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So, should I buy myself a GG-1?

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 4:33 PM

 

Congrats Mr. Beasley; great looking loco. Now I definately have to have one! Trainworld has them for $159 w/DCC/sound! Then I can put my Rivarossi out to pasture (thats Ebay! Sh!).

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 5:07 PM

Wow, very nice, Mr. B.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 5:08 PM

MisterBeasley

 

 
maxman chimed in:

Is that supposed to be poetry or RAP.  If it is supposed to be poetry, don't quit your day job.

 

""Gigi" is the title song from the 1958 Academy Award-winning film, directed by Vincente Minnelli. It was written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, sung by Louis Jourdan in the film.   It then went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1958." -- Wikipedia

 

I remember 1958.

 

Wow, maxman has now incurred the eternal wrath of Lerner and Loewe.   Super AngrySuper Angry

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 8:37 PM
As a PRR guy you do know there were only five tuscsn red gg1s. Four for the four Senator and Congressional Limited trains and one spare.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Saturday, April 26, 2014 5:11 PM

Well I ordered mine last night. Trainworld has a 10% discount on anything ordered from 4-25 to 4-28 so I got it for $144. Can't wait.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,482 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 26, 2014 7:48 PM

ndprr offered this opinion:

As a PRR guy you do know there were only five tuscsn red gg1s. Four for the four Senator and Congressional Limited trains and one spare.

Ah, but I'm a Milwaukee guy, born in Brooklyn, NY, so I know nothing of how the GG-1s were assigned.  I appreciate the information, though.

In my idealized "it's my railroad" world, Senators and Congressmen don't take the train.  They ride in the back of flatbed stake trucks with the pigs.  If anyone complains, I'll apologize to the swine and make the politicians walk.

 

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,482 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, April 26, 2014 7:51 PM

Bob, I hope you enjoy your new locomotive as much as I do Gigi.

I noticed right away that the starts and speed steps are jumpy.  I set my acceleration and deceleration CVs, 3 & 4, to 20 and it smoothed everything out very nicely.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 2,505 posts
Posted by caldreamer on Saturday, April 26, 2014 9:43 PM

mr Beasley:

  I grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, 5 blocks from the Saratoga Ave station of the IRT.  Where did you grow up?

   Ira

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Saturday, April 26, 2014 10:18 PM

I am happy you went for it, Mr. B.  I'm sure it will give you many hours of pleasure.  As we age, those, especially, are that much more dear.

Best regards,

-Crandell

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Sunday, April 27, 2014 4:26 AM

I may be late to the discussion, but I say GO AHEAD, MR. B. and be glad you did!

MOh {My Other Half}is into trains to {lucky me!}, only in N scale and really likes the European rail MOH grew up with when visiting Grandmother in Germany growing up.

I was never impressed with the GG-1, but MOH said that was one american loco of liking.

So, while it was avialable for sale and before they ran out of it, i bought one in March for a christmas present, and could scarce excitement to give it to MOH! That was a long year.

Once christmas came and we began to run it {with the complete passenger car set to match}, I gained a new liking and respect for the little GG-1.

SO it may not have a plausible location on your layout, but you can use your "freelance" idea to have one! Or do a diorama with it as the main focus!

I am even tempted to get one in HO for MY little HO layout!

GO for it!

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, April 27, 2014 7:50 AM

calidreamer asked:

I grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, 5 blocks from the Saratoga Ave station of the IRT.  Where did you grow up?

I was born in Brooklyn, at Mercy Hospital, but I was very young at the time and don't remember it very well.  I actually grew up out on Long Island, in East Meadow and Rockville Centre.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Sunday, April 27, 2014 6:16 PM

MisterBeasley

Bob, I hope you enjoy your new locomotive as much as I do Gigi.

I noticed right away that the starts and speed steps are jumpy.  I set my acceleration and deceleration CVs, 3 & 4, to 20 and it smoothed everything out very nicely.

 

Mr. B,

I will have to keep these settings handy for when mine comes in.

  -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Hainesport, NJ
  • 130 posts
Posted by green_elite_cab on Monday, April 28, 2014 12:27 AM

I almost have to agree, I would have held out for a Bi-polar or a Little Joe in your case.  If you get an "old" one,  MTH apparently will give your train a new brain so that it cooperates in DCC (my MTH GG1 does). 

You can't really go wrong with a GG1 though.   As a kid I thought the GG1 was silly, though i'm a bigger fan of them now.   They're not just necessary for my chosen prototype,  but they also tend to be good pullers.    I had a pair of  BLI GG1s hauling a 40 car train around my club layout, including a pretty steep 4% grade,  with only a little effort. 

Then tend to make good model locomotives.   I'm sure your bachmann one will satisfy you!

Modeling Conrail, Amtrak and NJ DOT under the wires in New Jersey, July 1979.  

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Knoxville, TN
  • 2,055 posts
Posted by farrellaa on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 7:54 PM

My GG1 arrived on Monday (only ordered it Friday!) and it looks great. I only ran it for a few minutes as I was on my way out when it came it. I won't get a chance to program it for a few days (ouch!) but I can see where it needs a little momentum. I love the sounds, particularly the horn. Now I can sell my old Rivarossi, which by the way has a very dull/matte finish compared to the Bachmann.

    -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • 266 posts
Posted by Ron High on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 7:02 AM

I just got to reading this thread. At first I was going to say get it while you can. These days some hesitation can cause you to miss out. You don't want to look back in a few years and say I should have when I could have. I am glad you made that choice.The GG1 is a great engine it is tempting.

I have an Alco Models NH EP5 and 2 Alco Models NH EF-4s don't know if I will ever find a place for catanary but couldn't resist.

DStarr B&M and Alco FAs that is a good mix .The NH FAs and B&M mixed it up in a number of place here in Massachusetts. That is what I am trying to do by modeling Worcester Ma with NH and B&M operations late 1950s and 1960s. The FA has always been my favorite engine I remember them operating into Worcester on the the NH on an every day basis.

Ron High

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