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The Marklin Z Scale GG1
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Marklin Z Scale, Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) GG1
Resting on the prototype GG1's throttle |
The prototype GG1, No. 4935, nicknamed Black Jack due to the deep Brunswick green paint that can almost appear black, is currently on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. To learn more about the GG1's history and gain a better understanding of the Marklin model, I visited the Pennsylvania museum to see No. 4935 in person. Ztrains even managed a photo of the Marklin Z scale GG1 resting on the prototype GG1's throttle (see photo above right). You can learn more about the GG1, and see many additional GG1 photos in our Railroad Photos section.
A Brief GG1 History
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) began electrification of their lines in the Philadelphia area in 1913. By the mid 1930s the catenary wires stretched from New York to Philadelphia to Washington, DC. To fully realize the potential of this newly electrified Northeast Corridor, the PRR needed a powerful locomotive. P5 box cab electric locomotives saw service between New York and Washington, DC, but several technical issues sent the PRR in search of a better alternative.
In their search, the PRR borrowed an EP3a locomotive, a 2-C+C-2 (4-6-6-4) box cab electric from the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad (also known simply as the New Haven) for testing on their Claymont, Delaware test track. What emerged from additional prototype testing, and subsequent design and performance competitions, was the Class GG1 locomotive.
Famed industrial designer Raymond Lowey was retained by the PRR to streamline the look of the GG1. Two of his more well known contributions were the elimination of the rivets on the body panels in favor of welded panels, and the distinctive "cat whiskers" gold stripes that highlight the streamlined body of the GG1. Lowey was one of the most influential industrial designers of the 20th century and had been called the "man who shaped America".
No. 4935, Black Jack
The first thing that strikes you about the Marklin Z scale GG1 is its sheer size. At well over 4.5" in length, this is an imposing locomotive. The shell of the GG1 is a deep Brunswick green that can almost appear black in the right lighting conditions. Both the color and the quality of the paint application gives this GG1 an incredibly smooth finish. The body details are both crisp and smooth, giving the model a terrific feel and sense of authenticity. The grillwork, doors, steps and windows are all sharp and accurate. The gentle slope of the center "steeple cab" design as well as the streamlined nose of the original GG1 are faithfully reproduced here by Marklin.
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The next thing that will catch the eye of railroad enthusiasts are the GG1's pantographs (see photo above center). Marklin has, for the first time, produced authentic North American style pantographs. These new style pantographs are a terrific addition, and really stand out on the GG1. For those new to Z scale, these pantographs, as with all Marklin Z scale pantographs, are fully functioning which allows power to be picked up through the rails or through the overhead catenary.
In addition to the accurate Brunswick green color that is used for the GG1 body, high marks go to Marklin for continuing their careful use of color throughout this model. The pantograph insulators located on the roof of the prototype GG1 are actually a very deep, almost oxide red colored ceramic. The Z scale GG1 insulators match the prototype's very well. The same color matching accuracy is evident on the cab window edging, the famous keystone PRR logo and of course the Raymond Lowey designed "cat whiskers" stripes.
The GG1 Chassis
There are several new engineering components to this GG1; let's begin with the all new GG1 chassis. The GG1 is a 2-C+C-2 (4-6-6-4) articulated, or jointed frame locomotive. In essence four trucks that can move independently of each other. This articulated frame allows the GG1 to negotiate tight turns. In tests we ran, the GG1 could easily work its way around the Marklin minimum radius sectional track of 5.75". A very welcome feature of the GG1 is that all 10 of its axles pick up power from the rails. This helps tremendously with slow speed operations as well as overall reliability. All 20 wheels on the GG1 are the new Marklin blackened wheels, and they compliment the newly designed GG1 truck sideframes (see photo above right) beautifully.
In part due to the plastic shell of the GG1, this is a relatively light locomotive for its size, weighing in at 1.36 ounces or 38.5 grams. Compare this to the Marklin Z scale Pacific locomotive, a 4-6-2 steam loco with a metal shell, at 1.31 ounces or 37 grams. The GG1 feels like a lighter locomotive because weight is spread out over a larger area. The Pacific is approximately 3/4 the length of the GG1. For those wishing to add weight to this GG1 to improve pulling capabilities with long consists, there is ample space under the GG1's nose at both ends to do so.
The GG1 Motor
The Z scale GG1 sports the Marklin 5 pole which helps with quieter running, improved responsiveness and lower starting voltages in comparison to the older 3 pole design. What really caught my eye was the worm gear shafts, or axles. These are the axles that extend out from the motor itself and hold the worm gears that interface with the white nylon worm wheel located in the driving wheel trucks (see photos below left and center). Generally this is a single piece of steel, running from motor to worm wheel. In the GG1 however, these worm gear axles are actually separate extension axles that mate with the motor's main axle. The worm gear axle is machined square at the end that faces the motor, there is then a matching square plastic insert on the motor axle that accepts this machined axle end (see photo below left and center).
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At the very end of the each worm gear extension axle is a small "U" shaped plastic thrust spacer, or thrust bushing (see photo above right). This bushing rests in a small cavity in the chassis, and it serves two purposes. It prevents the worm gear from traveling too far over the worm wheel it engages, and it als o maintains this extension axle on a level plane with the motor's main axle.
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Final Thoughts
When many people think of mainline railroading history in the United States, they tend to think steam, diesel or the newer electric locos. But for a time the GG1, with its raised pantographs and streamlined design, was the premier mainline electric locomotive on the East Coast of the United States. Not many prototype locomotives ever managed to capture both contemporary and classic design as well as the PRR GG1 did, and now Marklin has captured both the size as well as the subtleties of the iconic GG1 in Z scale.
 
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