Hi Jonathan,
Among the great things about GGD is that the authenticity of their products invites one to start thinking about how to put together authentic consists if the right products become available. Then we have Forums like this to share our ideas with others and see who else might be interested.
Off the top of your head, what would be authentic Amtrak consists that GG1s would have pulled, and what liveries of the GG1 would be appropriate for them?
Thanks,
Norman
Norman,
That is a great question. Amtrak GG1s pulled Amtrak trains from inception until 1981 when Amtrak retired them. The last run of steam heated cars though was in 1982 and a pair of NJT GG1s, 4877 and 4879, did the honors on that train. There are almost limitless consists of that era through.
Amtrak GG1s had the following paint schemes:
- Amtrak Platinum mist with a variation on the bloody nose scheme. All were numbered in the 900 series, but do not necessarily represent the 4 being dropped from the PRR / PC number. All had the modified intakes.
- Amtrak Helvetica stenciled on the side of an all-black GG1. Most of them in the 900 series again, but also some still retaining a 4-digit number with a 4 in the front. Some odd renumbering still happened as one was 4939 and the highest numbered PRR GG1 was 4938. Photos help. Modifications on these units varied.
- Amtrak Helvetica stenciled on a DGLE with a single buff stripe PRR scheme. These were units that still retained PRR paint.
- Penn Central - both leased PC units and purchased ones that did not get repainted. These were more common early on.
- PRR 4935 in 5 stripe DGLE - done in 1977 and operated in service until the end of Amtrak GG1 operations. Went to the PRR Railroad Museum operable upon retirement and technically remained operable until transformers were finally removed in 2005.
- Amtrak ended up with all the highest numbered GG1s as they were the newest of the fleet. NJT's stopped at 4884 and Amtrak eventually ended up with most of the numbers above that.
As for consists, any train that ran on the NEC from 1971-1981 would have had a GG1 pulling it. This includes:
- Amfleet cars in Phase I and Phase II paint with a generator car that was typically a baggage car or a coach converted to have an HEP genset. Lionel has tooling for an appropriate one that they offered with the Rio Grande Ski Train. However, these cars came from lots of donors and no two were the same. Some of these trains were used in Metroliner service while the original Budd cars were being rebuilt.
- The through trains that terminated in Penn Station all got GG1s in DC or Harrisburg. This includes the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, the Crescent, The Broadway Limited, the National Limited, and several I'm certainly forgetting. These would be fairly long trains, be a bit coach heavy, but would still have a crew dorm somewhere either at the head end or as part of a multi-unit diner, a lounge or two, and various combinations of sleepers. PC added Sleepercoaches to the Broadway at its inception. Slumbercoaches were added to several trains that never had them previously also. Observation cars ran up until the mid 70's on various trains.
- GG1s ran north to New Haven as well so any of the Boston bound trains would be appropriate.
- Off course, the Clockers had GG1s and were mainly former Congressional cars.
- In general, any cars in Phase I or II Amtrak would be appropriate, but Hi Levels and dome cars did not run under wire.
While the true "Heritage Fleet" of rebuilt HEP long distance cars started in 1977 and introduced the phase III paint scheme, those trains were mainly pulled by E60CHs and later E60MAs as they came equipped with HEP gensets.
Still disappointed on the cancelation of the E60, however there just wasn't enough interest so I get it.
Sorry for the long response!