GG1 News

Many thanks to Bill Wulfert for sending along this update!

Happy 40th Anniversary to GG1 4927

Yes, IRM has owned our GG1 for over 40 years!  It arrived at IRM on November 14, 1981. This GG1 was in service from September 1942 until May 1981 - almost 39 years. Like many other pieces of equipment in our collection, we have owned the GG1 longer than it was in service.

And now my Secret Project can be revealed. In honor of its 40th Anniversary, I decided the time had come for replacement number boards. The original number boards were missing when we received the "motor" from Amtrak. Even the frames that held the boards in place were missing. I wasn't sure exactly what the frames were supposed to look like.

IRM recently received the donation of two Lexan 4927 number boards in the mail from "The Model Railroad Shop" in Piscataway, NJ. But of course, our motor was last numbered as 4939 by Amtrak. So the 4927 boards were actually from before the motor was renumbered. And since there were only two boards, and that we have repainted the motor in the Pennsylvania Railroad paint scheme, we really needed to recreate the unique PRR number font.

Looking at close up pictures of the 4935 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, we determined that the frames were just a flat pieces of steel. With the newly received number boards, we had a sample of the correct size for the boards. The keystone emblem on the nose of our GG1 had the correct 3" numbers, the same size and style that was used in the number boards.

A BIG Thank You to Buzz Morisette for ALL of his help in making this happen. Buzz copied the number font, and added the stencil cut marks which were used by the PRR in the numbers. Warren Newhauser cut the vinyl stencils. After several attempts to find white "milk glass", I gave in and agreed to use white Lexan. And in fact there was a piece of the correct thickness of Lexan inside of the GG1 with a test keystone on it, from 1999 when the GG1 was painted. After much effort in removing the vulcanized backing paper, I had a good piece of Lexan. Buzz assisted in cutting it into four pieces.

We had frames cut to size by a local vendor. After careful measuring and drilling, we had our new frames. The vinyl letters were carefully placed on the Lexan, and black paint was sprayed on. Pick off the vinyl numbers, and we had our number boards.

The original frames were attached with 10-28 brass screws. All of the screws, except for the ones broken off in the holes were missing. There was also considerable rust. The number box openings were covered over with duct tape when the motor was sandblasted back in 1999. There was lots of sand and rust. The only option was to drill out remaining screws, and use brass screws with nuts.

Bob Olson, who was the sponsor of the GG1 way back in 1981 was drafted to hold the frames in place and add the brass screws, while I added a washer and nuts on the inside.

1 & 2. Inside of number box. Black spray paint was used to protect the steel.

3. Blue vinyl numbers were attached to the Lexan.

4. One of the completed number boards.

5. 4927 finally has number boards after 40 years.

6. Number board with the headlight lit up.

7. Front of GG1 with twin sealed beam headlights.

8. Close up of the SW number board.

9. Close up of the SE number board.

Bonus pictures

10. Hard to see/photograph "quill drive" cups between the spoked wheels. Note the excellent wheel thickness.

11. PANTOGRAPH SELECTOR switch inside one of the cabinets.

For further reading see Rail & Wire #104 (Dec. 1981) and the restoration effort in R&W #181 (Jan/Feb 2000.