4800 was delivered to the PRR in the summer of 1934, having been built by GE/Baldwin to compete with Westinghouse's R1. The Pennsy was looking to replace the P5s, and the GG-1 was chosen due to its articulated frame, which allowed the design to take sharper curves than the R1.
Seen here unmarked in overall black, 4800 saw service in a bicentennial scheme before becoming the sole GG-1 to wear Conrail blue before being retired to Strasburg.
GG-1 4800 Builder's Plate
The GG-1 had six driving axles, with 57-inch wheels, with a quartet of unpowered wheels at either end. Each powered axle had a pair of 385hp traction motors; the locomotive was rated for a continous output of 4,620hp, and for a short duration, 8,000hp could be achieved. In passenger service, GG-1s had a timetable speed of 75-80mph for the majority of their lives, but in later years this was increased to 100mph on several occasions.
GG-1 pantograph
Related Pages:
GG-1 #4913 walk-around
GG-1 #4913 walk-around
1 comment:
It is great to see "Old Rivets" safe from the torch. I read from Don Ball that the major, and pretty much only, flaw of the GG's was that they took in so much air so quickly that in blowing snow they did, unfortunately, have a tendency to suck in fine snow particles. Long live the GG-1.
Andy
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