Lionel GG-1's From the Seventies

OGR or CTT magazine had a comprehensive story about the Lionel GG1's through the years. It may have been the MPC era GG1's that had the problematic plastic gears. Try to find the article?

TM's 4th book in their Lionel Collectors series and as well as Greenberg's Guide to Lionel trains 1970-1991 included important info on the Lionel GG-1 in the 70's. It said the body casting on the #6-8753 Pennsylvania of 1977 was not as smooth as the postwar versions and the nylon gearing didn't hold up well. The #6-8850 Penn Central had those things fixed the next year.

I have had several of the MPC ones, they have that AC motor growl but no problems with any of them. Oh there is one thing. The trucks came with fast angle wheels which makes them wobble side to side as they move down the track. An easy fix with flat postwar type wheels and axles.

My 8753 is the smoothest, and one of the most powerful engines I have.  The nylon gears are fine, and they add to the quiet delivery of the power.

I have at least one example of every Lionel GG1 in my collection.  For the most part they are smooth, quiet and powerful pullers.

Some 'tinkering' may be required and I've had to do that on the dual motored postwar ones as well as the more modern versions.

I particularly like the semi scale ones with RS and command control.  The JLC scale versions are in a class by themselves.

As mentioned the wobbly pilot trucks can be corrected.  I've not had a problem with the nylon geared trucks.

The Lionel G has probably had more articles written about it than any other Lionel engine.

Generally speaking, the black plastic gears are problematic and the white gears are not.