Welcome to The Lionel trains Library – a website created to assist you in understanding differences in variations of engines, rolling stock, cabooses, passenger cars, and accessories sold by Lionel in the postwar era (1945-1969). Our objective is to construct a website that is robust, easy to use and informative as you learn about the products made by one of the most famous toy companies in the world during a glorious but challenging era.

We invite you to stroll down memory lane as you are rewarded with thousands of photos of the wonderful trains and accessories that you may have had as a kid – or wished you could have had when growing up.

Please note that the items described in the underlying pages are not available for sale. Please go to both of the websites shown below to view what is currently for sale by the authors . We also encourage you to e-mail us with feedback as to how close we are achieving our goal.

This library website is sponsored by the following businesses,

please click on either link below to visit their sites for postwar Lionel trains for sale:

GG1

The GG1 is an electric locomotive built specifically for the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) for use in the northeastern part of the United States. Between 1934 and 1943, General Electric built 139 GG1’s, most ending up at the front end of a passenger train, but freight trains were certainly common too.

The GG1 is a behemoth locomotive measuring 80 feet long, weighing in at 475,000 pounds and uses twelve 385-horsepower traction motors to power its drivers. The initial GG1 designer was Donald Roscoe Dohner, however the final aesthetics are credited to Ramond Lowry who recommended the use of a smooth, welded body (instead of rivets) and and external design of five gold pinstripes on a Brunswick green paint scheme. Needless to say, this final design has gone on to be one of the more iconic locomotives during the second half of the 20^th century.

The history behind the GG1 name is interesting.. Internally, GG1’s are mounted on two separate and flexible suspension frames to provide equal traction for each of the drive wheels. Since the PRR classified a 4-6-0 engine as a class “G” locomotive – and the GG1 is literally two back-to-back 4-6-0 frames, the locomotive became known as a GG locomotive, version 1 – or shortened to GG1.

Lionel’s model of the GG1 is an accurate representation of the real life locomotive. When introduced in 1947, it was impressive and unlike any existing model train locomotive. The classic 2332 GG1 heading up a set of three Madison passenger cars was not only an impressive set, but was scale-like in looks, color and overall appearance. The GG1 remained in the Lionel family for 17 years, finally bowing out in 1963.

* Scroll down & click on any item number for more details regarding that locomotive *

There are no products listed under this category.