Where GG1's east coast only?

Here's the 4883 westbound approaching North Elizabeth station. It along with the 4880 retained the PRR DGLE single stripe livery, minus PRR Keystone heralds of course, right up until withdrawal of the NJT fleet in 1983. This picture was taken 7/9/82, the last full calendar year of GG1 operation.

I was commuting into the city at the time and, if the evening weather forecast was favorable, I'd take my camera to work and ride a local to one of the Northeast Corridor stations to do some shooting before heading home for the night. That typically entailed catching a South Amboy local and changing to a Bay Head bound train there. There were others doing this as well and, all having come straight from the office, I'm sure we made for an entertaining sight in our jackets and ties hanging out taking train pictures.     

Bob

If a troop train was running direct from Harrisburg to Ft Dix, the engine change was probably made at Frankford Jct.

How about a GG-1 painted in the Santa Fe Warbonnet scheme? This one is Standard Gauge and custom painted.

Looks really nice in the warbonnet paint. Sure, it's a fantasy piece, but that doesn't stop it from looking great!

ARNO

CNJ 3676 posted:

KOOLJOCK1 is correct. Following the Penn Central merger, New York Penn Station to New Haven became part of the regular operating territory of the GG1.

GG1s were also operated on North Jersey Coast Line trains between New York City and South Amboy, leaving and entering the NY-Washington main line at UNION interlocking in Rahway. At the time, catenary ended at South Amboy so a locomotive change took place and operation south (railroad direction west) between there and Bay Head Junction was behind steam/diesel. The GG1s laid over at the South Amboy engine terminal between runs although, depending upon where the crew was based, some would deadhead right back to New York.

GG1's also saw service on the Amboy Secondary between MIDWAY interlocking at Monmouth Junction and South Amboy. Other than local freights, most locomotive hauled traffic over this line was coal headed to South Amboy and train frequency was sporadic so it didn't get a lot of attention. Other PRR electric types were used on the coal trains as well. In later years, heavy local freights departing west from Old Bridge would sometimes be helped to Jamesburg by a GG1 called from South Amboy. The Amboy Secondary was also used for detours resulting from major problems between MIDWAY and UNION. During the Amtrak era, a number of GG1 powered passenger trains were diverted due to accidents.

One further exception related to the operating territory of the GG1 should be noted. On October 29, 1983, NJ Transit hosted a big farewell party for its GG1s. The main celebration was held at Matawan station, and GG1 powered specials departed from there throughout the day. This was now possible as electrification had previously been extended from South Amboy. That was it for GG1 operation as NJ Transit's were the last remaining examples still in service and they were officially retired and stricken from the roster following the day's festivities.

Bob         

Bob,

I was a conductor out of Penn from 1974 to 1987. Worked passenger to DC and down the Jersey Coast in addition to drilling cars in Penn Station and Sunnyside Yard.

Ponz

My only "fantasy" GG-1 would have been a silver one (similar to the ones painted for the Congressional) but with a purple stripe for ACL's Champion. After all they did haul the C to and from NYC and DC.

As a kid, growing up in Northeast Philly and visiting family in maple Shade, New Jersey, we would always take the Tacony-Palmyra bridge.  Many times a GG1 pulling a passenger train passed over us as we went under the PRR bridge before entering the Tacony-Palmyra approach.  It wasn't until 1978 that I took my trusty SLR camera down to the tracks just south of the T P bridge and photographed GG1s pulling passenger and freight trains.  I can still feel the excitement as I stood maybe ten feet away from the tracks and a PC painted G roared by.  The ground seemed to shake as my adrenaline spiked.  What a thrilling experience.

Here are two pictures I took that year.  Both were slides that I transferred to the computer.  The slides had been in storage in my attic and their quality deteriorated a bit.  First is 4935.    Second is a GG1 in PC livery.

GG1's ran on New Haven track prior to the Penn Central Merger.  Recall the wreck of the Congressional in 1953.  The GG1 picked up the train in New Haven for the run to DC.

Stuart

Big Jim posted:

What are "snappers?"

That is what the good folks on the PRR called a "Pusher".  The Brits called them "Bankers". Go figure.

The Brits call them "Bankers" because they assist trains in climbing emBANKments. That's what they call grades over there. That and "inclines" as in the Lickey Incline, the steepest mainline grade in England at "1 in 37.7' or 2.65%.

Stuart posted:

GG1's ran on New Haven track prior to the Penn Central Merger.  Recall the wreck of the Congressional in 1953.  The GG1 picked up the train in New Haven for the run to DC.

Stuart

 

Never in regular service.

A New Haven electric handled the train from New Haven to Penn Station, where GG1 4876 took over. The number of the NH unit is lost to history but it would have been one of the road's EP-4 streamliners or possibly one of the similar looking EF-3b units which were built as freight motors but later received steam generators for passenger work on trains to and from Penn Station.

The EP-4 had third rail gear and could operate on either 11000 volt catenary or 600 volt DC third rail. The EF-3b was an AC only machine. 

FYI: It was the overnight Federal Express from Boston that wrecked in DC, not the Congressional.

Nick Chillianis posted:

Stuart posted:

GG1's ran on New Haven track prior to the Penn Central Merger.  Recall the wreck of the Congressional in 1953.  The GG1 picked up the train in New Haven for the run to DC.

Stuart

 

Never in regular service.

A New Haven electric handled the train from New Haven to Penn Station, where GG1 4876 took over. The number of the NH unit is lost to history but it would have been one of the road's EP-4 streamliners or possibly one of the similar looking EF-3b units which were built as freight motors but later received steam generators for passenger work on trains to and from Penn Station.

The EP-4 had third rail gear and could operate on either 11000 volt catenary or 600 volt DC third rail. The EF-3b was an AC only machine. 

FYI: It was the overnight Federal Express from Boston that wrecked in DC, not the Congressional.

 

Dat's Right!  When it Positively HAS TO be there!

They went out west as far as Altoona for major repair(towed there) and ware 124 GG1s were made and Enola for maintenance and transfer freight cars, They went as far south as Alexandria Potomac yard to transfer freight cars.

Enola

Alexandrea Potomac yard.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Nick Chillianis posted:

Stuart posted:

GG1's ran on New Haven track prior to the Penn Central Merger.  Recall the wreck of the Congressional in 1953.  The GG1 picked up the train in New Haven for the run to DC.

Stuart

 

Never in regular service.

A New Haven electric handled the train from New Haven to Penn Station, where GG1 4876 took over. The number of the NH unit is lost to history but it would have been one of the road's EP-4 streamliners or possibly one of the similar looking EF-3b units which were built as freight motors but later received steam generators for passenger work on trains to and from Penn Station.

The EP-4 had third rail gear and could operate on either 11000 volt catenary or 600 volt DC third rail. The EF-3b was an AC only machine. 

FYI: It was the overnight Federal Express from Boston that wrecked in DC, not the Congressional.

 

Dat's Right!  When it Positively HAS TO be there!

I've seen that photo or a similar one in, the past.  I hadn't noticed that the rear motor truck was damaged.  

I seem to remember taking a passenger train from New London, CT to Philly and they had a GG1 with another engine in front that they unhooked when we got to NYC. I was in the Navy Sub School there in 1975. 

During the late '60-early '70s I rode behind GG1s from Phila to NYC often on bussiness, and on occasion, to New Haven, CT. (which was the end of the electric service back then). Unfortunately, they were painted Penn Central dull black.

moderneraSG posted:

How about a GG-1 painted in the Santa Fe Warbonnet scheme? This one is Standard Gauge and custom painted.

 

Looks really nice in the warbonnet paint. Sure, it's a fantasy piece, but that doesn't stop it from looking great!

ARNO

To me, these graphics make it look like it didn't know if it was coming or going. The PRR single stripes did not have that problem.

The GG1 is such an iconic locomotive that one or two should be towed to West Coast museums and given Pennsy 5-Stripe paint jobs.

Bobby Ogage posted:

The GG1 is such an iconic locomotive that one or two should be towed to West Coast museums and given Pennsy 5-Stripe paint jobs.

I can't imagine ANY "West Coast museum" wanting a GG1, what with the restoration and up-keep expense.

Bobby Ogage posted:

The GG1 is such an iconic locomotive that one or two should be towed to West Coast museums and given Pennsy 5-Stripe paint jobs.

Well, one made for it as far as Green Bay Wisconsin at the national RR museum 

jhz563 posted:

Bobby Ogage posted:

The GG1 is such an iconic locomotive that one or two should be towed to West Coast museums and given Pennsy 5-Stripe paint jobs.

Well, one made for it as far as Green Bay Wisconsin at the national RR museum 

There is one in Frisco, TX, just north of Dallas. That is the furthest west where one can be found. That GG1, 4903, went to Dallas from Elkhart, IN, in exchange for NYC L-3a Mohawk 3005

Nick Chillianis posted:

jhz563 posted:

Bobby Ogage posted:

The GG1 is such an iconic locomotive that one or two should be towed to West Coast museums and given Pennsy 5-Stripe paint jobs.

Well, one made for it as far as Green Bay Wisconsin at the national RR museum 

There is one in Frisco, TX, just north of Dallas. That is the furthest west where one can be found. That GG1, 4903, went to Dallas from Elkhart, IN, in exchange for NYC L-3a Mohawk 3005

Illinois Railway Museum also has one, since restored to the Pennsy 5-stripe paint scheme:

It's been long time now since these things were taken out of service and donated.  There aren't any more available from Amtrak or NJT, even if a "west coast museum" wanted one..

Rusty