Southern Pacific class GS-4

Southern Pacific GS-4
SP4449 standing idle under steam, waiting to start Christmas excursion, December 13, 2005.
Power type	Steam
Builder	Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number	7798–7817, 7848–7855
Build date	April–May 1941, March–April 1942
Total produced	28
Configuration	4-8-4
UIC classification	2′D2′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter	80 in (2,032 mm)
Axle load	69,000 lb (31.3 tonnes)
Weight on drivers	275,700 lb (125.1 tonnes)
Locomotive weight	475,000 lb (215.5 tonnes)
Locomotive & tender combined weight	788,730 lb (357.8 tonnes)
Fuel type	Fuel oil
Fuel capacity	6,275 US gal (23,750 l; 5,225 imp gal)
Water capacity	23,300 US gal (88,000 l; 19,400 imp gal)
Boiler pressure	300 psi (2.07 MPa)
Firegrate area	90.4 sq ft (8.40 m2)
Heating surface: Total	4,887 sq ft (454.0 m2)
Superheater area	2,086 sq ft (193.8 m2)
Cylinders	Two, outside
Cylinder size	25+1⁄2 × 32 in (648 × 813 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Tractive effort	64,800 lbf (288.24 kN), 78,000 lbf (346.96 kN) with booster
Career	Southern Pacific Company
Class	GS-4
Number	4430–4457
First run	April 1941
Retired	1958
Disposition	#4449 restored, remainder scrapped

The GS-4 was a streamlined 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive that served the Southern Pacific Company 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 drastically 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 retained 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 capable of running at sustained speeds of up to 110 mph (180 km/h). Southern Pacific's premier passenger trains were pulled by GS-4s, the Coast Daylight, San Joaquin Daylight, Lark, Cascade, Golden State and Sunset Limited, as well as many other Southern Pacific name trains. During wartime and also in the first years after the war some of the GS-4 locomotives were painted entirely black, and it wasn't until 1948 that all engines were painted into Daylight colors again. Starting in March 1950, they were gradually painted black again and also had their side skirtings removed for easier maintenance, and were re-assigned to the San Jose-San Francisco commute trains, freight service and the occasional San Joaquin Daylight (the GS-4 locomotives remained on that train as late as 1956 which made the San Joaquin Daylight the last streamliner train to be pulled by steam on the Southern Pacific) until new diesels arrived and they were retired. The last GS-4 engines were deskirted and painted into black in 1956, and after the last GS-4 pulled a passenger train in 1957, the GS-4s spent the last year of operation in front of freight trains along the coast and valley routes and finally were retired in 1958. GS-4 number 4443 pulled one of the final movements of steam on the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1957.

Preservation

Southern Pacific 4449 is the only surviving GS-4 locomotive. Arguably, it is one of the most recognizable locomotives 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.

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.

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. 

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