Would it be TECHNICALLY feasable to use parts from Amtrak AEM-7 and HHP-8 locomotives to restore a GG-1 to service? I realize that financially this would be difficult, but I'm curious about the technical issues in case that I win the Powerball Lottery.
Please keep any technical comments basic; I passed my Electrical Engineering for non-EE's course in college primarily because I was the only one in my class who could make the obsolete lab equipment work long enough to allow us to finish the labwork.
I'm not an engineer but I doubt it. Keep in mind that among other things, a GG-1 had two motors per axle with a geared quill drive. You would also have to gut the interior and install new electrical equipment since you're converting a straight-AC locomotive to a rectifier locomotive.
This has been brought up before. Frequent poster Daveklepper, who IS an electrical engineer has said it's very do-able using AEM-7 components.
It probably could be done, but you would no longer be preserving a GG-1 as such since only the exterior would remain from the original. So, rather than using parts from retired Amtrak electrics, why not make the machine more versatile by hiding a diesel prime mover inside the body. Then it would no longer be restricted in where it could run.
Good idea! A restored G, that is a G restored to it's original specification, couldn't run on it's old stomping grounds anyway, the electric cycle's different now, but a diesel prime mover under the skin would be just the ticket.
I suspect a lot of us would love to see a GG1 run again and wouldn't be too particular about how it happened.
Rather than gut the GG-1 and destroy its historic value, why not put a diesel engine driving a 25 cycle ??? volt single phase alternator in a Pennsylvania P70 Tuscan Red baggage car right behind the GG-1. A couple of discreet jumper cables from from the generator in the baggage car into the wiring of the GG-1 at the appropriate spot and there you go.
If you want a 'freight' GG-1, put the generator in a box car instead of a baggage car. .
CSSHEGEWISCH I'm not an engineer but I doubt it. Keep in mind that among other things, a GG-1 had two motors per axle with a geared quill drive. You would also have to gut the interior and install new electrical equipment since you're converting a straight-AC locomotive to a rectifier locomotive.
Dave's point was that the traction motors would run just fine on DC. My take on his suggestion was replacing the 11kV/25Hz transformer with the 25kV/60Hz transformer from an AEM-7 along with the thyristor controls for providing the variable voltage DC. With the two motors per axle wired in series, the voltage and current needed to run the GG-1's motors isn't too different from the AEM-7.
- Erik
Firelock76 Good idea! A restored G, that is a G restored to it's original specification, couldn't run on it's old stomping grounds anyway, the electric cycle's different now, but a diesel prime mover under the skin would be just the ticket. I suspect a lot of us would love to see a GG1 run again and wouldn't be too particular about how it happened.
As for using used parts, until one finds a set of GG-1 truck castings without cracks burried in a warehouse somewhere a G will not turn a wheel under the wire.
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Interesting. I read somewhere the current cycle was 60hz, but obviously whoever wrote the article got it wrong.
Cracks in the truck castings doesn't surprise me though, those poor ol' G's were run and run until they had no more to give.
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