Pennsylvania Railroad 4859 facts for kids

The Pennsylvania Railroad 4859 is a famous GG1-class electric locomotive. You can find this amazing train at the Harrisburg Transportation Center in Harrisburg. Harrisburg is the capital city of Pennsylvania.

This powerful train was once operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Later, it was used by other companies like Penn Central and Conrail. On January 15, 1938, the 4859 pulled the very first electric train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. It worked hard carrying both people and cargo until November 22, 1979. On that day, it pulled the last ever GG1-powered freight train.

The 4859 was first kept in Strasburg. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Later, in 1986, it moved to its current home. In 1987, the Pennsylvania General Assembly officially named it the state electric locomotive of Pennsylvania. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places again in 2004.

Meet the GG1 Train

The GG1 was a special type of electric train. It was created in the 1930s by General Electric. The Pennsylvania Railroad needed a new, better electric train to replace their older P5a models. The GG1 design was inspired by another train called the New Haven EP3.

How the GG1 Was Built

The GG1 could reach a top speed of about 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). It got its power from twelve strong traction motors. The first GG1, called PRR 4800, was tested against another train design, the R1. The Pennsylvania Railroad chose the GG1 because it was more flexible and its motors were already familiar. In November 1934, they ordered 57 GG1 trains. The first ones arrived in April 1935.

A Stylish Design

A famous designer named Raymond Loewy helped make the GG1 look even better. He suggested that the train bodies should be welded together. This made them look smooth and modern, instead of having visible rivets like older trains. Loewy also designed the famous dark green paint color, called Brunswick green. He added gold pinstripes, which people nicknamed "cat's whiskers." This stylish look was used on all Pennsylvania Railroad trains for the next 20 years.

The History of Train 4859

Train 4859 was built in December 1937. It was made at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

First Journey

The electric train line between Philadelphia and Harrisburg opened on January 15, 1938. Train 4859 had the honor of pulling the very first train on this new line. It was called Train #25, The Metropolitan. When it left Philadelphia, many train whistles and fire sirens sounded. Some people who didn't know about the event thought there was a big emergency!

Working Hard

In 1964, train 4859 was changed to mostly carry cargo. Its top speed was adjusted to 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) for this new job. Even though it mostly carried freight, 4859 still pulled some passenger trains. These included "Clockers," which were short trips from New York to Philadelphia. It also pulled commuter trains on the New York and Long Branch Railroad.

On November 29, 1979, train 4859, along with another GG1 (PRR 4887), pulled the very last GG1 freight train. It traveled from the Enola Yard in Enola, Pennsylvania, to Edgemoor, Delaware. After this, Conrail officially retired the train.

Saving a Piece of History

4859 in its Conrail colors at the Railroad Museum in 1982.

After it retired, the Harrisburg chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society bought 4859. They paid $13,000 for it and gave it to the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. In the early 1980s, the train was sent to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg. There, experts at the nearby Strasburg Rail Road helped restore it.

The train's body was cleaned by sandblasting. Then it was primed and repainted to look just like it did in 1938. A large part inside the train, called the main transformer, was carefully cleaned. It had a chemical called polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) that needed to be safely removed.

Official Recognition

Train 4859 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1982. This happened while it was still in Strasburg. On November 13, 1986, ownership of 4859 was given to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Just two days later, the train moved into the Transportation Center and was celebrated again.

On December 18, 1987, the Pennsylvania General Assembly made 4859 the official state electric locomotive. They also named two K4s trains as the state steam locomotives at the same time. Train 4859 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for a second time on May 5, 2004.

Keeping it Safe and Sound

In 2005, some soft materials like insulation were taken out of the train's cab. This was done to remove any leftover traces of the PCBs, following orders from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 2010, the train's wheels and undercarriage got a fresh coat of black paint to cover up any rust.

On April 5, 2014, the locomotive and its caboose were temporarily moved about 1,000 feet (300 meters) to a siding. They were covered with tarpaulins. This allowed Amtrak to do important renovation work on the station's catenary (the electric wires above the tracks), signals, switches, and tracks. By October 17, 2015, enough work was done for 4859 to return to the station. The renovation project is still ongoing.

See also

• List of Pennsylvania state symbols
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania