On January 28, 1935, 4800 inaugurated electric passenger service between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia by pulling a charter train for railroad and government officials; 4800 set a speed record of 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) outside of Landover, Maryland on the return trip.
Regular passenger service began on February 10, 1935.
4800 remained in regular passenger service with the Pennsylvania, until it joined production GG1s 4801–4857 in the pool of 90-mile-per-hour (140 km/h) geared freight locomotives.
It had its steam generator removed in June 1960, about a year after hauling a National Railway Historical Society-charted excursion to commemorate its 25th birthday.

4800 continued to haul freight for the Pennsylvania and its successors Penn Central and Conrail.
In 1976, Conrail gave 4800 a red, white and blue paint scheme to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.
It was also the only GG1 to wear Conrail blue paint; all the other Conrail GG1s remained in black.
4800 was eventually retired by Conrail in October 1979 after the locomotive's main transformer failed, which was deemed too expensive to repair.

4800 was sold by Conrail in 1980 to the Lancaster-chapter of the National Railway Historical Society for the scrap-value price of $30,000.
The locomotive was given a cosmetic restoration back to its 1935 appearance by the nearby Strasburg Rail Road and volunteers.
4800 was dedicated and put on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on November 20, 1982.
It was designated a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) on April 23, 1983.

In 2012, PRR 4800 was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame for its contribution to the railway industry.
On January 28, 1935, 4800 inaugurated electric passenger service between Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia by pulling a charter train for railroad and government officials; 4800 set a speed record of 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) outside of Landover, Maryland on the return trip. Regular passenger service began on February 10, 1935. 4800 remained in regular passenger service with the Pennsylvania, until it joined production GG1s 4801–4857 in the pool of 90-mile-per-hour (140 km/h) geared freight locomotives. It had its steam generator removed in June 1960, about a year after hauling a National Railway Historical Society-charted excursion to commemorate its 25th birthday.
4800 continued to haul freight for the Pennsylvania and its successors Penn Central and Conrail. In 1976, Conrail gave 4800 a red, white and blue paint scheme to commemorate the United States Bicentennial. It was also the only GG1 to wear Conrail blue paint; all the other Conrail GG1s remained in black. 4800 was eventually retired by Conrail in October 1979 after the locomotive's main transformer failed, which was deemed too expensive to repair.
4800 was sold by Conrail in 1980 to the Lancaster-chapter of the National Railway Historical Society for the scrap-value price of $30,000. The locomotive was given a cosmetic restoration back to its 1935 appearance by the nearby Strasburg Rail Road and volunteers. 4800 was dedicated and put on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on November 20, 1982. It was designated a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) on April 23, 1983.
In 2012, PRR 4800 was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame for its contribution to the railway industry.
Pennsylvania Railroad 4800