Pennsylvania Railroad class GG1

PRR Class GG1
Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4868 pulls The Congressional
4868 hauling The Congressional
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerGeneral Electric, Donald Dohner & Raymond Loewy
BuilderGeneral Electric (15)
Altoona Works (124)
Build date1934 – 1943
Total produced139
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-0+0-6-4OE
 • AAR2-C+C-2
 • UIC(2′Co)(Co2′)
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.57 in (1,448 mm)
WheelbaseRigid: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Overall: 69 ft 0 in (21.03 m)
Length79 ft 6 in (24.23 m) over coupler pulling faces
Width10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Height15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) over locked-down pantographs
Adhesive weight303,000 lb (137,000 kilograms)
Loco weight475,000 lb (215,000 kilograms)
Fuel capacity3,000 lb (1,360 kg) or 424 US gal (1,610 L; 353 imp gal) oil, for train heating
Water cap.23,000 lb (10,400 kg) or 2,760 US gal (10,450 L; 2,300 imp gal) for train heating
Electric system/s11-13.5 kV 25 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Current pickup(s)Dual pantographs
Traction motors12 × GEA-627-A1 385 hp (287 kW)
TransmissionAlternating current fed via a 22 position transformer tap changer to paired traction motors geared to a Quill drive
Train heatingOne oil-fired 4,500 lb/hr steam generator
Performance figures
Maximum speedPassenger: 100 mph (160 km/h)
Freight: 90 mph (145 km/h)
Power outputContinuous: 4,620 hp (3,450 kW)
Short duration: 8,500 hp (6,300 kW) @ 65 mph (105 km/h)
Tractive effort65,500 lbf (291 kN)
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad
Penn Central
Conrail
Amtrak
New Jersey Transit
LocaleNortheast Corridor
First runJanuary 28, 1935
Last runOctober 29, 1983
DispositionSixteen preserved, remainder scrapped (one in preservation)

The Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 is a class of streamlined electric locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), in the northeastern United States. The class was known for its striking art deco shell, its ability to pull trains at up to 100 mph, and its long operating career of almost 50 years.

Between 1934 and 1943, General Electric and the PRR's Altoona Works built 139 GG1s. The GG1 entered service with the PRR in 1935 and later ran on successor railroads Penn Central, Conrail, and Amtrak. The last GG1 was retired by New Jersey Transit in 1983.

Most have been scrapped, but sixteen are preserved in museums.[1][2]

  1. ^ "PRR's GG1s - Where are they now?".
  2. ^ For photos of the GG-1s in action, see Carleton, Paul. "Under Pennsy Wires" (1977: D. Carleton Railbooks).