Electric locomotive  GG1

RED "Tuscan"

These fabulous straight electric locomotives G.G. 1 of the Pennsylvania R.R. built between 1934 and 1943, they are amongst the most powerful  means of transport built in the world. The bodywork was designed by the well known designer Raymond Loewy, the construction of the electrical part was given to General Electric and Westinghouse. The mechanical part of the construction was  in the hands of the Baldwin Locomotive Works and its subsidiary firm  the General Steel Casting Corporation. Final assembly was done by General Electric  in the case of the first units, but for the remainder  assembly was  done by the Altoona Co..

Fully functioning front headlamps, and working pantographs.

Thanks to a particular system of joints, even though of impressive length, this model could tackle curves of 80cm in diameter.

Length cm. 30.

Commemorative "American Railroads"

In the springtime of 1969, the High Iron Company (a travel agency specialised in rail journeys for railway enthusiasts)  offered a special rail journey from New York to  Promontory Point in Utah, for commemorating the centenary of the joining of the two railroads., thus travelling across all the US territory, linking the west coast federation with the east coast, One hundred years previously at Promontory Point, the event has been celebrated, by hammering a golden nail, to symbolically link the two railroads. A hundred years on… a similar ceremony was to be organised, thus a special train , named the  “Golden Spike”. The train leaving from NY for Kansas City hauled  by a Steam train 2-8-4 n. 759 re painted for the occasion in black and blue, with the logo “American Railroads” in gold.

The return journey the steam locomotive handed over the task to the modern GG1 n. 4092 which the Penn Central repainted for the occasion , using the design of the artist  Robert Lorenz of Fremont in Ohio.

After its initial debut with the « Centennial  Special", this  G.G.1 n.4902 continued normal duties on the New York-Washington line.

Brunswick green

Same Locomotive as above the 1664 but in dark green 1664.

Silver "Congressional"

I don’t have specific info on the actual reason for this particular livery introduced in 1955 by the Pennsylvania Rail Road Co on three of its GG1, the Silver colouring with a red line, and a big logo in shadowed black. Maybe, but this is only a guess, this was an effort to brighten up the loco. The model reproduced the prototype 4866, in its original colours.

Amtrak

Electric Locomotive 4-6-6-4 type G.G. 1  in new livery. Amtrak it is the same unit nr 4902 which was used by the « Golden Spike Centennial Limited » in the colours gold and blue (see art. 1502-5160F). Recently it has been repainted with the colours of “Amtrak”  Silver, red, and blue, and re numbered with  nr 902.

Amtrak is the denomination used for the company that runs passenger service running on different lines belonging to different companies, buying in many cases Loco and carriages from them.

A big model, which I like very much, and as stated in the catalogue, it can tackle curves (even of 64cm!!) at ease.

Produced by Rivarossi from 1969 till 1979

The GG1 was used exclusively by the Pennsylvania RR  and later companies that took over, amongst the few companies in America that had electrified railway lines.

In the liveries: Pennsylvania RR (red, green and silver), American Railroads, Amtrak, and in some limited editions which I will tell of later.