Southern Pacific 4460
| Southern Pacific 4460 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Lima Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 8013 |
| Build date | July 1943 |
| Configuration | 4-8-4 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 73 in |
| Weight on drivers | 283,000 lb |
| Locomotive weight | 468,400 lb[1] |
| Boiler pressure | 260 psi |
| Cylinder size | 27 in dia × 30 in stroke |
| Tractive effort | 64,600 lbf, 76,050 lbf with booster |
| Career | |
| Railroad(s) | Southern Pacific |
| Class | GS-6 |
| Number in class | 10 |
| Number | 4460 |
| Nicknames | "War Baby", "Baby Daylight", "The Forgotten Daylight" |
| First run | July 31, 1943 |
| Last run | 1958 |
| Retired | October 31, 1958 |
| Current owner | Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, Missouri |
| Disposition | static display |
Southern Pacific 4460 is the only surviving GS-6 Class steam locomotive. The GS-6 is a semi-streamlined 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive. GS stands for "General Services". The locomotive was built by the Lima Locomotive Works for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1943. The GS-6 lacked side skirting and red and orange "Daylight" paint found on previous locomotives of the GS class, and were painted black and silver instead. This was because the US government controlled locomotive manufacturers during World War II and had turned down Southern Pacific's order of fourteen new Daylight locomotives. Southern Pacific re-designed the engine for general service and it was finally approved, but the government took four of them and gave them to the smaller and power-starved Western Pacific Railroad. Their smaller size when compared to previous GS class locomotives and the fact that they were built during WWII earned them the nicknames of "War Babies" and "Baby Daylights".
Revenue service years
4460 is famous for pulling what supposed to be the final movement of steam on the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1958. That final run was from Reno, Nevada to Oakland, California, and a local Boy Scout Bugler from the Bay Area Council, played taps for the funeral of the 4460, staged by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The 4460 now sits in a transportation Museum in Kirkwood Missouri, not far from St. Louis.
Preservation
Following the final excursion, 4460 was donated to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 16, 1959, where the engine has since sat along with many other historic steam and diesel locomotives from around the country. Besides having the nicknames "Black Daylight" and "War Baby", it is also known as the "Forgotten Daylight", being that it hasn't been restored to operating conditions and partnered with the #4449.
External links
References
- Diebert, Timothy S. and Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
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