Hi all, this is my first post.
I'm curious about this Loco. The only decals are the number shields at each end. There are no stripes nor lettering. It's been in the family since the 50's when it was bought new by my dad from Herman's Sporting Goods in Jamaica, New York. There is no trace of any decals nor has it been repainted. I seem to remember it never having any. I've been to a bunch of shows and seen many old GG1's but never one w/o any markings. The 2332 designation matches the specs for that engine in Greenberg's. Just curious. Any help would be appreciated.
thanks much
Those engines were paint striped and it wore off. Not unusual at all.
However there is always the chance of something rare showing up..
Could be yours. I never say never.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Thanks for your reply SJ. I'm certain there would be some trace of the decals somewhere on the body.
It's been in the family since the 50's when it was bought new by my dad from Herman's Sporting Goods in Jamaica, New York.
Was Hermans on Suffern Blvd?If so, I used to go there to look at their Lionel whenever I had a chance.
As Sir James wrote: the stripes could have just faded away. Look closely and vary the light. You may see traces of where they were.
I don't remember where I read it (CTT, Lion Roars, ?), but I remember an article about the first 2332 GG1s. The writer stated many people called them dark green, but they were actually black. He said they had a tendency to leak oil, so he and others put what he called "diapers" on them to catch it. I thought it was kind of funny story, so that's why it stuck in my mind. I don't remember him saying anything about the stripes not being there.
Does your GG1 look greenish at all?
He said they had a tendency to leak oil, so he and others put what he called "diapers" on them to catch it.
You have two stories mixed. It was the first Modern era GG-1's that could drip oil.
Decals were not used until the 60's and then only on the solid stripe versions.
Yours would have had 5 beautiful stripes. Unfortunately the paint was prone to fading and wear from mishandling. I'll bet if you look real close the stripes are there just very faint.
There are pros that can restore GG1s with faded stripes. Your GG1 would be a good candidate for that.
cwburfle He said they had a tendency to leak oil, so he and others put what he called "diapers" on them to catch it. You have two stories mixed. It was the first Modern era GG-1's that could drip oil.
There certainly was Keystone decals used on the 2332. All had the nose decals with 2332 inset whereas late versions had side decals of the typical PRR logo. Early 2332's had painted side keystones that wore off as easily as the painted stripes and Pennsy lettering.
I dont seem to mind the bare, glossy look of my one and only,well worn 2332. A smooth, quiet runner too. It hauls 7 modern aluminum 15 inchers on the level better than I had first expected.
Bruce
Heyyy cwburfle....are you a countryman. Yes on the location of Herman's. It's great that you remember it. He was a very nice guy. Some fond memories of hanging out at that store.
We must have been neighbors to some extent. I lived at Parkway Village along Grand Central Pkwy between Parson's and Main.
A small correction. It was Sutphin Blvd. Sounds almost the same. I think Suffern Blvd. is in the Bronx.
Negative on that Big Al 956. Again, I've looked the engine over carefully and I'm sure that had there been decals on it there would be some small trace of them somewhere. The green paint is actually not faded though it is nicked in places. This engine was crashed numerous times and still runs well.
Oh well, maybe I'll never know for sure the story behind this, if there is one. I'm certainly thankful to all of you for your replies. My brother passed long ago but I feel there is still some of him in that loco that he enjoyed so much.
Sutphin Blvd sounds right. At the time, I was living on 73rd Avenue, about a block from one corner of Alley Pond Park. Getting to Hermans was quite a trip, all by mass transit and walking. Back then I went all over hunting down Lionel trains.
You still might have a factory goof where the lines got missed. Like the paint ran out in the pad machine Lots of oddballs with lionel
Wolfie
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
As Big Al explained, the original stripes were not done with decals. They were pad printed or rubber stamped (I forget which). You would need to look for very faint signs of the stripes, no decal reside. Sometimes they can only been seen in just the right light.
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