Amtraking with the GG1s

e*Train Issue: Apr 2019 | Posted in: Operating & Layouts

By John S. Halajko, TCA 84-20653 and John A. Bonfanti, TCA 87-26716
Spring 2019

The GG1 may be the most produced locomotive type in toy train history. It is hard to find a major manufacturer who has not produced multiple paint schemes, and no matter which gauge you run on, Standard, G, O, S, HO, N or Z, you will find samples of this mighty engine. Standard gauge operators may not have the luxury of lots of GG1s out there, but you can find them on Google video by searching for JAD Daniels Pennsylvania PRR GG1.

Among the last of the paint schemes for the GG1 was the Amtrak silver, red with a single blue strip paint scheme of 1975. In Halajko’s opinion, it is the second-best Amtrak engine paint scheme. Only the Acela is better. See http://www.northeast.railfan.net/gg1rstr.html for more GG1 paint schemes. According to this link, both the Lionel and Williams GG1 engine numbers are not a member of this paint scheme fleet, but we real toy train operators don’t count rivets or require correctness of the model.

The pictures and videos that follow were shot at John B’s layout with his consist of his Lionel Amtrak cars. Enjoy the videos that follow:

https://youtu.be/B6f0YVnurTk
https://youtu.be/IPz3F8-ZTUw
https://youtu.be/2-dFxGoI7m0
https://youtu.be/GStQ462EyRM

Of the O Gauge versions, no matter which GG1 you prefer, the traditional classic size or its cousin, the longer scale size, either one looks great by itself or pulling a consist of passenger cars. Some operators have been known to use freight cars behind Amtrak engines. Suffice to day, anything goes when the object is to have a fun run.

**Righty – I’m faster than you. Lefty – No way!**

Alas, the running of the real GG1 is a thing of past. Come join us in celebrating its heritage by running any of the toy train sizes. Aside – Both of us picked up our GG1s at York. John B. still has his. John H’s went to his nephew as a Christmas present.

How come you’re so short?
Did you forget to take your vitamins when you were a kid?

Shop Amazon and Help TCA

TCA members who shop at Amazon.com can have each of their normal purchases generate a modest payment to TCA! And it won’t cost you anything!

The Train Collectors Association is now a participant with AmazonSmile, which is a special website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com.

The difference is that when customers shop at AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.

The process is simple. Just search for and select Train Collectors Association when you sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com.

You use your regular Amazon.com username and password, but when you log in to smile.amazon.com, you’ll see that you are supporting TCA with your purchases:

Note that if you just log in to the regular amazon.com, this benefit does not operate.

There are no costs to either you or TCA, but TCA benefits!

This is a great way for TCA to earn extra cash to offset costs, so sign up today to help support TCA.

* Note: TCA is not a party to any of your Amazon transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors.

Helping TCA with your ebay purchases when you use PayPal

If you’re an ebay user and have a PayPal account you use to make payments, you can designate a donation for TCA when you’re checking out — any amount, small or large.
If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can pre-designate a percentage of your sales to be donated automatically in your name to TCA as long as the purchaser pays with their PayPal account.

In both cases, you will receive a donation receipt from the PayPal Giving Fund, and enjoy applicable tax advantages.

How to do it:

Click on the image above, or use this link. This will take you to ebay, where you will see the following page (log in to ebay if you are not already):

This offers TCA as an option. Click on the “Add to My Charities” button where indicated with the red arrow. Thereafter, when you make a purchase, at checkout you will be offered the option to make a donation to TCA in any amount of your choosing. Small amounts add up, larger ones are great! It’s always up to you!

The option will appear at the lower part of your checkout page, something like this:

If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can allocate a portion of your sales proceeds to be donated to TCA. Look at the green arrow marked “Optional” above to see how to do it. Details on how ebay calculates the donation may be read here. This is a wonderful way to share the financial benefits of your hobby with the organization that promotes it!

An added benefit to TCA is that these donations are not subject to normal processing fees, so that makes your donation work harder!

* Note. TCA is not a party to any of your eBay transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors. PayPal issues the receipts to you for your donation, not TCA.

Amtraking with the GG1s

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