Southern Pacific class GS-4
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 SP4449 standing idle under steam, waiting to start Christmas excursion, December 13, 2005. |
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| Power type | Steam |
|---|---|
| Builder | Lima Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 7798 – 7817, 7848 – 7855 |
| Build date | April-May 1941, March-April 1942 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Driver size | 80 inch diameter |
| Weight on drivers | 275,700 lb |
| Locomotive weight | 475,000 lb |
| Boiler pressure | 300 psi |
| Cylinder size | 25½ in dia × 32 in stroke |
| Career | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| Class | GS-4 |
| Number in class | 28 |
| Number | 4430 – 4457 |
| First run | April 1941 |
| Retired | 1958 |
| Disposition | all but one scrapped, 4449 restored |
The GS-4 was a streamlined 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive that served the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1941 to 1958. They were built by the Lima Locomotive Works and were numbered 4430 through 4457. GS stands for "Golden State" or "General Service."
The GS-4 had a slightly different appearance than that of the GS-3, most drasticaly the dual-headlight casing (top headlight was a mars light) on the silver smokebox. Another change in appearance was the cab, which was changed to a fully-enclosed, all-weather cab, a feature not commonly found on steam engines. It retaned the skyline casing on the top of the boiler, skirting on the sides, an air horn, teardrop classification lights, and whistles. They received the orange and red "Daylight" paint scheme.
The GS-4s were designed for high-speed passenger service and were used on Southern Pacific's premier passenger trains, the Coast Daylight, San Joaquin Daylight and Sunset Limited, as well as many other Southern Pacific name trains. In later years they were painted black and had their side skirting removed for easier maintenance, and were re-assigned to the San Jose-San Francisco commute trains, freight service, and the occasional San Joaquin Daylight until new diesels arrived and they were retired.
GS-4 number 4443 pulled one of the final movements of steam on the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1957.
[edit] Preservation
One GS-4 survives today, Southern Pacific 4449, arguably the most popular and most photographed locomotive of all time. 4449 was donated to Oaks Park in Portland, Oregon, in 1958. In December 1974, 4449 was moved from Oaks Park to undergo restoration. From August 1975 to December 1976, 4449 shared duties with several other steam locomotives pulling the American Freedom Train throughout the U.S. 4449 is still operational and currently resides at the Brooklyn Roundhouse in Portland along with many other preserved locomotives and rolling stock. It is the only surviving GS-4 locomotive.
The tender of SP 4444 (the last GS-4 to be scrapped) was kept and rebuilt by SP and was used as a "hammer car" to test impacts on hydracushon boxcars, but was scrapped in the early 1970s.
[edit] References
- Diebert, Timothy S. and Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
- The American Freedom Train Foundation (1975). The American Freedom Train Official Commemorative Program 1975 / 1976. The American Freedom Train Foundation.
[edit] External links
- Friends of SP 4449
- The Southern Pacific (i.e. "Espee") Golden State Locomotives Classes GS-1 to GS-6
- The Southern Pacific Technical and Historical Society
- The Museum of America's Freedom Trains
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