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

[mahatmakanejeeves]

It's been forty-one years.

We don't have a forum or group for train enthusiasts, or any transportation enthusiasts, so I'll put this here.

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

Sun Oct 29, 2023: On this day, October 29, 1983, the GG1 locomotive ran for the last time.

Sat Oct 29, 2022: On this day, October 29, 1983, the GG1 locomotive ran for the last time.

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

[Vogon_Glory]

1. Those were great machines. I consider myself lucky

to have seen some of them in service. They were big brutes, they could run fast, and they were versatile.

Much of my pleasure in watching them was looking at them and knowing that they were great feats of American engineering, designed and built at a time when American railroad engineering was near the forefront of railroad technology, and knowing that they had long, productive careers.

Our forebears could really build cool stuff back in the day.

[DEbluedude]

2. They were incredible machines.

A time machine. As a young engineer (21 years old), I first worked with them in freight service. Then in 1981, passenger service on the NEC. Two units, sometimes 15-16 cars on the Florida train. Still used steam generators to heat the old pullman cars. Had to stop in Philly to take water. In 1980-81, they would be used in Metroliner service, one unit and 4-5 Amfleet cars. They would really get up and go! One of the highlights of my long 45-year railroad career was running GG-1's.

[Ramsey Barner]

3. What a beautiful machine. Years ago, I really wanted one for my model railroad. Never had the savings for it . . .

But many years later, sometime in the early 2000s, I was thrilled to see PRR No.4859 in Harrisburg, PA.

[BlueSky3]

4. Thanks for this-

We need a train forum!

[Hiawatha Pete]

5. +1