In a book I got for Christmas, the GG1 is mentioned. The author writes the GG1s have been sidelined becaus Penn Central changed juice (in the Northeast Corridor) from 11kV/25 Hz to 25 kV 60 Hz.
Is that really true? I always thought, parts of the NEC still run with the 11kv/25Hz-system, and the PCB in the transformers plus increasing unreliability were the causes for the sidelining of the GG1’s
Answering the question:
Boston - New Haven 60Hz 25000V
New Haven - New Rochelle (Metro North): 60Hz 12500V
New Rochelle - Harold Tower (Suynnyside) 60Hz 25000V
Harold Tower - Washington Union Station (the PRR tracks) 25Hz 11000V
A restored GG1 can run between New York and Washington, but not east-north of New York.
GG1’s required more maintenance than the E60’s and AEN7’s that replaced them.
They were last used in New Jersey Transit service, NY-South Amboy.
I believe Rahway (junction of JerseyCoast line with NEC) to S. Amboy and beyond to Rewd Bank or Sea Girt is now 60Hz, 12500V prohibiting GG1 use.
The GG1 that crashed into Union Station and fell into the basement was the 4876. This was one of the last GG1’s that operated for New Jersey Transit. This motor still survives somewhere in a Baltimore area railyard and it’s future is bleak. From what I understand it was supposed to go the the Baltimore RR Museum but they did not want it. I wish I had the room.
The PRR used 50 cycle power that it generated itself primarily at Conowengo Dam on the Susquehana river. The idea was that people couldn’t steal the power becasue it makes lights visibly flicker. AMtrak changed over to the new voltages around the time of the AEM-7.
I was in the cab of the GG1 in Altoona during the PCRRHS convention in 2004. I felt it was a bit cramped and very dark. I knew that Strasburg had 2 G’s there…but I didn’t know that they also had the one in Lancaster. Did any GG1s get painted in Amtrak’s MoW scheme? I might have seen orange ones around Philadelphia years ago…but the memory is a little fuzzy there.
I did not know about that little tidbit. Thanks!
I saw the GG1 at the Pennsylvania Railway museum a few year ago. That is on heck of a Loco and an engineering feat.
The website posted earlier listing GG1’s did not mention #4882 at the NYC National RR Museum in Elkhart, IN. It is painted black with the PC “mating worms” logo. The picture makes it look in fair shape, but I believe it is stored outside an the photo may be old.
Not 50 cycle power. It was 25 cycle, or accurately 25 cycles per second.
Many railfans assumed it was 50 cycles per second because the characteristic noise is 50 cycles per second since their are both a positive and a negative peak in power (peaks) every single cycle, so you get two peaks of power every 1/25th of a second, making the noise 50 Hz even though the current is 25 Hz.
50 Hz is the general frequency used in Europe, including most modern electrications, just as 60 Hz is used in the USA.
The old AC electrifications in Europe, with lots remaining in Switzerland and Austria, are 16-2/3 Hz
Hz stands for Herz, a pioneer scientist in ac power generation, and is an international standard for a short way of saying cycles per second.
The New Haven generated its own 25 Hz power at Cos Cob.
Today all electric railways use purchased power. I believe some of the old 60Hz to 25 Hz rotary converters are still in use by Amtrak, but most substations use efficient rectifier-inverter electronic converters.
Regarding the North Jersey Coast electrification. I rode it many times when it was 25 Hz and used by GG-1’s. (When I was at Fort Monmouth in 1951 and 1954, K-4’s still hauled the trains form Penn Station south of South Amboy.) I had the pleasure of riding an MU trains which ran under the 25 Hz catenary to Rahway, and then the 60 Hz to Red Bank. I understand the electrification now goes beyond Red Bank, but someone should tell me how far: To Long Branch, to Sea Girt, or all the way to Bay Head Junction?
I was in that area a couple of years ago and the line was electified at least to Long Branch. Didn’t chase the line, so can’t say any more than that.
I was at Elkhart several years ago and the GG1 is outside
[:D]
Looks great for a locomotive stored outside!
No Amtrak GG1 was ever painted for MOW. There were several E44’s painted Silver and black for MOW. Can anyone confirm if the E44’s ever ran for Amtrak?
Thanks for the answer daveklepper.
Do you know why there is a change in tension between New Haven and New Rochelle? It would be simpler, in my opinion, to have the whole line electrified with the same system. Has it to do with the system from New Haven into GCT?
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QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
[My son said there is one at the RR Museum of Penn in Strasburg PE. He sent me a T-shirt from their with the GG-1 on it in PRR colors.
There are 2 there. One inside in display condition. One outside rusting away.
Here’s an E44 in 1987:
http://www.geocities.com/su_carbs/trainpix/e44.jpg
…and the one in Strasburg in 1992:
http://www.geocities.com/su_carbs/trainpix/e44.gif
The one at Strasburg has since been moved inside the museum, and painted in its original PRR colors.
Dave wrote:
I believe some of the old 60Hz to 25 Hz rotary converters are still in use by Amtrak, but most substations use efficient rectifier-inverter electronic converters.
I think they just removed one of those from Sunnyside yard in the last two or three months. There were several structures beside the LIRR tracks that were razed and one of them had what appeared to be a large electric motor inside it. Could that have been one??
Back to the topic of running a GG1, here’s my idea of the best resteration:
Change the transformer coolant from mineral oil or PCBs to silicone oil or liquid glycol, the same coolant as used in the Acelas.
Repair any frame defects or other rust/corrosion problems.
replace what is probably cloth-insulated wire with rubber insulated wire.
Who said anything about a HEP plant, we’re talking about excursion runs, not a full-time return to revenue service.
Upgrade cab signaling, although the NYC-DC line hasn’t changed much, probably still has the position light signals (yes it does, i’ve got a picture of it, next to an E60)
I also heard that there is a 25Hz line somewhere in the Gulf Coast region, or what about the electrical outfit in Arizona, the NEC isn’t the US’s only electrified line.
As Tom said, 4935 looks great in Brunswick Green:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=61935
Dave
There are 2 at the PRR museum in Strassburg. One is inside and is really nice. The other is outside and is rusting quietly.