GG-1 Question

[Anonymous]

Did anyone mention the GG1 at the Railroaders museum in Altona, pa?

[lionelsoni]

The lower frequency simplified the design of the traction motors, which were actually just much larger versions of the universal motors traditionally used for toy trains. At higher frequencies and in large sizes these do not work as well as DC motors. But AC was very desirable for transmitting the power long distances. So the overall design was a compromise.

Twenty-five hertz was actually the original frequency used in the Niagara Falls generation and was used by everyone, not just the railroads. You can find 25-hertz transformers listed in the prewar Lionel catalogs. The Europeans generally use 16 2/3 hertz, exactly one-third of their power frequency to facilitate generating it from 50 hertz. But they have always used it only for trains.

[Anonymous]

For some odd reason, Lionel illustrated the GG-1 with its front pantograph up in the 1948 catalog.

[Anonymous]

"For some odd reason, Lionel illustrated the GG-1 with its front pantograph up in the 1948 catalog."

Artistic license.