Semi Scale GG1

[jakeoregano]

What's all the interest in GG1s lately? Am I missing out on being trendy by not having one?!!!

I do have an S2 turbine. So I guess that makes me somewhat "in". 

Jim 

The GG-1 (semi scale, scale, real) is just the coolest train IMHO.  That and the S2.  I have 3 running post war 2332's - and rebuilding one more.  I also have a postwar 671 and I'm looking to add one or two more.  For me it's the fact that my first GG-1 and the S2 happen to be the ones I inheirited from my grandfather and the GG-1 is the first train I can remember seeing as a child.  I also grew up in Baltimore and it was a train that ran through my home town.  When I think of trains, it's the first one that comes to mind. 

[Deputy]

What's all the interest in GG1s lately? Am I missing out on being trendy by not having one?!!!

I do have an S2 turbine. So I guess that makes me somewhat "in". 

Jim 

You're 1/2 way to being "in". Next you have to buy a FULL SCALE MTH GG1 with all the options and renounce cheap trainsets

Dep

[Joe Hohmann]

I have a Lionel semi-scale GG1 with TMCC that was offered in 2001. It has Railsounds, Magnitraction, etc. It seems to be in demand, so it won't be cheap. MSRP was $750., N.Smith has a few "new" ones at $650., used ones are about $350. and up.  Joe

[JamesShannon]

Great, thans guys.  I love this board even though I am more of a lurker than participant.  The info is always spot on and delivered in a civil way (unless discussing Lionel v. MTH).

[Buckeye Riveter]

I have a Lionel Semi Scale GG1 with TMCC.   I found it on Ebay four years ago.  It is a very good engine but does not have traction tires or Railsounds.   I would recommend a Williams with a TMCC and Railsounds upgrade over my Lionel GG1. 

[Anonymous]

Old, What TMCC product did you use to upgrade your K-line GG-1? I too have the conventional version and would like to bring it up to the TMCC world. Thanks, Mike

[phillyreading]

About six or seven years ago K-Line sold the semi-scale GG1's as a club offering for $100.00 without TMCC or another $125.00 with TMCC installed.  I have the GG1 without TMCC as at that time I was into conventional control only.  Is it possible to add DCS to the GG1?

The GG1's were either being phased out or were phased out when I was groing up in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia, about 78 miles northwest of Philly in Reading PA.   As for horsepower the GG1's had over 4100 horsepower, some had a few hundred more horsepower but all were 25 hertz(or cycles) A.C.    The cost to restore a GG1 to 60 hertz A.C. is very expensive as both the controls and motors need to be replaced along with the wires and frames checked for cracks or breaks and repaired or replaced.   So basically the remaining GG1's are museum pieces. 

Lee F.

[Jumijo]

What's all the interest in GG1s lately? Am I missing out on being trendy by not having one?!!!

I do have an S2 turbine. So I guess that makes me somewhat "in". 

Jim 

[Anonymous]

James, the MTH semi scale GG1 with DCS is listing for $399 by itself or $499 in two beautiful sets.

The Williams semi-scale can be had for as little as $150. Cruise and sound can be added for another $160. I found a mint K-Line GG1 on the bay for $100 and added TMCC and sound myself. I love it.

Consider carefully about a DIY conversion - it's not as straight forward as some conversions because the vertical can motors on a GG1 are pretty close together. Some products are just too big to fit comfortably. Also the metal body requires one to use the pantograph as an antenna - a problem if you want to run juice on the cat...

The MTH set with the beer refers gets my vote. I've lived near the NEC most of my life and I clearly remember GG1s (and E44s) hauling big freights down the "main drag" as we used to call it - they moved along pretty good, too.

 Old 2037

[phillyreading]

MTH makes one with DCS in it.  K-Line used to make a semi-scale GG1.  As for Williams or other companies that make a semi-scale GG1 without TMCC or DCS there may not be room for the adding of TMCC or DCS circuit boards.

There are many models of GG1's being made but the real GG1 is not running at present, costs too much to update and restore.

Lee F.

[Birds]

You might contact "Train America Studios" (TAS) about adding aftermarket TMCC / Railsounds boards to a specific engine if you find a GG-1 that does not have it.

Williams has a semi-scale GG-1 as part of their regular offering (without TMCC or DCS).  There are currently some online dealers selling this for under $200. 

MTH's 2007 catalog has a GG-1 in it that is supposed to run on O-31 curves.  The MSRP is $399.  It has DCS and Protosounds 2.0.

Hope this helps.

Chris 

[JamesShannon]

What are the options for semi-scale GG1s, are there any with TMCC or DCS?