Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 Streamlined Electric Locomotive #4859
Why it's listed
Built in December 1937, GG1 No. 4859 is a streamlined electric locomotive with a steel body shaped by industrial designer Raymond Loewy. It weighs 200 tons, measures 79 feet 6 inches long, and was rated at 4,620 horsepower, with double cabs placed toward the center to protect crews in collisions. On January 15, 1938, it hauled the first electrically powered revenue train over the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line, arriving eight minutes ahead of the former steam schedule. The engine also pulled the last GG1-hauled freight train, a Thanksgiving Day run from Enola Yard to Edge Moor Yard in 1979. Of the 139 GG1s built, perhaps two dozen survive, and No. 4859 is the second oldest. It is displayed today at the Harrisburg Transportation Center, where it sits in the former Pennsylvania Railroad station.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the locomotive is significant as a representative of the GG1 class, a fleet that set performance and efficiency standards for American electric locomotives, and as the unit that pulled the first electrically powered revenue train over the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line on January 15, 1938. It is also presented as an important work of industrial designer Raymond Loewy.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04000399, listed May 5, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Track 5, Harrisburg Transportation Center Aberdeen St., Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | May 5, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000399 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1937-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Loewy, Raymond |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | On public display under the train shed roof at the Harrisburg Transportation Center; interior was found to have PCB contamination and the main transformer was removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.27375, -76.17185 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04000399.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7120451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.