My dad used to work here on the steel giants when they'd roll into the station just off Market Street! He often did maintenance check-ups on the GG1s! Together, as Father and son, we made a special trip down to the Harrisburg platform to see the black-scheme 4859 where they had parked her on the rails for a few days! Wonderful memories, and I still have the photos I took that day, many years ago... one of my dear Dad, standing right alongside the one locomotive that he had loved to see rolling into the city! He always enjoyed seeing the raised pantographs of the engine as she grazed the wires overhead for power! When he retired back in the 1980's, his coworkers at the station presented him with a bronze plaque, embossed with an ink rendering of the 4859! To this day, that plaque is with me... a cherished memory of my Father, and his years spent servicing the trains... steam, electric and diesel alike at Harrisburg's terminal!
Trivia: these ran on 25 Hz power. US Steel had it's own 25 Hz grid from Clairton Works to Homestead Works. The power was generated by the blast furnace groups. When I worked at Homestead Works in the late 1970s manufacturers had stopped making 25 Hz coils and the fix was to use a 220 volt 50/60 Hz coil. One would think that the drive to electrify transportation would include rail lines but I've seen nothing other than a push to eliminate train crews by automating locomotives. A modern GG2 would fit nicely. Old school style (they were quite aerodynamic) with today's power.
The prehistoric GG-1 is indeed a MONSTROSITY... a dinosaur from the grave... I'll never forget the first time I saw one up close. I was leaving out of Baltimore's Penn Station on a trip to New York around 1961 with my parents. They allowed me to walk alone about 8-10 cars forward from where we were boarding a coach car in the train. I was about 6 years old and when I finally arrived at the front of the (seemingly endless) consist, there was a pair of Brunswick Green GG-1's there that startled the shit out of me. ...the intimidating slugs that the nearly black-looking GG-1's, (probably originally designated for but eventually pulled from freight service),... were to a young man!
I grew up on the rail line between Philly and Harrisburg and saw 4859 pulling either the National Limited or Broadway Limited countless times in the 70's. Somewhere I have lots of photos. If I'm not mistaken she was painted all black when she became property of Penn Central RR. Can anyone here corroborate that? Seeing these beautiful locomotives roll past my home at a good clip was one of the most memorable experiences of my youth. Thanks for posting this video. Glad to see the original paint scheme-
The GG-1 is one of the greatest electric powered locomotives ever built. Pure architectural and engineering perfection. A masterpiece. I grew up not far from Newark (NJ) Penn Station and, for the first 36 years of my life saw one of these great engines nearly every day. I thought they'd last forever and do not believe AMTRAK has ever come up with a locomotive that could match them for durability, utility and/or efficiency. The proof? The GG-1 was a mainstay for the PRR, the Penn Central and Conrail from 1938 through 1981, outstripping any and all competitors, and yet look how many different locomotive designs AMTRAK has employed in the 38 years since they discontinued the GG-1. The Acela may be an exception, but in general the GG-1 outstrips them all.
Did I just see the N&W Heritage Unit approaching at the end?! Man, you cut it off way too soon. That would have been cool to have videoed the Herritage unit passing the GG1 up close
ßuch a beautiful locomotive. As as Englihman, it was an amazing surprise to see it at Harrisburg when I was on an Amtrak from Pittsburg to NY a few years back.
Every model train enthusiast around the world has a GG1. You’re not complete if you don’t have one, like being inducted into the Football hall of fame without never winning a Super Bowl.
What ever happened to this GG-1, is it now on display in Strasburg at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, or will it be able to be towed or pushed in future excursions, (Strasburg to Paradise PA). I never got to see these in action, although I wish I had. Thank you for sharing this excellent video.
No wonder Amtrak can't turn a profit. To move one dead G locomotive, and an old cabin car, it takes 15+ employees, and four cops, plus a Police dog, and a big road diesel. Most of the employees were just standing around collecting $25.00 + per hour. Don't get me wrong, I am glad the G, and the N6b are preserved, but....
Although they were verry powerful they used up alot of current. Amtrak has found its sucsess with the acs-64, so sadly, I doubt we will ever see gg1s in operation
There's 2 that i know of still in existence. The one in this video and the one at Strasburg RR Train Museum that's down the keystone corridor from the Harrisburg station. They're almost like neighbors.
Northeast Railfan there are two at Strasburg that I know off. There’s the prototype in the outside portion of the museum and a road version in the building, unless that one was moved recently.
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The GG-1 is the only locomotive that looks like it's moving when it is standing still!
My dad used to work here on the steel giants when they'd roll into the station just off Market Street! He often did maintenance check-ups on the GG1s! Together, as Father and son, we made a special trip down to the Harrisburg platform to see the black-scheme 4859 where they had parked her on the rails for a few days! Wonderful memories, and I still have the photos I took that day, many years ago... one of my dear Dad, standing right alongside the one locomotive that he had loved to see rolling into the city! He always enjoyed seeing the raised pantographs of the engine as she grazed the wires overhead for power! When he retired back in the 1980's, his coworkers at the station presented him with a bronze plaque, embossed with an ink rendering of the 4859! To this day, that plaque is with me... a cherished memory of my Father, and his years spent servicing the trains... steam, electric and diesel alike at Harrisburg's terminal!
Trivia: these ran on 25 Hz power. US Steel had it's own 25 Hz grid from Clairton Works to Homestead Works. The power was generated by the blast furnace groups.
When I worked at Homestead Works in the late 1970s manufacturers had stopped making 25 Hz coils and the fix was to use a 220 volt 50/60 Hz coil.
One would think that the drive to electrify transportation would include rail lines but I've seen nothing other than a push to eliminate train crews by automating locomotives. A modern GG2 would fit nicely. Old school style (they were quite aerodynamic) with today's power.
The prehistoric GG-1 is indeed a MONSTROSITY... a dinosaur from the grave...
I'll never forget the first time I saw one up close.
I was leaving out of Baltimore's Penn Station on a trip to New York around 1961 with my parents. They allowed me to walk alone about 8-10 cars forward from where we were boarding a coach car in the train.
I was about 6 years old and when I finally arrived at the front of the (seemingly endless) consist, there was a pair of Brunswick Green GG-1's there that startled the shit out of me.
...the intimidating slugs that the nearly black-looking GG-1's, (probably originally designated for but eventually pulled from freight service),... were to a young man!
GG-1s were originally crack express locomotives, but were regeared for freight duties when speeds increased.
I grew up on the rail line between Philly and Harrisburg and saw 4859 pulling either the National Limited or Broadway Limited countless times in the 70's. Somewhere I have lots of photos. If I'm not mistaken she was painted all black when she became property of Penn Central RR. Can anyone here corroborate that? Seeing these beautiful locomotives roll past my home at a good clip was one of the most memorable experiences of my youth. Thanks for posting this video. Glad to see the original paint scheme-
The GG-1 is one of the greatest electric powered locomotives ever built. Pure architectural and engineering perfection. A masterpiece. I grew up not far from Newark (NJ) Penn Station and, for the first 36 years of my life saw one of these great engines nearly every day. I thought they'd last forever and do not believe AMTRAK has ever come up with a locomotive that could match them for durability, utility and/or efficiency. The proof? The GG-1 was a mainstay for the PRR, the Penn Central and Conrail from 1938 through 1981, outstripping any and all competitors, and yet look how many different locomotive designs AMTRAK has employed in the 38 years since they discontinued the GG-1. The Acela may be an exception, but in general the GG-1 outstrips them all.
GG-1 is the best
Did I just see the N&W Heritage Unit approaching at the end?! Man, you cut it off way too soon. That would have been cool to have videoed the Herritage unit passing the GG1 up close
Thanks Jaw tooth, sorry I did not get more of the Heritage Unit. I was focused on the GG-I and did not even notice the N&W until I got home!
When?
There was another POV from a bridge with the gg1 and the N&W heritage unit
Sadly i only knew of the existence of this masterpiece of engineering thru Railroad tycoon. One of my favorite locomotives in that game.
ßuch a beautiful locomotive. As as Englihman, it was an amazing surprise to see it at Harrisburg when I was on an Amtrak from Pittsburg to NY a few years back.
that was a pretty cool move and rare video!
Every model train enthusiast around the world has a GG1. You’re not complete if you don’t have one, like being inducted into the Football hall of fame without never winning a Super Bowl.
16:04 is a great stop you get the Amtrak 514 the gg1 and one of the NS Heritage units!
its good to know that 4859 is being well looked after by the crews
how tf was 2015 7 years ago
Hermosa e iconica locomotora eléctrica.
Has it ben sitting there a long time
GG-1 Locomotives are Handsome.
What ever happened to this GG-1, is it now on display in Strasburg at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, or will it be able to be towed or pushed in future excursions, (Strasburg to Paradise PA). I never got to see these in action, although I wish I had. Thank you for sharing this excellent video.
4859 is still in Harrisburg pa to this very day
It’s almost 100 years old.
No wonder Amtrak can't turn a profit. To move one dead G locomotive, and an old cabin car, it takes 15+ employees, and four cops, plus a Police dog, and a big road diesel. Most of the employees were just standing around collecting $25.00 + per hour.
Don't get me wrong, I am glad the G, and the N6b are preserved, but....
the dog makes $55.00 per hour!
It's still in harrisburg today?
Yes, it is back in the station
Yes, and, as I understand, it is a permanent exhibit.
@Apex Gemini Hopefully they moved him from that so-called museum and placed him where they would take care of him.
I'd say best if we continue manufacturing G-G-1's the are electric after all
Although they were verry powerful they used up alot of current. Amtrak has found its sucsess with the acs-64, so sadly, I doubt we will ever see gg1s in operation
I wish gg1 still operation
At the ending did the gg1 actually move or the Amtrak train did
The Amtrak engine did all the moving of the GG-1 and caboose
Had Amtrak not switched from DC to AC the GG1 probably would have ran for another 15 years.
I understand that they were beginning to have a lot of frame failures. Metal fatigue was slowly catching up with them.
Probably not. With the PCBs in the GG’s rectifiers, and the Asbestos in their wiring, they were not feasible to use.
@@crwnguy no rectifiers in a GG1!! all AC!!
They seemed to have problems moving him
After the engine sat for so long, one of the brakes on the GG-1 was locked up, they had to free it, to move it,
@@jjbbss2 oh okay, thanks buddy
I thought they were all scraped?
There's 2 that i know of still in existence. The one in this video and the one at Strasburg RR Train Museum that's down the keystone corridor from the Harrisburg station. They're almost like neighbors.
Northeast Railfan there are two at Strasburg that I know off. There’s the prototype in the outside portion of the museum and a road version in the building, unless that one was moved recently.
GG-1 december 2023
What are they doing with it
As you can see that was in April of 2014, it has been moved back into the Hbg. train station.
They said they were going to make a reef out of it down the Chesapeake bay.
jjbbss2 why are they using a passenger dash8 to move a GG1 why not use a freight locomotive to move it
@@trainjam6596 it floated away- no transformer for ballast.
Or is it new
Even the police are rail fans!
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