Southern Pacific GS-4 class

Southern Pacific GS-4 class
Southern Pacific GS-4 No. 4454 pulling the southbound Coast Daylight train No. 99 at San Jose, California, in 1954
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 7798–7817, 7848–7855 Build date March–May 1941 (20), March–April 1942 (8) Total produced 28
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Trailing dia. 45+1⁄2 in (1,156 mm) Wheelbase 88.23 ft (26.89 m) Height 16 ft 4 in (4.98 m) Axle load 69,000 lb (31,000 kg; 31 t) Adhesive weight 275,700 lb (125,100 kg; 125.1 t) Loco weight 475,000 lb (215,000 kg; 215 t) Total weight 870,600 lb (394,900 kg; 394.9 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 5,880 US gal (22,300 L; 4,900 imp gal) Water cap. 23,500 US gal (89,000 L; 19,600 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 90.4 sq ft (8.40 m2) Boiler pressure 300 psi (2.07 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 385 sq ft (35.8 m2)  • Total surface 4,887 sq ft (454.0 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 2,086 sq ft (193.8 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 25+1⁄2 in × 32 in (648 mm × 813 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 mph (190 km/h) Tractive effort Engine: 64,800 lbf (288.24 kN) Booster: 13,850 lbf (61.61 kN) Total: 78,650 lbf (349.85 kN)
Career Operators Southern Pacific Class GS-4 Numbers 4430–4457 First run April 1941 Retired 1956-1958 Preserved No. 4449 operational in excursion service Scrapped 1956-1959 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped
References:[1][2]

The Southern Pacific GS-4 is a class of semi-streamlined 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) from 1941 to 1958. A total of 28 locomotives were built by Lima Locomotive Works (LLW) in Lima, Ohio, with the first batch of 20 built between March and May 1941, while the second batch of eight were built between March and April 1942. The initials GS stands for Golden State or General Service.

The GS-4s served as the primary motive power of SP's famous Coast Daylight passenger train between San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, via San Luis Obispo, California. They even haul the San Joaquin Daylight and the overnight Lark, both of which also ran between San Francisco and Los Angeles, although the former ran via the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Pass. Some of the GS-4s were first assigned to haul troop trains during World War II.

In the mid-1950s, SP began to modernize their mainline passenger trains with diesel power, and the GS-4s were relegated to haul San Jose-San Francisco commuter trains and general freight trains. By 1956, SP began to retire their GS-4s and all but one were scrapped by 1959. No. 4449 was spared from the scrap yard and became the sole survivor of the GS-4 class, where it was donated to the city of Portland, Oregon as a static display during 1958 until being restored to operating condition in the 1970s. It was still operational and was now based at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland.