GG-1 & Other Locomotives' Streamlined Body Style

When it comes to the GG-1 we’ve all heard of Raymond Loewy. However, for years I was under the misconception that Mr. Loewy was entirely responsible for the GG-1’s streamlined look. I have since learned that this is NOT the case and that Mr. Loewy simply made some changes to the pre-existing basic body shell that we see on the GG-1.

The modified P-5 (http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiag ... z=sm&fr=ge), which predates the GG-1 (http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiag ... z=sm&fr=ge), had a similar body shell. The R-1 (http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiag ... z=sm&fr=ge) and the DD-2 (http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiag ... z=sm&fr=ge) had similar looks, but they also came after the modified P-5. Does anyone know if there was a locomotive before the modified P-5 that had the streamlined body style, or was the P-5 the trailblazer with this body style? Also, who first came up with this streamlined body style?

That is correct. Lowey is famous for his comment upon seeing the first GG-1 "What are all those buttons?" refering to the rivets used in the construction of the carbody. He redesigned the GG-1 for a welded carbody, and came up with the famous five stripe "cat-whisker" scheme.

Stuart

The P-5A's were the first locomotives with the body style which, with the Loewy modifications came to characterize the GG1's. Prior to that time, most of the PRR electrics ( with the exception of the 1924-28 L-5's, which were steeple cab, but not streamlined) were of the box cab type, and the first P-5's and P-5A's were also box cab locomotives. P-5A's with the streamlined bodies were designated P-5a Modifieds. The modifications were done as a result of a fatal grade crossing collsion with a truck on the NY division in which the engineer was killed.