Lionel GG-1 Restoration

[chriscarl]

Hi:

I am a plane/ship modeler that recently retrieved the GG-1 my dad gave me when I was a kid (about 1952). It needs lots of work to restore it. Are there third-party vendors (ala planes and ships) that provide decals, paint, pantographs, etc. to rebuilid it? Am I in the right forum? Thanks for any help.

Chris

[dwiemer]

Chris, you are in the right place.  Several sources are available for parts and tools/materials to do a restoration.  I would suggest getting a copy of Greenberg's toy train repair for postwar Lionel trains.  This should be a good guide as you proceed.  Olsen's Toy Train Parts and several others are good suppliers for these parts.  Olsen's is good as they have diagrams available to show the diagrams with parts and all.  Several of the guys on this forum have done the GG1 restoration, but it should be relatively easy with your skills.  One suggestion is that unless the paint is real bad, you  may not want to redo the outside as it would lessen the value.  If it is real bad, then by all means, go ahead.  I would also suggest going the whole route with rebuilding the motor and all other parts regardless of how it looks, if you do a complete restoration and new brushes, etc, you will have  a great piece on your hands.  Some problems are better left to the guys who do it all the time.  If you have bent axles, bad armature, etc, you may be better off with that route as they have all the tools/presses.

 Good Luck and please come back often to update us on your progress and to ask any questions.

Dennis

[Anonymous]

Hello Chris,

Its great to hear that you are restoring a GG1, they look great after a little work. I can professionally rebuild and clean the motor chassis for you so you can have a sturdy GG1 operationally to back up the "new" shell. Give me a email at [e-mail] if you are interested!

[lionelsoni]

Get someone who knows Lionel GG1s to look at it before you decide to repaint.  Some are very valuable, black ones, for example.  What model number and color is it?

[chriscarl]

Bob:

Thanks for the advice. There is a big shop here in LA that I will go to to check on repainting. The unit is a green 2332.

 

Chris

[chriscarl]

Dennis:

Thanks for the advice. The worst physical damage is that the unpowered 6-wheel truck has a clean break on the casting on the outside of the wheels. I have not tried to power the motor or other electricals yet. The pantagraphs are missing. The paint has wear and some scratches and needs a good cleaning. The decals are shot. I will visit some shops here in LA for guidance on how to proceed.

I will head for the web to find the book and Olsen's. Thanks again.

Chris

 

[phillyreading]

Chris,

I looked up the book values on the GG-1 in Greenberg's guide and the green GG-1 is worth around $300.00 in good condition or $520.00 in excellant condition.   The black GG-1(like Bob mentioned) is worth a lot more $880.00 in good condition and $1750.00 in excellant condition.

Being that you say you have the gren GG-1, I would clean it up first then see if it works electrically before putting a lot of money into it.

One note about the actual GG-1; it is officially retired from service as rebuild costs prohibit it from being reconditioned, basically too much to replace; motors and controls, rusty frames.

Lee F.

[RR Redneck]

That sounds about right. I paid $498 for the one that I got.

[chriscarl]

Here's a progress report. I went to Allied trains here in LA and to Olsen's and got all the parts I needed: pantographs, insulators, lenses, ladders, etc. The broken truck has been repaired and the electrical bits work. I am now sanding, putty and filing to get a smooth surface for the primer coat. To be continued.

Chris

[daan]

Here's a progress report. I went to Allied trains here in LA and to Olsen's and got all the parts I needed: pantographs, insulators, lenses, ladders, etc. The broken truck has been repaired and the electrical bits work. I am now sanding, putty and filing to get a smooth surface for the primer coat. To be continued. Chris

 

Sorry, but progress reports must include pictures on this board