A self-contained counter rotating turbo prop system is driven by a gas turbine engine through a reduction gearbox. A gear train housed separate from the reduction gearbox provides the counter-rotation of a first and second pluralities of propeller blades. The entire counter-rotating propeller system is disposed within cowlings and is separate from the gas turbine engine and reduction gearbox. The example counter rotating propeller system includes a collective blade angle actuation system that provides for adjustment of blade angle of both the first and second plurality of propeller blades with a single actuator.