| PRR 4877 | |
|---|---|
| 4877 in its deteriorating Tucson red paint scheme, prior to the start of its repainting to Brunswick green | |
| Power type | Electric |
| Builder | Altoona Works |
| Build date | January 1939 |
| AAR wheel arr. | 2-C+C-2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) |
| Length | 79 ft 6 in (24.23 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
| Height | 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) over locked-down pantographs |
| Locomotive weight | 477,000 lb (216,000 kg) |
| Electric system | 11,000 V AC, 25 Hz |
| Current collection method |
Overhead AC with dual pantographs |
| Top speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) (passenger) 90 mph (140 km/h) (freight) |
| Power output | 4,620 hp (3,450 kW) |
| Career | Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central, Conrail, New Jersey Transit |
| Class | GG1 |
| Retired | October 29, 1983 |
| Current owner | United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey |
PRR 4877, nicknamed "Big Red", is a GG1-class electric locomotive located in the New Jersey Transit station in Lebanon, New Jersey, United States.
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The GG1 was developed in 1930s by General Electric as the replacement for the Pennsylvania Railroad's then standard electric locomotive, the P5a, and was based largely on the New Haven EP3.[1] The GG1 was capable of a top speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), powered by its twelve 385 horsepower (287 kW) traction motors. The prototype GG1, PRR 4800, was tested against Westinghouse's submission, the R1. The Pennsylvania selected the GG1 over the R1, as the R1 was not articulated and the GG1's traction motors were similar to ones already in use.[2] An order for 57 GG1s was placed in November 1934 and the first locomotives were delivered in April 1935.[2][3]
Raymond Loewy was hired by the Pennsylvania to "enhance the GG1's aesthetics."[2] Loewy had the production locomotives' bodies be welded together, instead of riveted the way 4800 was, to give the GG1 a more streamlined appearance.[4] Loewy also formulated the Brunswick green paint scheme and the gold pinstripes, nicknamed "cat's whiskers", which was eventually applied by the Pennsylvania to all of its locomotives for the next 20 years.[4] In 1952, the Pennsylvania repainted its fleet of GG1s to a Tuscan red paint scheme with pinstripes.[5]
4877 was built in January 1939 at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works in Altoona, Pennsylvania.[6] 4877 was transferred to Penn Central when the Pennsylvania was merged with the New York Central Railroad in 1968. It was transferred again, to Conrail in 1976, when Penn Central went bankrupt. Thirteen GG1's were loaned to the New Jersey Department of Transportation in the 1980s, for use in what would eventually become New Jersey Transit. 4877 was repainted from the solid black paint scheme used by both Penn Central and Conrail in 1981.[6]