Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

What type of motor does the 1984 AHM GG-1 have?

4278 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
What type of motor does the 1984 AHM GG-1 have?
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Saturday, October 24, 2015 9:22 PM

Can anyone tell me what type of motor does the AHM GG-1 from the year 1984 - I think that year they added the coil spring drive train - don't know if that makes any difference to the motor but it might.

If anyone does have some info could you also let me know if the motor is centrally mounted and has drive shaft to the trucks - or is it some other configuration.

Tags: AHM , GG-1 , motor

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, October 25, 2015 5:59 AM
The AHM g had a vertically mounted motor that powered one truck. Only one truck was powered and it had traction tires. It was mafe
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, October 25, 2015 6:01 AM
Sorry hit the wrong button. Made by Rivarossi and as I recall had the same motor as the E8.
  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
Posted by gregc on Sunday, October 25, 2015 6:27 AM

LOCO_GUY
If anyone does have some info could you also let me know if the motor is centrally mounted and has drive shaft to the trucks - or is it some other configuration.

the hoseeker.net images of AHM locomotive descriptions  search for GG1 

 

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Sunday, October 25, 2015 8:19 AM

Hello Loco Guy,

Do you have the unit already and haven't taken it apart yet or are you considering purchasing a used unit? If it has either the vertical motor, shown above on Greg's post or the drive indicated by NDBPRR, it's not going to be a very smooth runner, although you can tweak it and add weight.

Respectfully, a suggestion (in case you're looking to purchase a used unit) Consider getting one of the new Bachmann units. MB Klein has DC versions in stock for $109.  Initially skeptical, I purchased a unit last year (sound version) and was very pleasantly surprised at what a heavy, smooth runner unit it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6GfozphhEQ

Again, just a suggestion in case you haven't purchased your "G" yet.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Sunday, October 25, 2015 9:26 AM

Thanks guys for all your replies (and the images Greg).

It looks like the motor mounted in it was the one I suspected - but hoped would not be the case as this was a model from 1984 (when I was using punch card readers attached to an IBM 360 ).

Antonio, I bought a brand new one (probably from an estate sale) so it will be interesting to see how it runs 31 years after being manufactured. It may end up being a nice paperweight on my workshop desk :-)  Then I can justify buying a DCC/Sound version. 

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
  • 5,084 posts
Posted by G Paine on Sunday, October 25, 2015 10:02 AM

If you want to run it, maybe you can replace the trucks with a NWSL Stanton drive; maybe Antonio could comment on this possibility. Stantons are DCC friendly

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Sunday, October 25, 2015 3:16 PM

G Paine

If you want to run it, maybe you can replace the trucks with a NWSL Stanton drive; maybe Antonio could comment on this possibility. Stantons are DCC friendly

 

George,

Never heard of NWSL - got lots of interesting parts on the site. That will be one to bookmark - thanks for the info.

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Thursday, November 5, 2015 2:20 PM

Guys,

Just wanted to post an update - but I think this thread has gone cold. But anyhoo, this info is for anyone who want's to know what the motor looks like in an 1984 AHM GG1.

It has an 8 wheel drive (from the center of the loco the 4 wheel each side are powered by the can motor via the gears in the trucks.

Amazingly it uses 4 pickup points - one from each center truck and also from the leading 4 wheel trucks at the front and end.

Also, it does not use a solid drive shaft (too short a distance from the motor to the trucks) so it employs a sort of weird spiral spring mechanism - which works well - apart from a little vibration - but still an inovative idea - I guess for the 80's :-)

 

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Thursday, November 5, 2015 3:50 PM

I do remember as a teen in the early 80s wanting one of those AHM GG1s...then I got better (I only saw the prototypes a handful of times in the early 1980s, while they were still in NJT revenue service, laid up in Sunnyside Yard).

Anyway, after reading that HOSeeker image of the "How To Repair The Electric Motor And Trailing Truck" instructions, I realized it was the era-specific Eastern Europe equivalent of "Engrish"*, with terms similar but not quite there "Take away the body...", "By doing this, take care...", "Do not take off the driving worm, if not necessary" and so on. Like all good wonky translations, there is at least one total wreck with "A driving worm is printed on the axle of the electric motor". I presume they meant pinned, but maybe not... 

*Apparently some people have submitted 'Engrish' as a new word suggestion to various dictionaries, I guess eventually we'll find out if it becomes legit.

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Thursday, November 5, 2015 7:21 PM

chutton01,

As I am English by birth and I can appreciate the weird text in the instructions. 

However, I get a little smile from those odd translations. Better than Press 1 for english.

 

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • 273 posts
Posted by LOCO_GUY on Saturday, November 7, 2015 1:38 PM

If anyone is interested here is the instruction sheet that comes with the GG1 loco.

Chris.

Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.

Sit back and enjoy your track...

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!