Electric Locomotive No. 4859
Why it's listed
Electric locomotive No. 4859 was built in December 1937 for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a GG1 type, with a streamlined shell designed by Raymond Loewy. It weighs 200 tons, is 79 feet 6 inches long, and draws power from overhead catenary through two roof-mounted pantographs. Its double-cab layout was intended to protect crews in collisions. On 15 January 1938 it headed the Metropolitan, the first electrically powered revenue train on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line, arriving eight minutes ahead of the steam schedule. On its final assignment, it and GG1 No. 4887 pulled the last GG1-hauled freight train, from Enola Yard to Edge Moor Yard on Thanksgiving Day in 1979. The nomination treats its inaugural run as the reason for its listing, and it notes that few GG1s survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the locomotive is one of perhaps two dozen surviving GG1s and the second oldest of them, and that it pulled the first electrically powered revenue passenger train on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg line in January 1938. It also states that the locomotive hauled the last GG1-powered freight train at the close of its career, and that its design by Raymond Loewy is important.
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 82003797, listed August 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 741, Strasburg |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | August 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003797 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1937 |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad Altoona Shops (builder); Raymond Loewy (designer) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retired by Conrail in late 1979; the form states that restoration to its original appearance was anticipated and that it was to be displayed at the former Harrisburg station. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.98214, -76.16159 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 82003797.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.