Never thought I would have a GG1 but its a nice one . . .

I feel your pain. I said the same thing abot them looking like insects, (grasshoppers). But after one, I found I actually tolerated one, and bought a playmate. By the way is Mike Kovac taking the pictures of Veranda for the book?

Mike Kovac, Man with a Camera, starring Charles Bronson as Mike Kovac.

I have the same Williams GG1.  It is one great runner.  I hope

you enjoy it as much as those on the Forum who are into GG1's,

as I am.

 

Enjoy.

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

Is this a forum record:  using the word "insect" (a word not typically used in discussing toy trains) in a mere five lines of text?

 

 

Now you will be  bitten by the PRR 'bug' Lee........speaking of insects!!!

I was a SP, UP and AT&SF modeler until I bought a PRR loco.......

The G is a unique and handsome brute in almost any road name but that one is especially beautiful Lee!

 

We have the true black 5 stripe version that I used to run with a JLC Tuscan model. They are extra-special when paired.

 

Does it have any enhancements like TMCC/DCS?

Lee - congratulations.  The Williams scale GG1 has to be one of the best (if not the best) all time values in O scale trains.

Putting up catenary for the photos?

Sounds like those "antennas" tend to bug you.

The 'G' is a lot prettier than the New Haven EP-3 'Flat Bottom' that was it's "daddy". But at least you didn't have to climb out of the cab in a January snow storm to switch cab ends in the EP-3.

 

 

Many of us think the GG-1 is a beautiful art deco engine.  I think that its streamlining is equal to or better than any contemporary diesel or electric.

 

I remember riding behind GG-1s many times as a kid.  It looked good with any train it was pulling including freights.  Even PC black couldn't destroy its classic lines.  

 

I believe that the reason the GG-1 is a popular with modelers as the SF War Bonnet F units is that both are true classics.  

 

Joe 

Nice addition, Lee.  Did GRJ install TMCC in it?

 

BTW, as a member of the GG1 admirers club we forgive you just this once for running with both pantographs up...but just this one! 

 

Bruce

 

 

Lee

Nice GG1, If you don't like the GG1 why couldn't you borrow one just for the photo shoot?

Steve

Maybe he's breaking ice off the wires, the one time they'd both be up.

 

 

I put them on just to see if they are working.  Nice how the little springs work to keep them up.  I will normally run it with the off, or down at least.  

 

Len2 - Gunrunner was going to put TMCC in it but got a JLC instead.  I'm not sure what I will do with it.  I just need it for some pictures.  It is a beatufiul loco though, I must admit, the stayling is to die for.  Gorgeous.  And big!

Lee, be kind do us G motor fans.  Having been behind many in my earlier life, they were great.  Your Williams is a very good model.  I am sure John tricked it out.  The Williams G will run on 0-42.  I have many converted to DCS and several that will be at some time. 

 

I was at the last run of the GG-1 and saw many a grown man with tears in his eyes.

 

I grew up living in Pennsylvania as a kid and would spend hours trackside watching the GG-1 fly by at very high speed.  Those days are what made me want operating catenary on a model layout.

Lee, that is one, big, beautiful model.

It's massive size is impressive as the real one at the Pennsylvania RR. Museum in Lancaster Co., I saw a few years back.

Enjoy!!!!

Ralph

 

For  the longest time I CRAVED a semi-scale Lionel GG1.  Until I purchased my first of many scale MTH and Lionel GG1s. Now I keep the semi-scale in a glass case.

 

The MTH ones run easier on 072 or a bit less than the Lionel because of the front and rear trucks that are free wheeling on the MTH and take weight on the Lionel.

 

Additionally the scale GG1s look better with the 18" or 21" passenger cars. 

Beautiful engine, excellent runner and very prototypical. Should look great on the layout and even better with an overhead gantry line. I am trying to decide how I will set up an overhead gantry line. MTH offers one but I've never seen a picture of it set up. I would think that many modelers scratch build their gantry systems. If I am not mistaken GG1 locos ran exclusively by the PRR on the Boston to Washington run and also from NYC to Harrisburg in both freight and passenger utility.

Dennis, back in the days when the G ran, catenary stopped at New Haven. It did not go into Boston.   As a kid I always dreamed of catenary to Boston so I could see a G pull into South Station.   Today many loco railfans take commuter rail to the station to watch the Acela.  It is not uncommon to see three or fout Acela trains in the station at the same time. 

 

The Harrisburg trains came out of Philly.

LOL…Insect
I know I don’t give mine enough track time as I should. 

When they’re on their side they look like a Nightcrawler ???





Thanks for Posting….

Season’s Greetings.

K.C.

I have that same GG1. You see SO many short, squat non-scale GG1s at shows.  When I first took mine out of the box, I was pleasantly surprised how long and sleek she is.  I only have one regret.  Now I have to put up catenary. 

Bob

Needless to say, I, too, have that GG1.  You can never tell whether the GG1 is coming or going by setting it up on the track by itself.  PaRR rules!!!!!

Lee, it looks like the PRR GG1 is just an intro into the vast array of unique PRR locomotives to add to your collection. Tell us. Is it so?

It really is "exceptionally attractive!"

 

It would have no business on my layout, but I would proudly display one.

I run 16 of them on live catenary.  No rollers on the engines.  I have many more Williams G motors I got on a great sale at York.

So Lee, are we going to eventually see the GG1 in the Warbonnet livery?

 

Jerry

I'm glad Lee is enjoying it.  I actually have another Tuscan model that I did put TMCC into, and then I got the JLC to complete the stable, so I decided to let this one go.

 

Of course, Marty is "over the top" with sixteen of them!

 

If your layout does not have catenary and it is important to run with a pantograph up, then tie the pantograph at a height that clears the bridges, tunnels and overpasses. 

Jerry, I have actually thought of that.  One of the perks of being a toy train guy.  About a year ago, some forum member had one done in Northern Pacific.  It was beautiful.

 

Bobby, I recently had a guy with an Acela run pans up into his tunnel and it cleaned everything off the locomotive.  If anyone runs like this they should put a skid for the pan under the opening.

Lee, I have the same engine I picked up in trade.  The PW GG-1 just draws too much power.  I am going to install Legacy and Legacy cruise, add remote couplers and even contemplating smoke.  Will add directional LED markers instead of the light bar.  I am actually working on it now while some repairs are in route.  Plenty of room.  Will figure out the sound later, though I am ok with the true blast.  I will keep you posted.  G

Lee,

 

If you're running with the 'Pans' up for power, use the rear one only.  The reasoning was that if you used the front one and hit an obstruction causing dislocation or

dismemberment of that front 'Pan', it could go into the rear 'Pan' causing damage which wouldd leave the motor (GG1) totaly without power. Of course, rules are made to be broken so there is photographic evidence that the rulebook wasn't always followed.

 

Besides their Art Deco styling, these motors were extremely robust (i.e. pulling 18 heavyweight coaches at 100mph for as long as needed between NYC & Wash D.C.) and enjoyed a long life (1935-1981).   

 

Happy Holidays,

Bill Morlitz

Great model Lee. Welcome to east coast modeling - especially Pennsy. I have the Williams GG-1 in tuscan and the MTH in Brunswick. Both great models. 

 

OBTW: KC, I thing the engine on it's side is a P-5a. A predissor to the GG-1.

I bought a blank Williams shell on Ebay last summer with that plan in mind. Still need to get the Warbonnet declas.

 

Jerry

Lee, get on "You Tube", and search for the last run of "Big Red". If you haven't seen it, it's truly worth watching. It 's 4 part video of the last GG1 That New Jersey Transit got from Penn Central or Conrail. They did a 5 stripe Tuscan paint job for it's last run into the history books, and man did it perform 100+mph with about 11 cars in tow.

You get a very good cab ride with the old engineer telling about his history with the Pennsylvania thru to finishing with the NJT..........................................Brandy!

The GG1 is cool.  Like I said, I don't really like pantograph locos, but the engineer in my appreciates a fantastic loco design, and the styling is superb.  It appears multiple times in a fiction book I'm writing now.  

 

I ran the model some today - minus the pantographs.  It is a big, very impressive model.  This one has really good, glistening paint and graphics.  Quite nice.  

 

What did they sound like? This Williams model has no sound, of course, but then, probably that is pretty close to accurate.  i drive a Chevy volt most days because, being electric, it makes no sound at all.  I suppose the GG1 was fairly quiet?

Lee,

    Anybody referring to the Gold Standard of Electric PRR Engines as insect like, I have to disagree with, no matter how much I like the guy.  Hay anytime you want to give that PRR GG-1 beauty away, you box her up and send her to me, I will pay the postage.  If you have ever seen one of these incredible GG-1 engines in real life they are anything but insect looking, that is for darn sure.  You got to be a flat lander to be talking about the greatest Electric PRR Engine ever built, and actually saying it looks like any kind of insect.   The little boy pressed up against the window looking at the PRR GG-1, man that was me in real life, looking at the coolest engine ever built, so big it took up half a railroad station platform.  Never ever question the Engineers Judgment, and man I am an engineer.   Insect looking!  What boat did this guy get off of!

No offense Lee but the PRR GG-1 is the greatest Railroad Engine ever built.

PCRR/Dave

 

 

Dave, I am with you on your statement that the GG-1 was the greatest railroad engine ever made.  I watched them for hours and rode behind them many times. 

Imagine a turbocharged can opener, Lee.

 

Seriously though, I can't recall what my PS1 GG1 sounds like...it's been mothballed for some time awaiting ERR upgrades. 

 

Bruce

The GG1's were far from quiet with all their cooling fans and such.  Watch the "Big Red" video mentioned above and I believe it will give you a pretty good idea.