Southern Pacific GS-1 class

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Southern Pacific GS-1 class
Southern Pacific Class GS-1.png
Southern Pacific 4400 at San Francisco, California, on July 14, 1953
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial numberT&NO: 61390–61391, 61408–61409
SP: 61410–61415, 61430–41433
Build dateMay–July 1930
Total produced14
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 •  Whyte 4-8-4
 •  UIC 2′D2′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.73+1⁄2 in (1,867 mm)
Wheelbase 88.23 ft (26,893 mm)
Axle load 67,000 lb (30,000 kilograms; 30 metric tons)
Adhesive weight 262,000 lb (119,000 kg; 119 t)
Loco weight442,300 lb (200,600 kg; 200.6 t)
Total weight733,300 lb (332,600 kg; 332.6 t)
Fuel type Fuel oil
Fuel capacity4,690 US gal (17,800 L; 3,910 imp gal)
Water cap.16,150 US gal (61,100 L; 13,450 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area90.2 sq ft (8.38 m2)
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.72 MPa), formerly 210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Feedwater heater Worthington Type S, No. 5
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox356 sq ft (33.1 m2)
 • Total surface4,858 sq ft (451.3 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area2,565 sq ft (238.3 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Valve type Piston
Performance figures
Tractive effort 62,200 lbf (276.68 kN), 75,910 lbf (337.66 kN) with booster
Factor of adh. 4.14
Career
Operators Southern Pacific
Texas and New Orleans
Class GS-1
NumbersSP: 4400–4409, 4470–4473
T&NO: 700–703, 704–710
RetiredSP: 1959
T&NO: 1953
DispositionAll scrapped
References: [1]

The Southern Pacific GS-1 was a class of conventional 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) and its Texas subsidiary the Texas and New Orleans Railroad (T&NO) from 1930 to 1956. A total of fourteen were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, numbered 4400 through 4409 by SP and 700 through 703 by T&NO.

Contents

History

Design and abilities

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) needed more power for their heavy passenger train service. [2] [3] They ordered a batch of fourteen 4-8-4 GS-1 locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotives Works between May and July 1930. [1] The prefix GS indicates Golden State. [3] Originally, the GS-1s' operating boiler pressure was 210 psi (1.45 MPa), but would eventually increase to 250 psi (1.72 MPa). [1] The GS-1s were the first SP steam locomotives to have the cylinders connected to the frame in one piece. [1] These locomotives operated on saturated steam for the injector, steam heat, hydrostatic lubricator, power reverser; and superheated steam for the oil-burning equipment, feedwater heater pumps, air pumps, booster, and whistle. [1] They were designed to traverse through curves as sharp as 18 degrees. [1]

Revenue service

The first four locomotives, Nos. 700-703, were assigned to the Texas and New Orleans (T&NO) subsidiary, while the last ten, Nos. 4400-4409, were built for SP's main fleet. [1] The GS-1s were assigned to various passenger trains throughout the SP system, and ended their careers on the San Jose-San Francisco Peninsula Commute service.

No GS-1 locomotives survive.

Fleet details

GS-1 Locomotive Details [4]
Road numberBuilt dateSerial numberFirst run dateScrapped dateNotes
700May 193061390August 12, 1930May 31, 1956Originally No. 700 from T&NO in December 1952 as SP's second No. 4403 replacement in March 1953. [4] Renumbered again as SP's second No. 4470 in July of that year. [4]
701May 193061391August 13, 1930January 20, 1956Originally No. 701 from T&NO in January 1953, became SP's second No. 4471 in July of that year. [4]
702June 193061408August 8, 1930July 9, 1956Originally No. 702 from T&NO in January 1953, became SP's second No. 4404 in April of that year. [4] Renumbered again as No. 4472 three months later. [4]
703June 193061409August 7, 1930February 15, 1955Originally No. 703 from T&NO in January 1953, then became SP's No. 4406 replacement in April of that year. [4] Renumbered again as No. 4473 three months later. [4]
4400June 193061410August 23, 1930March 23, 1954Loaned to T&NO as No. 708 from 1943 to 1952. [4] Returned to the SP as No. 4470 in March 1953 and renumbered again as No. 4400 in July of that year. [4]
4401June 193061411August 25, 1930June 8, 1955Used for evaluation of various burner arrangements and different usage grades of oil in Sacramento, California in September 1946 until late 1951. [4]
4402June 193061412August 26, 1930April 24, 1959Rebuilt in February 1932, after being involved in a boiler explosion at Richvale, California on December 25, 1931. [4]
4403June 193061413August 27, 1930August 15, 1955Loaned to T&NO as No. 709 in 1943. [4] Returned to the SP as No. 4471 in 1952 and renumbered again in July 1953 as No. 4403. [4]
4404June 193061414August 27, 1930?Sold to T&NO as No. 710 in 1943. [4]
4405June 193061415August 28, 1930May 27, 1957 Vacuum brakes added in February 1957. [4]
4406July 193061430September 18, 1930?Sold to T&NO as No. 704 in March 1941. [4]
4407July 193061431September 22, 1930June 1, 1955Loaned to T&NO as No. 705 from 1941 to 1952. [4] Returned to the SP on April 20, 1953. [4]
4408July 193061432September 24, 1930August 15, 1955Loaned to T&NO as No. 706 from 1941 to 1953. [4] Returned to the SP on April 20, 1953. [4] Used as an official portrait of this locomotive class. [4]
4409July 193061433October 9, 1930September 6, 1955Loaned to T&NO as No. 707 from 1941 to 1952. [4] Returned to the SP on June 11, 1953. [4]

References

Bibliography

Further reading

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