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Pennsylvania Railroad 4935

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Pennsylvania Railroad 4935
No. 4935 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderJuniata Shops
Serial numberGE 4434
Build date1943
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AAR2-C+C-2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.57 in (1,448 mm)
Wheelbase13 ft 8 in (4.17 m)
Length79 ft 6 in (24.23 m)
Width10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Height16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) over locked-down pantograph
Adhesive weight303,000 lb (137,000 kg)
Loco weight475,000 lb (215,000 kg)
Electric system/s11,000 V AC, 25  Overhead
Current pickup(s)Dual pantographs
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Power outputContinuous: 4,620 hp (3,450 kW)
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Amtrak
ClassGG1
NumbersPRR 4935
RetiredOctober 10, 1980
RestoredMay 9, 1977
Current ownerPennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
DispositionOn static display

Pennsylvania Railroad 4935 is a preserved GG1 class electric locomotive. It is one of sixteen remaining Pennsylvania Railroad class GG1 locomotives, and one of two (along with Pennsylvania Railroad 4800) at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

History

The Pennsylvania Railroad class GG1 was built to haul longer passenger trains at high speeds, particularly on the Northeast Corridor and the Main Line, during the PRR's massive electrification projects of the 1930s. Constructed in 1943 at Juniata Shops, No. 4935 was among the last of the GG1 series to be built. Like most GG1 locomotives, it was transferred to Penn Central Transportation Company when the PRR merged into Penn Central in 1968, then to Amtrak when it briefly took over intercity passenger service in 1971.

Restoration

PRR 4935 under restoration in 1977

In 1976, railfan and United States Department of Transportation economist Howard Serig approached Penn Central about the possibility of restoring a GG1 to its original condition, but Penn Central was not interested. That November, Serig proposed the idea in a column for Trains magazine. A friend of Serig brought the proposal to Amtrak president Paul Reistrup. Reistrup approved the plan on January 18, 1977.

A private group, the Friends of the GG1 Committee (F.O.G.G.), was formed within days to coordinate funding from National Railway Historical Society chapters. Raymond Loewy, who designed the smooth shell and paint scheme of the GG1, was later enlisted as the honorary chairman. FOGG raised $10,000 within two months; on March 9, the group signed an agreement with Amtrak. 4935 was chosen because it retained its original number and air intakes and was already in good shape.

The rebuild 4935 leads the Murray Hill on its return to revenue service on May 15, 1977

On March 25, 1977, 4935 was taken to the Wilmington Shops in Wilmington, Delaware. Amtrak replaced truck bearings, a blower, the boiler (used for steam heating of passenger cars), and made other mechanical repairs. The locomotive was grit-blasted, primed, and repainted into original PRR livery of dark Brunswick green with five golden stripes.

The entire refurbishment was complete on May 9, 1977. No. 4935 was tested near Perryville on May 12. On May 15, 1977, the 4935 was returned to service with a rededication ceremony, after which it pulled the northbound Murray Hill in revenue service.

Retirement

The locomotive made its last revenue run on October 10, 1980, pulling either the Silver Star or the Silver Meteor. It was discovered that $80,000 in repairs were needed. On March 20, 1981, the locomotive was sold for $5,000 to F.O.G.G. member Russell Wilcox, who then donated it to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

On February 19, 1983, after being on public display in several locations, the 4935 was moved to Strasburg. At the museum it joined former Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 #4800 (the original and prototype GG1 electric). Today it is on indoor static display in the museum's Rolling Stock Hall. Thanks to the 1977 restoration, it is considered to be in the best condition of the 16 remaining GG1 locomotives.

References

  1. "PRR GG1 No. 4935". Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015.
  2. ^ Duley, Richard (May 2013). "36 Years Ago This Month" (PDF). Lancaster Dispatcher. Lancaster Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "Restored GG1 Locomotive Returns To Service" (PDF). Amtrak News. 10 (4). Amtrak: 3–4. June 1, 1977. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Baer, Christopher T. (April 2015). "A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY ITS PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1980-1989" (PDF). Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.
  5. "PRR GG1 No. 4935 at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania". Pennsylvania Heritage. 35 (2). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Spring 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016.

External links

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania - PRR GG1 No. 4935

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