Trying to Repair a Fake HO Amtrak GG1 Locomotive

In 1977 Tyco released their own version of the famous GG1 locomotive. It was a watered down version of a model designed by Penn Line in the 60s and featured the Power-Torque drive.
This model wouldn't run correctly under full voltage so today I decided to open up the drive and see if it could be repaired. The whole thing was packed with dust and dried grease.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. SMT and GG-1 fans and foamers, a second comment, as there was a real GG-1/2 locomotive. The Pennsylvania Railroad cut a damaged GE GG-1 in half and used the undamaged half to flat switch the terminal, depot, and main passenger car yard in ???? (I forget which city.) They also had a prototype GG-1, called the R-1, which had a 2-D-2 (4-8-4) chassis, not the 2-C+C-2 (4-6+6-4) articulated chassis that we all know. An interesting locomotive. The locomotive shop people also constructed a number of GG-1 locomotives with a 2-B+B-2 (4-4+4-4) chassis, called the DD-2, to see if they could save some money on maintenance costs by removing some of the the traction motors and driving wheels from a GG-1. Pennsylvania Railroad notes: G = 4-6-0, GG-1 = 2-C+C-2 (4-6+6-4), F = 2-8-0, FF-1 = 1-D+D-1 (2-8+8-2), B = 0-6-0, BB-1 = C-C, D = 4-4-0, DD-1 = 2-B+B-2 (4-4+4-4), O = 2-B-2 (4-4-4), R and L = 1-D-1 (2-8-2), and P = 2-C-2 (4-6-4). There was never a GG-2, as the GG-1 operated just fine and had only minor issues. The P1 2-C-2 (4-6-4) mini GG-1 electric locomotive, however, had tracking & stability issues, and was rebuilt over and over, and then redesignated as a P5a electric locomotive when they finally got it working correctly. I'd like to see the details moulded into the model GG-1 hybrid diesel electric/electric "fuel" tank, but the real GG-1 has a fuel tank to supply fuel to a steam boiler that generates lots of hot steam to steam heat and steam cool the passenger cars. The GG-1 set a world record for accelerating from zero to sixty miles per hour in exactly one minute while pulling one passenger car. The first GG-1 body was riveted together, and the locomotive received the nickname "Rivets" from the crew putting her together. The 11,000 volt GG-1 electric locomotive has 4,620 continous horsepower, but could put out from 7,500 to 9,300 "war emergency" horsepower for a short period of time, if required. I'd like to cut a dual motored GG-1 in half and couple each half to both ends of my streamlined passenger train, and end up with something like a push-pull Burlington Zephyr, UP M-10,000, or Aerotrain. Take heart Tyco fans, I have one almost fifty year old Tyco Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose Powertorque drive locomotive that still survives and operates and moves the freight and passenger traffic just fine, inside or outside, while operating on my railroad. This could be a future hybrid diesel electric/electric locomotive, because a modern GG-1 would have a C-C chassis and no guide wheels. The more GG-1 you know. Hello again from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

[@tracynation2820]

P.S. Tyco missed the train. They should have put twelve GG-1 electric locomotive size drive wheels on two Powertorque drives, or maybe eight drivers on two Powertorque drives with two idlers, like a Chattanooga Choo Choo steam locomotive tender, and offered an eight or twelve wheel drive GG-1 electric locomotive, or maybe a P5a (2-C-2) with a Powertorque and two guide trucks. Back when the "affordable" versions of a GG-1 at the time only had four wheel drive, traction tires, and only eight wheel electrical pickup (The four unpowered drivers and 1/2 of each guide truck) and the "quality" version (Not brass) had twelve wheel drive, no traction tires, and twenty wheel electrical pickup, there wasn't even a chance, after having to turn many of my powered locomotives into dummies because of "quality" issues, and having GG-1 fever, that I would buy anything but the "quality" model. It ran great for about fifteen years, but I ended up trading my awesome GG-1 for two awesome and lonely Atlas EMD SD-24 high hood locomotives in the Burlington paint scheme, because that poor GG-1 was an orphan on a railway that would never have overhead trolley or catenary wires. The GG-1 was a great locomotive, but it didn't fit in with my D&RGW/C&S themed layout, so trading it to the guy with an electric railroad, with catenary overhead wiring, probably saved its life. I don't know if I got a good deal or not, but the SD-24s survive to this day, operate smoothly inside or outside, fit in on my railroad, have decent weight and detail, need minimal maintenance, and will pull a good size train, + I love them. However, I wonder if that "quality" GG-1 has survived the last thirty years, if it is happy, and if it gets to be operated, or is just a shelf queen or a static roundhouse display to salvage parts from when another locomotive breaks down and needs help. I knew the SD-24s belonged on my railway, and would have been neglected on his layout without our trade, so I am glad that we both did it, even though I still miss that awesome GG-1 that I worked all summer for. 💙 T.E.N.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for this extremely in detailed info on these models :)

[@JeffHanna-f3d]

1977 always amazes me! Another great video Harrison! Sweet looking with the cars riding the rails. Take care, Jeff.

[@jeffgentle6497]

Very nice job on this old school want to be GG 1. Tyco is still a lot easier to work on than Bachmann!

[@modelrailroader5619]

For a Tyco “Power-Torque” locomotive that thing is looking and running really well! Good job.👏 👏👏

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much

[@andrewferguson5653]

That restoration was quite straightforward, and it looks right at home pulling Amtrak coaches.

[@SMTMainline]

It took a lot less than many others.

[@AlleghenyRailProductions]

Hey SMT! I’ve been watching your videos for a while. I’ve gotta say, your work is amazing! Back in early 2023, I sadly broke the wire on my great grandfathers Varney dockside switcher. While looking for fixes, I found your channel. You inspired me to make my own fix. And finally after almost a year, it ran the rails again. She’s one of my best runners. Thank you so much SMT for the inspiration!

[@SMTMainline]

That's fantastic! It means a lot to hear that these videos are helpful, especially with a family heirloom.

[@w.rustylane5650]

Serenity, we have a runner! Great job on the Tyco repair. Cheers from eastern TN

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks 👍

[@ginaklein8964]

Enjoyed your repair video! I always liked GG1 locomotives....even "fake" ones!

[@louisbabyCT]

Nice dude, I'm having a lazy Saturday, watching your video while working on some of my Hornby locos.

[@SMTMainline]

Right on

[@mibet6960]

just got back into this hobby after 45 years. love your channel.

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome.

[@gmrgamingrm]

Didn't expect it to be a fake I'll admit lol. Still a great restoration and I'm glad I was one of the people to suggest it.

[@DTIMainline]

great job Harrison, as usual!!! 👍👏👏👏

[@lotsatrains]

Looks great to me 👍 and so glad it’s fixed, excellent job I really like it even though it’s not an accurate GG1 representation 👌

[@SMTMainline]

Right on

[@oskarvalance3041]

I've never seen an Amtrak GG1. Tyco of all companies. Does not look too bad. Nonetheless, another good video. Nice job kiddo. From Texas

[@FreedomSquareGardenRailway]

That was an awesome job. I really appreciate your great craftsmanship and video editing. Such an awesome consist very beautiful. ❤ thank you for your service.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Fantastic another successful repair and thanks for the shout out , great video as always

[@bensmodelrailroad]

That’s fantastic! Great job on fixing up that engine! I love Tyco my self and have a lot of it. I get them cheap and then fix them to running condition, nothing but a good cleaning can’t fix! Some people don’t like Tyco, but I like it for all the variety they have common, and rare Tyco trains. Also it’s the nostalgia of something this old running they just don’t make them like this anymore! Great job SMT -Ben’s Model RailRoad

[@SMTMainline]

I get why some don't like them, they aren't very realistic or reliable but if you're willing to look past that it can be a lot of fun.

[@bensmodelrailroad]

@@SMTMainline Thank you

[@gabemiller4882]

Wow , a😮 1970 Amtrak train locomotive !! Great job of getting it working again! Love the detail and color on the locomotive!! It's going to look great with your Amtrak coaches !! Great job , Harrison 👏 👏😊! Keep up the great work 💯💯👏👏👍👍😍!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much, I had fun working on this one.

[@David-yo5re]

Hey Harrison, good job as always. That locomotive looks great with those passenger cars.

[@SlimPlatypus9662]

I’ve been watching your channel since 2018 I love your videos and when I rediscovered your channel a year or two ago, you got me back into the hobby Thank you so much SMT.

[@SlimPlatypus9662]

Also, thank you for doing the Amtrak GG1 that’s what I requested in the post

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@SMTMainline]

It was a good suggestion. I've seen a lot of comments from people who didn't know TYCO ever made a GG1

[@SlimPlatypus9662]

@@SMTMainline I never knew TYCO made a GG1 either

[@MarshallsTrains]

I have the tyco Pennsylvania version of this and it's my best runner, never had a problem, also on the post saying "what engine should you fix?" I asked for this one😄

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the suggestion. It turned out to be a good project.

[@MarshallsTrains]

​@SMTMainline speaking of amtrack, I have three amtrack coaches but no amtrack locomotive to pull them, usually only pull them with a western mayland Loco. Only amtrack locomotive I have is a dummy unit with a working light.

[@jefftomashunas7913]

I have this exact same engine. I'm so happy someone did a video to fix this. I am definitely going to try to get mine running again. It was my dad's and he would be thrilled to see it running again.

[@SMTMainline]

Glad it helps. Just Fyi, cleaning the gears and wheels isn't too hard but putting the motor back together can be hard so only open it if its running poorly.

[@tonny4175]

Can’t get enough of your videos I watched them all I have many marklin trains wish you could some repair videos of them

[@SMTMainline]

I plan to. I bought a Marklin which wasn't supposed to be in working order and it fired right up

[@johnheinzl8771]

Great job, serenity!!

[@o.northland4942]

Love this opening line „crack it open“ … and in the end being happy by the results of getting the job done . Ever opened an old Piko locomotive ( build in the former DDR)?

[@SMTMainline]

I have two of those. The motors seem decent but the electrical pick up system seems to have it's issues. I hardwired one recently and it's been a lot better.

[@jarrettdurrant3199]

I have replaced my power torque motors with cheap can motors. And they run amazing with them! Took alot of work, more then there worth, but I managed to get it to work!

[@SMTMainline]

Did you do so with the CD drive mod?

[@arrow1414]

I suspect that extra wire was supposed to go to a second pancake motor to make it 12-wheel drive.

[@SMTMainline]

I think it could be done with a single wire if you hooked the motors up in series.

[@MattKonsol]

Nice job repairing that tyco gg1 from the 70s.

[@tomseaman1108]

Great job doc!

[@roberthubal6278]

Nice tear down and rebuild! Looks sweet running

[@jscott8695]

Mica slots! Learn something new every day. Nice shout out to James! Nice job!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you! By the way, you're the first one to use the new custom sticker 👍

[@nileswilson577]

Once again, another fine job my fine lad😊

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@jetegtmeier71]

OMG I have this very engine !!!! + a dream come true, I always wanted passenger cars for my 905, Thank you for that vision !!!

[@sarahendrix6842]

Wow you finally got one Harrison I’ve bin wanting one but I’m glad you got one

[@SMTMainline]

I've had two for a while, just not in working order lol.

[@LVNA_1]

yet again another awesome video. good job harrison!

[@stephenrickjr.7519]

I have one of these, in Pennsylvania, it runs well. It's nice to know how to work on it if needed. Thanks😊👍!

[@SMTMainline]

Glad to help

[@Eliot935k3]

Nice video!! I've never seen one of these before!

[@F40M07]

YES!!! THANK YOU HARRISON!!!!! I love this locomotive, it’s so cool!!!

[@SMTMainline]

It's a unique one

[@ronvc6601]

I don't think I've ever seen you run your layouts in low light. It would be nice to see the town lights and the Hershey factory after dark with the headlights on the train showing the way around. Just a thought. Great repair video, keep up the great work smt.

[@SMTMainline]

I should do a livestream like that.

[@ThomRealEstate-k1y]

Here is a nightmare from the past. I remember these turds along with the Chattanooga Choo Choo locomotives. Both these locomotives had the exact same drive units and the same issues. Tyco also did fantasy paint schemes like the Santa Fe war bonnet. The armatures were the same as the old Aurora slot cars

[@tracynation2820]

Super. I have never owned a GG-1 locomotive, real or fake, as my railroad only has a short trolley line with overhead wire, and even the mighty Tyco GG-1 won't operate around the 4 3/4 inch radius curve paved trolley street trackage used on my pike.(Curved track from old Eldon (Eldin?) HO train sets if anybody needs pre-formed trolley curves.) Plus my railroad is mainly diesel, with a little steam. However, I do have two many decades old Athearn Bluebox SW-7s, equipped with radial couplers, that work the trolley line freight trains. Funny note: When I watch your video with Closed Captioning (CC) turned on, every time you say "Tyco," it spells it out as tao, or thycho, or Tycho, or Tico, or even taco, but NEVER as Tyco. 🙂 Just FYI, I have thought about eventually installing some overhead electric catenary wire on a part of my mainline over a mountain pass, and acquiring three or five P5a electric locomotives that were offered in a fantasy Great Northern paint scheme awhile back, and electrify a short part of my model railroad, but the maintenance crew, (Me) and the materials acquisition team, (Me) have been lazy and haven't even gotten started yet, even though I discussed it with the President of the Railway, (Me) and have full approval and all permits secured. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

[@SMTMainline]

The speech to text struggles with brands for some reason.

[@kreika294]

Ever thought about using one solid block of wood as a lift for your table? I noticed in one clip all those shims looked like a jenga game. Hate to see a catastrophe! 😮

[@SMTMainline]

That's just to lift it. If I used a single block the middle sections would break as I lifted it. This way they can be raised 3/4 of an inch at a time.

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Another great Midnight special video.

[@SMTMainline]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@casstelles]

I have a couple of those engines myself with one being Amtrak and the other PRR. Even though it's not an exact match for a GG1, I always thought of it as a great what if locomotive if the GG1 design was expanded upon. My designation for the locomotive would be a CC1 since it has six axle trucks. This would match diesel locomotive designations based on axle count/configuration that some locomotives are given.

[@strobson1]

Looks great Harrison with aloha

[@asteroidrules]

From what I understand about the Pennsy designation system, this would be called a BB4 if it were real. Very cursed little model, but valiant effort breathing life back into it.

[@SMTMainline]

That's interesting. What factors determine this?

[@asteroidrules]

@@SMTMainline Pennsylvania assigned each wheel arrangement a letter, then numbered all engines with the same wheel arrangement sequentially, multiple letters indicated an articulated locomotive. A locomotive with 2 powered 6 wheel trucks and no unpowered trucks would be called a BB because an 0-6-0 was called a B, and since they had 3 BB models before the GG1 this would be their fourth.

[@StarQuestentertainmentUSA]

Hey SMT did you know that your videos comfort me When I can’t go to bed, thank you so much for making this wonderful videos

[@SMTMainline]

I appreciate that, I try my best!

[@sarahboettcher3266]

I have this engine and love it even with its inaccurate design!

[@SMTMainline]

Just because it isn't realistic, doesn't mean it isn't fun 😂

[@sarahboettcher3266]

yeah

[@Johnnyhaotrains]

MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who thought that was a good idea why did I only now just realize these existed Dreyfus would be ashamed. Also please restore that Penn Central F unit

[@SMTMainline]

I'll be sure to fix that one.

[@Johnnyhaotrains]

Yippee

[@user-MotoTrains1974]

Very cool SMT

[@DennisLora2001]

Wonderful video

[@MMitchellMarmel]

The good ol' G1/2! :D

[@class_31clag]

Ey my comment was taken into account, fake gg1 :D Good work ere, keep it up ;D

[@randydobson1863]

Hi SMT Mainline & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks SMT Mainline & Friends Randy

[@4everdc302]

Cool, shout out to James👍🚂🇨🇦🙋

[@colinthepanamerican]

How nice I have a Pennslyvania GG1 locomotive that is having pretty much that same issue too but it is also slipping too

[@SMTMainline]

The pivot gear and traction tires fail all the time.

[@colinthepanamerican]

Yeah they do it’s so annoying that they always fail

[@ajnorman321]

Favourite KZbinr btw❤

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@captandysir8670]

More nice trackside camera work!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@spencercorby4571]

Me: Mom, can we have a GG1? Mom: No, we have a GG1 at home. GG1 at home:

[@Sleepy_driver_Boy]

W videos keep up your amazing content

[@ironmart81]

Thx smt mainline for chosing my suggestion in your post weaks ago

[@SMTMainline]

No problem. There was a surprising amount of support for this model.

[@Petemonster62]

SMT - A while ago you made a video on servicing a Tyco locomotive with Power Torque Drive which one of the gear posts had been broken off the motor's metal chassis. Maybe you should consider making a video with just the footage of the repair sequence to help modelers who have ended up in this situation?

[@SMTMainline]

That's a great idea. I might do an updated version since I've learned a few things since then.

[@MMRails]

Fake train, real fix. Well done.

[@SMTMainline]

Haha, I like it

[@michaelspraggins5419]

Hmmmmm...not really a GG1, but great job getting it to run again.

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

I always found it funny that while Tyco's power torque drive never had any power nor reliability, Hornby's ring field motor (especially the earlier version) which is quite similar is immensely powerful and lasts nearly forever.

[@SMTMainline]

Tyco made the worst of the pancake drives. Hornby, Life-like, Lima, Lionel and Bachmann ones weren't great ether but they certainly were more reliable.

[@tracynation2820]

Bachmann made a totally enclosed "C" power truck with a 3 pole motor and all wheel drive and electrical pickup that works great in the rain and snow. 💙 T.E.N.

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

@@tracynation2820 I have seen them perform well. Personally, my favourite will always be the Hobbytown DC-91 drive (which is a central motor, but I digress), but its always fun to hear about different drives solving the same problem in different ways.

[@tracynation2820]

I've seen that drive in magazines, but never in real life. I learned quickly to buy quality drives, and watching SMT (HI) and other videos, has shown me some locomotives and rollingstock that are better or worse than I thought, and I was glad that I didn't or did buy some of the items shown, or I wished that I had bought it when I had the opportunity, but, it took turning nineteen bought new powered locomotives, from many different manufacturers, into lighted dummies or roundhouse queens over the years to figure it out. 💙 T.E.N. Edit: My fantasy 12 wheel motorized heavyweight passenger car, or "Doodlebug," with the Bachmann 6 wheel power truck, and, Tyco fans, one surviving operational Tyco Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose with the Powertorque drive, (You make 10,000 identical locomotive models, you make them all the same, and one or two of them turn out to be something pretty special.) are the only two three pole motor powered units that I have left operating on my railroad after all these years, out of maybe 14 or 15 that I bought brand new. Most of my early locomotives died from accidentally falling on the concrete floor because of derailing, accidentally dropping them, or a crash, or from severe overheating from me trying to pull too many train cars for a long period of time with a single locomotive and a 10 ampere, 16 volt homemade variable transformer power supply, (My dad was in engineering.) or they were traded for other railroad items because they didn't operate well. My railroad is hard on the locomotives, but 64 locomotives, out of maybe 96 bought new, including that Tyco Powertorque unit, and other strange used locomotives, have shown that they have what it takes to survive, pulling long trains in the sun, rain, and snow without disintegrating. 🙂

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

@@tracynation2820 having recently bought an E-unit, the feel on 890 grams (~2lb) moving down the track is enough to sell almost anyone on Hobbytown locos. Considering that I picked up 3 for $50 usd on eBay, I’d encourage anyone with the ability to use a file, a screwdriver, and maybe a drill, to pick one up if you come across one for a decent price. I don’t think they get damaged in falls though, they just break the floor!

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

Good job in repair the GG1 locomotive. I haved my Amtrak locomotive. Kato, made in Japan. GE P42. You 🐱 is friend of my dog Scooby Doo. Scrappy Doo my pup. Scooby Dum is a nice dog.

[@crystalboutte9880]

I love your videos

[@Azack-kv4cg]

Hey man love your videos. Are u going to the ancaster ontario train show? Would love to meet you

[@SMTMainline]

I wish I could but it's a bit too far away.

[@Asa.norman]

I actually own this exact model in my collection it’s runs pretty good, but I do not own the passenger cars for it

[@certifiedcitydestroyer]

i oddly like this GG1 style, something about it just being different.

[@stephenhudson8739]

On some of those gg1 models The Pantagraph actually work

[@SMTMainline]

I've seen that. I'm surprised tyco would bother adding a pickup wire to such an unrealistic model.

[@christopherdelgaudio9484]

Harrison I was hoping this vid was going to be one. hour. LOL. Greetings from New Jersey

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. Luckily this one proved to be fairly simple.

[@wes1243]

Totally a GG1, totally

[@StolasFan547]

It’s a GG0.5

[@wes1243]

@@StolasFan547 sounds about right

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

I haved a GE P42 Amtrak locomotive in N scale. Kato japanes.

[@Rook00]

gg2

[@tracynation2820]

GG-1/2. 💙 T.E.N.

[@thunderowl1710]

So that’s what these are called! i’ve fixed half a dozen of these motors out of tyco rock island trains and a chessie system train. unfortunately i’ve had to leave one of them as a dummy since a pin that holds a gear on the motor broke off, and im not to sure if it’s even possible to reattach it.

[@SMTMainline]

After their MU2 Drive from the 60s Tyco managed to fit these power torque drives into everything in their lineup, even steam locomotives and billboard whistles. They have countless problems but at least they aren't too hard to revive.

[@garysprandel1817]

Guess Tyco wanted to add a GG1 to the lineup but didn't want to invest in effectively a one off drive arrangement so just fit it to run on the existing C630 chassis. IIRC both Tyco and Lionel under Fundimensions were both in cost cutting/questionable quality mode at the time.

[@gamerfan8445]

I just surprised that they didn't try to make a GE E60/ AMD-7. Considering that both are operational around that time.

[@TopHotDog]

​@@gamerfan8445 GG1 had fame, the others didn't.

[@gamerfan8445]

@TopHotDog yeah, but they can market it as owning the engine of the future. While having more liberty to put them in different paint schemes.

[@JBofBrisbane]

TYCO brown-box era locos don't have a chassis - the bodyshell is the structural member. Certainly the bogie side frames are the same as the "Super 630" though.

[@garysprandel1817]

@@JBofBrisbane well effectively existing components

[@DerekTempleton-fm7cc]

Hi but a cam on one of your trians .

[@SMTMainline]

That's the plan for a future video.

[@ZakWolf]

Heh, if I were a kid in the late 1970s - early 1980s and wanted an Amtrak train on my HO-scale model railroad layout, I'd get the TYCO 72-foot Amtrak passenger cars, but I'd instead have a Bachmann Amtrak F40PH pull them. (Back then, such a consumer-grade layout would likely have a combination of TYCO, Bachmann, A.H.M. and Life-Like products.)

[@minecraftnoob4273]

You should put a list of the tools grease kinds that you use and what websites that you use to find those old trains

[@thhseeking]

"Let's go pick up some cargo"...They're called passengers, mate 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Railway executives! 😜

[@Dalton7210]

I just bought a GG one two days ago

[@robertlucido3686]

Are you going to show that package I sent you last Christmas in your next video, I'm eager to see it and what you think of it

[@SMTMainline]

I'll include it in the next unboxing video :)

[@JuanSilveti-z9p]

Hermosa maquina

[@davidluyster491]

Good Job!

[@strike9716]

wait wait wait, a TYCO locomotive has directional lighting? What?

[@SMTMainline]

Their entire GG1 lineup had that feature. I'm surprised they bothered with such a thing.

[@tracynation2820]

My Tyco ALCO C-630 came with directional lighting. 💙 T.E.N.

[@bc5441]

😂 I knew it was this locomotive as soon as I saw “fake GG1.”

[@SMTMainline]

Lol

[@bc5441]

@@SMTMainline what’s more, Tyco missed some opportunities here. Was there a PRR fake GG1? Penn Central? Conrail? And since it was a fake GG1 complete with “fuel cells” (great line!) why not a Santa Fe or Union Pacific? 😂😂😂😂

[@chuckmaddison2924]

It's a classic....unique or, best or worst of its kind.

[@Petemonster62]

SMT - The GG1 did have a tank for fuel oil that heated a boiler to produce steam for passenger car heating.

[@SMTMainline]

That's a good point although it wasn't in the same location.

[@Dino_7R]

I need to get a gg1

[@Madman12.]

Amtrak did use/have GG1s at one time for use on the Northeast Corridor

[@SMTMainline]

They had GG1s but they didn't look like this.

[@Madman12.]

@@SMTMainline makes sense 👍 thanks!

[@thhseeking]

I'm surprised that a train set locomotive has two power bogies. I have an old Fleischmann diesel that's got one power bogie, and the body's metal :P

[@SMTMainline]

It only has one powered bogie, they just look the same.

[@Benthetrainkid]

While Amtrak did own GG1s, none were in Phase II

[@Benthetrainkid]

Also, Kadee produces Talgo truck adapters for installation of couplers with wider shanks (including Kadee knuckle couplers)

[@SMTMainline]

Those would be way better but I don't wanna dump too much money into a cheap locomotive.

[@watchtrainsnow1099]

The Montreal train show is June 15 and 16. Are you going?

[@SMTMainline]

I'm gonna try to this year. I've always wanted to

[@SouthwestCtRailfan]

Makes me think of c&o 490

[@joeblow5214]

I love it.

[@lucadigrazia9389]

I have that same brown Chevrolet Citation in H0.

[@jeremywoodard7301]

Hey can we get a video of the controller you use and what you recommend for beginners

[@WesW3187]

Do you think the HO’s might need too big a track to look realistic? I mean on the curves the carriages seem to cut across the track, if you know what I mean. I’ve found the N scale looks, or works better. This is unless you have a lot of room to build a really big track with big radius for the curves.

[@tracynation2820]

Always use the largest radius, smallest degree curves that fit your space, and avoid S curves. 💙 T.E.N.

[@SMTMainline]

Exactly, it's more of a space issue.

[@Transitfan2022]

Cursed but cool

[@SMTMainline]

For sure 😂

[@robertusa1234]

The GG1 really did have diesel tanks. The has a diesel fuel boiler to make steam for the passanger cars heaters on pre 1980s rolling stock

[@SMTMainline]

I don't doubt it but it didn't take up most of the bottom like this one does.

[@Petemonster62]

@@SMTMainline - It may have been a dual tank made to look as one tank like the passenger equipped GP's.

[@tracynation2820]

A GG-1 usually has wheels where this tank is located. There were dozens of electric locomotives that Tyco could have made that had six wheel trucks, including some that looked like a GG-1, including a P5a 2-C-2 that could have used a Powertorque drive with front and rear guide trucks. I truly wonder what they were thinking. 💙 T.E.N.

[@CannonCountry]

The wires that are underneath a boxcar what are they called and what do they do? They look like tension cables to hold the car together maybe?

[@SMTMainline]

I'm no expert but I think before air brakes they might have used a cable system.

[@tracynation2820]

I think you meant the floor and frame bracing that is applied to older train cars. They are called truss rods, and can be adjusted to keep the car square and stable. 💙 T.E.N.