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Post by slowfreight on Dec 18, 2016 18:55:27 GMT -5
I'm thinking out loud here, but what do folks think of this idea?
The GG1 is an iconic locomotive, well-represented in preservation. But none can operate, and I never got to see one in motion. Now that the AEM7 is retired, I'm intrigued by the idea of pulling the guts out of one and putting them into the carbody of a GG1. Make it as cosmetically identical to a GG1 as possible, tie the original cab controls into the new systems as discreetly as possible, and wire the whole mess into the original pans and traction motors.
Maybe even an ALP44 would be good donor guts, since they're all still DC.
It's not really different than NKP190. And if that doesn't work, you could go the path of SP9010, which was planned to be a non-powered control cab until the restoration crew found salvageable geared trucks.
Sound crazy?
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 19, 2016 0:03:00 GMT -5
One of the biggest nightmares of getting a GG-1 back online will be replacing the Main Transformer,all were destroyed as toxic waste due to the PCBs used in the cooling oil. The other main nightmare is that the Frames are cracked,believe they are castings,welding may not be possible. The GG-1 was a Quill drive,closer to the ACS-64 that currently runs on the NEC. Of the motors at RRMPA that could be brought back could be the E-44 and an E-33,their main transformers might be easier to recreate than a G's Main Transformer and be able to run under 25 kv and 12.5 kv 60 hz wire as well as the old PRR 13kv,25 hz wire. There have been Sound decoder equipped GG-1 models done,during the late '70's till about the early '90's the GG-1's,E-60's and the AEM-7's all ran at the same time,for Amtrak and NJT. There's nothing to stop you if you want to GG-1's and ACS-64's in model form on a layout set in the present.  OR running E-44's as work train power as Amtrak did own them for a "short" time  |
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Post by slowfreight on Dec 19, 2016 22:59:24 GMT -5
That's the whole point of salvaging from an AEM7. You don't need the old main transformer. You replace it with solid-state gear out of a retired AEM7. Catenary is still 11kV 25Hz. Almost everything would be smaller and lighter than the original components.
Even castings can be welded. Preheating and annealing must be done carefully, but anything metal is repairable with enough time and rod.
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 20, 2016 1:33:08 GMT -5
Checkout page 355 in the book"When the Steam Railroads Electrified".its an interior shot of
Wilmington shop when PRR still lived.
Believe the "guts" of a Meatball would be hard pressed to drive 1 GG-1 traction motor,a G
has 6 of that sized traction motor!
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Post by slowfreight on Dec 20, 2016 18:33:05 GMT -5
AEM7 = 5790 HP on 4 traction motors
GG1 = 4620 HP on 12 traction motors
GG1 components may have been larger, but were much less efficient.
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 20, 2016 23:02:17 GMT -5
The control systems on a GG-1 may have been easy to maintain,however the scrappers have been eager to
scrap the DC version of the meatball,the rebuilt AC version are worth $ 0.00 to the scrappers.
Both used electronic control systems that have componets that are no longer made(even by the "copycats" in china!)
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Post by antoniofp45 on Apr 8, 2017 18:20:10 GMT -5
It would be so neat to have an iconic American legend rolling on the rails again. But it seems that this would be an expensive undertaking. Would Amtrak or the scrappers be willing to donate AEM-7 parts?
Yes, with proper reinforcements castings can be welded (I've done it myself) however, wouldn't Amtrak likely be paranoid about allowing a "G" to roll on its rails?
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Post by backshophoss on Apr 8, 2017 20:22:24 GMT -5
Believe the last time Amtrak allowed a GG-1 to roll on it's own wheels was for a display at Washington Union Station.
That was the GG-1 displayed at RRMPA at Strasburg. Amtrak used their Work train power to move it to/from WUS.
Don't believe a Meatball's guts can power up the G's Quill drive motors.
Even if you could weld/repair the frame cracks,Amtrak's legal dept will say NO out of shear caution due to the GG-1's age.
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