Amtrak Photo Archive

Amtrak Photo Archive
an unofficial Amtrak site

The GG1

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Built by the PRR starting in 1934 until 1943, a total of 139 of these elite locomotives were built for and by the Pennsylvania Railroad. They handled all main line passenger service between New York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the electrified zones.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's GG-1's were geared for 110 mph in passenger service and somewhat lower for freight. They were used in freight service when traffic conditions permitted; they were numbered 4800-4938. The GG-1s' service life lasted well into the 1970s, with the last ones retired in 1980. When Amtrak took over passenger service in 1971, numbers 4899-4938 were included from Conrail, and many were renumbered to the 900 series in 1973.

This electric locomotive represents the finest of locomotives during the 1930s and 1940s. They have a graceful appearance with gold striping accenting their smooth, flowing lines. Capable of

bi-directional operation, their appearance was enhanced when several were painted Tuscan red for operation on the morning and evening Congressional Limited between New York and Washington. Others were used on the Broadway Limited between New York and Harrisburg, blending in with the Tuscan red colors of the passenger equipment to present a fine-looking train. used on electrified lines between New York, Washington, and Harrisburg. Under a body designed by Raymond Loewly, the GG-1 combined power and speed, pulling 22 passenger cars at 100+ mph.They were operated by Penn Central, Conrail, NJT and Amtrak
All were retired by 1983

The Amtrak GG1s are on two other pages

to view Amtrak GG1s in the 900 series click here

to view Amtrak GG1s in the 4900 series click here

SURVIVING AMTRAK GG-1s

Amtrak 4906 ex PRR 4903	Dallas TX Age of Steam Museum	4903 as it appeared in 1984 (numbered 4906 Amtrak)	With PC GG1 4901 pulled the funeral train of Sen. Robert Kennedy from New York to Washington on June 8,1968. It was acquired in a trade ( for a NYC Mohawk ) with National NYC Museum of Elkhart, Indiana, arriving April 29th, 1984
Amtrak 4906 ex PRR 4903	Dallas TX Age of Steam Museum	1999 photo	Built in 1940 at a cost of $250,000, #4903 was When Amtrak took over passenger service, they renumbered it to #906, and later to #4906 before retiring it in 1983. . Newly completed restoration,
Amtrak 4932 ex PRR 4909	Cooperstown Jct NY Leatherstocking RY Museum photo by Jim Hebner Sept 23, 2001	Amtrak Black	Regularly led "The Senator" and the "Congressional Limited" reported as being for sale
Amtrak 4934 ex PRR 4917	Cooperstown Jct NY Leatherstocking RY Museum photo by Jim Hebner Sept 23, 2001	Amtrak Black	One of 75 GG1s built with Westinghouse components, the other 64 GG1s used GE devices and motors. reported as being for sale
Amtrak 4916 ex PRR 4918	St. Louis MO Museum of Transportation,	Amtrak Black	Weighed 238 tons and cost about $250,000.00 when built in 1942 ($2,723,189.00 in 1998 dollars)
Amtrak 4917 ex PRR 4919	Roanoke VA Virgina Museum of Transportation A gift from Lillian B. Kelley, the mother of a former Museum President, enabled the Museum to acquire the locomotive in February, 1981	DGLE 5 stripe	The 4919 was originally numbered 4917 when built in the Juniata Shops of the Altoona Works, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was a wartime "baby" delivered in June of 1942 along with five others. A general renumbering of these locomotives in June 1973 gave it No. 4934, and it later was renumbered 4919. It ran almost 5,500,000 miles before it was retired 2/1/81.
Amtrak 4939 ex PRR 4927	Union IL Illinois Railway Museum in Barn 9 - you can see many of the old paint schemes if you look carefully photo by Jim Hebner August 15, 1999	Amtrak Black	Became an anomly when Amtrak numbered it 4939 in 1976. For 42 years there had not been a GG1 with a number higher than 4938.
Amtrak 4926 exPRR 4933	Syracuse NY New York State Fairgrounds owned by Central NY Chapter NRHS photos by Jim Hebner in August 1986	DGLE yellow stripe	One of six Amtrak GG1s painted platinum mist with a red hood and a blue stripe. Was the last GG1 to go to the Army-Navy game in 1975.
Amtrak 4935 ex PRR 4935	Strasburg, PA RR Museum of PA photo by Bill Waller	DGLE 5 stripe	Repainted PRR Brunswick green w/ pin stripes while in service on Amtrak in 1977. The repainting of "Blackjack" was paid for by the "Friends of the GG1". Probably the best restored and best displayed GG1.

OTHER SURVIVING GG-1s

PRR 4800	Strasburg PA RR Museum of PA photo by Jim Hebner October 13, 2000	DGLE 5 stripe	The prototype GG1 with a riveted carbody- was the Bi-Centennial GG1 Engine in 1976, old "Rivets" wore Conrail "dress blue".
PRR 4859	Harrisburg, PA Transportation Center Augsust 1994 photo by Bill Hakkarinen	DGLE 5 stripe	Pulled the first electric train into Harrisburg 1/15/1938 and latter was designated official electric locomotive of PA
NJT 4873	Whippany NJ photo by Jeff Lubchansky June 1991		reported to have been scrapped - too bad
NJT4873	photo by Jeff Lubchansky		South Amboy NJ Built January 1939 - retired July1983
NJT4876	Baltimore MD Photo by Jeff Lubchansky May 31, 1998	NJT Black	Crashed in Union Station, Washington, DC in 1953 and is now stored by the B&O Museum in a nearby yard. built January 1939 - ex PRR /PC 4876
	Baltimore MD Photo By Jim Hebner Sept 2006		The gafitti as been "regafittied" in Photoshop. No reason to promte vandalism
NJT 4877	Port Elizabeth NJ Photo By Jeff Lubchansky 1985	Tuscan Red 5 Stripe	Repainted PRR tuscan red w/pin stripes in 1981 by NJT while in service. Retired 10/31/83
NJT 4877	from the collection of Jim Hebner		Now on display at the New Jersey Transit Passenger Station in Hoboken NJ
PRR 4879	Hoboken NJ URHS of NJ stored at Ridgepark NJ Photo By Jeff Lubchansky November 30, 1997	NJT Black	Last GG1 to pull a revenue passenger train in New Jersey on 10/28/83. Retired 10/31/83.
PENN CENTRAL 4882	Elkhart IN National NYC Railroad Museum photo by Dick Leonhardt Sept 22, 2001	Penn Central Black	Last operating GG1. one of the few preserved Penn Central locos actually painted Penn Central it looks GREAT in PC Black!
PENN CENTRAL 4882	Elkhart IN National NYC Railroad Museum, photo by Dick Leonhardt Nov 1993	Penn Central Black	Took the last gasp in October, 1983 when it pulled two other NJT GG1s (4877 and 4879) into the yard after "Farewell to GG1 Day" (10/29/83). Retired 10/31/83
PRR 4890	Shown here at B&O Museum Photo by Jeff Lubchansky May 1993 Now Green Bay WI at the National Railroad Museum	DGLE Yellow Stripe	Was displayed at B & O Museum until 1995. One of about 35 GG1s that were modified with large air intakes in the hood, which spoiled the aesthetics of this Loewy masterpiece.
PRR 4913	Altoona, PA Railroader's Memorial Museum photo by Bill Waller	Tuscan Red 5 stripe	One of six GG1s repainted tuscan red in 1952 for use with the stainless steel cars used on "The Senator" and on the "Congressional Limited". An interesting view out the cab window

A cracked driver in the
Wilmington Shops

unknown

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Contributions welcome and credited.

Most of the photos on this site are from original photos/slides or submissions. Some photos are from the web - I have tried to get permission to use on all of them, but a few may have slipped through. Please, let me know if that has happened.

This archive was first accessed August 1996