I casually began paying attention to the model train market about 15 years ago, and ever since then, I’ve been yearning for a Pennsylvania GG1. Although my collection primarily consists of road names and trains that operated in Indiana, the GG1 has captivated my imagination. It stands as an iconic locomotive due to its distinctive appearance and rich history, and I simply adore it.
Here’s a brief historical overview of the GG1, sourced from Wikipedia:
The Pennsylvania Railroad Class 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.
I’ve been diligently building my train collection for the last five years, so I absolutely hopped at the opportunity to acquire a GG1 when Lionel announced it in their 2024 Volume 2 catalog. I purchased mine through Mr. Muffin’s Trains, up in Atlanta, Indiana, which is where I buy the vast majority of my trains.
Since I needed something to pull, I decided to purchase the Spirit of St. Louis passenger set. This set is actually a train that once operated through Indiana, but it would have been pulled by another locomotive. I opted to buy two of the three passenger sets they were offering. I purchased both the four-car set and the twin dining car set, which includes “clickety clack” sounds and other features. (I did forget to buy a baggage car, but I’ll take care of that later.)
Model Information
- Manufacturer: Lionel
- Models:
- Catalog: 2024 Volume 2