Here are a couple of slides I acquired recently on eBay. All taken at South Amboy, New Jersey, in 1981 and 1982. Sadly, I do not know who was the photographer. Dave
I like how you can still see the PRR 5-stripe scheme on the air intake grills on the 4882. While I don't dislike the CR all-black scheme, it's definitely a downgrade from 5-stripe.
This is at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. 4800 was not scrapped, but I'm not sure the last time it got any work done on it. It's preserved as an engineering landmark, so it's unlikely to get cut up.
4800 is also the only one with a riveted shell instead of a welded one. Raymond Loewy wasn't happy with the rivets, so all subsequent GG1s had welded bodies. It sure is an engineering landmark. And tough as nails to boot.
This one was a little worse for wear when I photographed it years ago at the Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA.
Magnificent machines. Especially 4877 with the Tuscan red 5 stripe scheme. Unfortunately it's my understanding that returning one to operation is out of the question due to environmental issues with the batteries.
I would like to know exactly WHAT harm those PCB oils did to the environment during all those years. Methinks it's BS. Doug
From what I understand, they were only harmful if released into the environment where they were a potent carcinogen. If tucked away inside GG1 built like a tank, they probably did not leak out. However, there was always that remote chance so the powers that be, deemed them a hazard.
An older fellow I knew many years ago had a number of retired friends who worked at the PRR's primary GG-1 maintenance shop in Wilmington, DE and none of them reported any ill-effects of working on Gs for their entire careers.
The Gs were designed to operate on 11,000 volt 25-cycle AC. Some years ago, many lines were re-engineered to supply 25,000 volt 60-cycle AC. Perhaps a G could be "rewired" to handle the new current, but the work would be extensive and expensive. They'd need to add HEP power too, as the Gs had steam generators.
