ones sitting on unused sidings with black paint peeling off.
Well I guess you learn something every day! To be honest, they just looked so sleek, I would have thought they would still be around! 😅
Most engines of such are scraped.
 
Yes they are both great. They were painted in Auburn NY by Tom Kupi. He had a small train store in town but it got in the way of his painting, he closed the store and painted from home. He was a well known painter in North America and maybe more the store was the Key Stone locomotive store if I remember right
 


Yes they are both great. They were painted in Auburn NY by Tom Kupi. He had a small train store in town but it got in the way of his painting, he closed the store and painted from home. He was a well known painter in North America and maybe more the store was the Key Stone locomotive store if I remember right
I'm glad to hear that they run. The paint jobs are amazing!
 




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