| Southern Pacific GS-4 class |
|---|
|
| 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: |
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.
