On this day, October 29, 1983, the GG1 locomotive ran for the last time.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Wed Oct 30, 2019: On October 29, 1983, a GG1 locomotive ran for the last time.

We don't have a railfan forum, so I'll have to put this here. I would have got this yesterday, but I took a day of annual leave.

These engines were so great. They were my favorite locomotives.

Pennsylvania Railroad GG1

Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric locomotive is one of the most iconic (steam, diesel, or electric) of all time. Sporting a beautiful streamlined design it not only looked good but it also performed exemplary reaching speeds of over 100 mph and remained in service for nearly 50 years after it first entered service during the mid-1930s. During this time the locomotives carried all of the Pennsy's crack trains up and down the east coast from the Broadway Limited to regional services such as the Congressionals and Senator. In many ways the “G” became the face of the Pennsy herself and while newer locomotives eventually retired the last GG1 in 1983 (which operated on the New Jersey Transit) the locomotive’s legendary status has not dampened. And, happily, while a G may never take to the rails again under her own power many are preserved around the country and in their original “cat whiskers” livery.



A pair of Pennsylvania GG-1's hustle a mixed freight along the Northeast Corridor near Morrisville, Pennsylvania a few months into the Penn Central era on August 24, 1968.

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In all the Pennsylvania Railroad would own 138 GG1s (numbered 4800 to 4938), including the original riveted design, #4800 (known as Old Rivets) that remains preserved today! Because of their speed and reliability the Gs were loved as much by the train crews that operated them as the general public who rode behind them or witnessed them in operation. For decades after their debut in 1935 one could watch GG1s leading the Pennsylvania’s most prestigious passenger trains (like the Broadway Limited) as well as that of other railroads. Regarding passenger operations one interesting aspect on the PRR was that the railroad never bothered to have its locomotives match the rest of the train. Streamliners were typically linear in nature with the locomotive and cars matching one another uniformly with some type of ended design for the observation car.

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However, it was the creation of Conrail that saw most of GG1s retired or sold. Not interested in electrified freight operations Conrail retired or sold the rest of its GG1 fleet in 1979 two years before quitting on the practice altogether. By the late 1970s parts were also becoming more difficult (and expensive) to come by for the locomotive and the discovery of frame cracks ultimately led to their retirement. The last GG1 in active service operated on the New Jersey Transit on October 29th, 1983. On a positive note, however, many Gs survive. Along with Old Rivets other surviving GG1s include (per their original PRR numbers) 4859, 4876, 4877, 4879, 4882, 4890, 4903, 4909, 4913, 4917-4919, 4927, 4933, and 4935.

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The audio is dreadful, but we'll never get this footage again:

GG1 An American Classic 1of4
224,616 views • Jan 28, 2009

olbigred4877
437 subscribers

A 1983 Documentary that depicts the final operations of NJT's GG1 fleet focussing on Ol' Big Red 4877. Depicts the engine change at South Amboy, New Jersey and features many on locomotive views.

In short, if you wanted to know what an operating GG1 is like, this film shows it.

This guy has terrific videos. There's not much of a plot. There's a train going by at about 1:15 in the footage. It's southbound. The sixteenth car in the train, which shows up at 1:30, looks like a lounge that used to run on the Florida Special. I'm not sure what was running in 1977 that would have that car. The Silver Star, maybe? That train is eighteen cars long. It is the first in the video shot at the North Elizabeth, NJ, station.

GG-1's of Penn Central & Amtrak, Metroliners on the NEC, Elizabeth, NJ. in 1977...
44,710 views • Jan 7, 2012

jackmp294.5™
13.7K subscribers

We are at two different location in North Elizabeth, NJ on the North East Corridor. Just north of the station, and at the station platform. The following clips are of AMT 925, Metroliner, Amt 926, PC 4930, PC 4932, AMT 904, PC 4935, Metroliner, PC 4877. Video was taken with a old Kodak 8mm Sound movie camera, so the quality is not the greatest, put is preserved for all to see, and hear in 1977. Thanks for watching. Jackmp294.5™

copyright jackmp294.5™ © 2012
do not use without permission...

More of the same. Conrail may have had problems, but when it ran, it really ran.

CONRAIL, Electrics and diesel freight on the NEC, 1977-1978
45,578 views • Aug 29, 2016

jackmp294.5™
13.7K subscribers

Here are some clips I put together from my Super 8mm sound film. These were taken on the Northeast Corridor in 1977 and 1978. Both diesel and electrics moved the freight, and are captured at several locations between North Elizabeth NJ, and the Susquehanna River bridge at Perryville, MD.

Even though the quality isn't even close to todays HD cameras, I hope you still enjoy these classics of early Conrail, that can never be repeated.

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Captured on Kodak Ektasound Super 8mm Sound film.
Taken on the Northest Corridor in New Jersey and Maryland in 1977 and 1978.
North Elizabeth, Menlo Park, Monmouth Jct, Princeton Jct, Lawrenceville, and Perryville, MD

God Bless our troops, and God Bless the United States of America

Copyright Jack D Kuiphoff © 8/29/2016

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Cab ride:

GG1 Cab Ride Footage - January 2, 1982
10,609 views • Jul 25, 2017

Liberty Historic Railway
47 subscribers

Cab ride footage from a GG1 on January 2, 1982 from South Amboy, NJ to New York Penn Station. Video by Mitchell Dakelman.

A classic:

The Pennsy GG1 Pennsylvania Railroad Electric Locomotive
13,238 views • Mar 24, 2014

James A. Deignan
3.51K subscribers

The Pennsy GG1 Pennsylvania Railroad Electric Locomotive

[3Hotdogs]

1. When I was a kid - 40's, steam engines ran across tracks in Millburn, N.j.

So did the Phoebe Snow.

[DEbluedude]

2. I spent many an hour on those motors.

My RR career started in 1976. 19 years young. Started as a front brakeman in freight and the G's, along with E-33's and E 44's made up most of the fleet that traversed the NEC. Eventually got promoted to Engineer and had the great experience of operating the G's in passenger service. When the Metroliner equipment was being phased out in the early eighties, we would have one G and three of 4 cars which was considered "metroliner service". Also worked what we called the "Florida Train" with two GG1's equipped with steam generators to heat the cars. Usually had between 16-20 cars. Had to take water at Philly. They were hot and dirty in the summer and cold and drafty in winter. But they would really get up and go.

All in all, a wonderful, gratifying career that lasted 44 years and 11 months. I'm bookmarking this to view the vids later. Who knows? I may see a younger version of this old man running one of those trains!

As a side note, I had the honor of transporting Senator Joseph Robinette Biden from Wilmington DE to DC many times. He really was a down to earth, regular guy.


Thanks for the post!!!

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Those were magnificent machines. I'm grateful for being able to see them

and then ride behind them as a college kid after I belatedly figured out that I didn't have to take the bus from Providence to Manhattan, I could take Amtrak instead.