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Has a GG1 ever been restored to running order?

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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper I'm not suggesting anything radical. As you say, when you rewind motors, you use the best possible wire and insulation available. As far as contactors and relays, however, you don't want the GG-1 to be stuck at Ivy City near Washington with a bad relay with the only replacement back at Wilmington or Strassburg or Harrisburg. And the restoration, to operate it in the NEC has to be equal in quality of workmaship and materials to those UP Executive E's. The transformers, if they are good and cooling flued can be non-toxic, keep them. Otherwise use the best transformers that can be bought, possibly requiring custom made. I stand by what I recommended as far as contactors and relays. And where current practice suggests not replacing exactly in kind (and if existing relays are still being manufacured, of course replace in-kind) then I'd want the current capacity at least 150% the capacity of the original and the insulation at least 150% the voltage of the original. Hopefully this can be true of new types of wiring. The locomotive must be reliable if it is to interface with other trains on the NEC. Incidentally, some of the "abortion" rebuilds were reliable good locomotives. Didn't the AT&SF have some switchers rebuilt from a combination of Alco and EMD components that gave good service for many years, some even being purchased by Amtrak for continued switcher service? [/quote] Dear Dave, One little thing: The GG-1 SOMEHOW managed to run for 50 YEARS on the "OLD" TECHNOLOGY. THE PENNSY'S mechanical department spent WAY MORE TIME than anyone here has in designing it. And you know what? THE GG-1 IS ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE LOCOMOTIVES OF ALL TIME, and it was because of many of the very components you seek to replace as "unreliable." Please allow me to point out that making an already reliable locomotive into something else by putting in every high-tech gysmo might have "adverse effects on reliability." After all, when was the last time you saw a relay-driven CTC machine have a "fatal error"?! I agree with Mr. Watkins--if playing tech geek on a venerable piece of history is what we're after, then let's save some donors' money and buy a postwar Lionel, where we can put in TMCC, DCC, and all sorts of electronic goodies much more cheaply. Why increase current capacities by 50%--the originals already were well designed with adequate tolerances. Sir, I must say that though I have every belief that your intentions are good, some of the changes you propose do seem radical to me. Again, I ask, are we restoring a GG-1 or an XX-1, 000, 000, 000? If we know something's unreliable or dangerous, then replace it, but with the most historically similar equipment which is safe and dependable. If we can't find specific fault with a component, then let's defer to the Standard Railraod of the World with their own locomotive. Most sincerely and respectfully yours in service of history, Daniel Parks
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