Southern Pacific GS-4 class

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Southern Pacific GS-4 class
Coast Daylight 1954.JPG
Southern Pacific GS-4 No. 4454 pulling the southbound Coast Daylight train No. 99 at San Jose, California, in 1954
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number7798–7817, 7848–7855
Build dateMarch–May 1941 (20), March–April 1942 (8)
Total produced28
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)
Height16 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 weight475,000 lb (215,000 kg; 215 t)
Total weight870,600 lb (394,900 kg; 394.9 t)
Fuel type Oil
Fuel capacity5,880 US gal (22,300 L; 4,900 imp gal)
Water cap.23,500 US gal (89,000 L; 19,600 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area90.4 sq ft (8.40 m2)
Boiler pressure300 psi (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:​
 • Firebox385 sq ft (35.8 m2)
 • Total surface4,887 sq ft (454.0 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area2,086 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 speed120 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
Numbers4430–4457
First runApril 1941
Retired1956-1958
Preserved No. 4449 operational in excursion service
Scrapped1956-1959
DispositionOne 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.

Contents

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.

History

Locomotives

The Southern Pacific (SP) GS-4s were built to a similar design of the streamlined GS-3s, although the latters have a dual-headlight casing with the mars light mounted above the headlight in front of the smokebox door. [3] Additionally, the GS-4s were equipped with an all-weather cab. [3] They were built in two separate groups, the first batch of twenty locomotives (Nos. 4430-4449) in March-May 1941 and the second batch of eight locomotives (Nos. 4450-4457) in March-April 1942. [3] The GS-4s were capable of reaching 120 mph (190 km/h), although SP had a speed limit restriction of 79 mph (127 km/h). [4] They carried the signature SP orange and red Daylight paint scheme. [5]

The GS-4s pulled SP's premier passenger trains such as the Coast Daylight, the San Joaquin Daylight, the Imperial , the Lark, and the Sunset Limited . [6] During wartime and in the first years after the war, some of the GS-4 locomotives were painted black until 1948, when they were all repainted back to their Daylight colors. Between 1947 and 1956, most were painted black again with their side skirts removed for easier maintenance, and were reassigned to the San Jose-San Francisco Peninsula Commute service, freight service, and the occasional San Joaquin Daylight (steam locomotives remained on that train as late as 1956, which made it the last streamliner train to be pulled by steam on the Southern Pacific) until they were replaced by diesel locomotives. GS-4 No. 4443 pulled one of the final steam excursions on the Southern Pacific in 1957. A GS-4 pulled its last passenger train in October 1958, and they were all retired by the end of the year.[ citation needed ]

GS-4 locomotive details [2]
Road numberBuilt dateSerial numberFirst run dateRetirement dateDisposal dateNotes
4430March 19417798April 11, 1941September 24, 1958July 13, 1959Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4431March 19417799April 15, 1941September 24, 1958March 25, 1959Sold for scrap at California Metals.
4432April 19417800April 28, 1941May 14, 1956September 14, 1956Scrapped in Los Angeles, California.
4433April 19417801April 19, 1941October 5, 1956November 15, 1956Sold for scrap at Purdy Company in South San Francisco, California.
4434April 19417802April 19, 1941May 14, 1956October 12, 1956Sold for scrap in Los Angeles, California.
4435April 19417803April 26, 1941October 18, 1956December 13, 1956Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4436April 19417804April 28, 1941May 2, 1957July 1, 1957Sold for scrap at California Metals.
4437April 19417805April 29, 1941September 24, 1958July 17, 1959Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles. One of its driving wheels remained on No. 4449 today. [7]
4438April 19417806May 1, 1941December 26, 1956February 7, 1957Scrapped in Sacramento, California
4439April 19417807May 3, 1941May 21, 1958March 23, 1959Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles, California.
4440April 19417808May 6, 1941September 27, 1956October 31, 1956Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in Richmond, California.
4441April 19417809May 6, 1941September 24, 1958July 17, 1959Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles, California.
4442April 19417810May 10, 1941May 14, 1956May 31, 1956Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles, California.
4443April 19417811May 15, 1941September 24, 1958October 31, 1958Sold for scrap at California Metals. Its pilot truck remained on No. 4449 today. [7]
4444April 19417812May 18, 1941September 24, 1958August 7, 1959Sold for scrap at Purdy Company in South San Francisco, California. It was the last GS-4 to be scrapped. [8] Its tender was rebuilt in 1960-1961 by SP and used as a "hammer car" to test impacts on freight cars with hydra-cushion frames; it was scrapped in 1972. [8]
4445May 19417813May 21, 1941September 24, 1958March 23, 1959Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles, California.
4446May 19417814May 21, 1941September 24, 1958November 3, 1958Sold for scrap at Purdy Company in South San Francisco, California.
4447May 19417815May 27, 1941May 14, 1956June 6, 1956Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles.
4448May 19417816May 27, 1941December 26, 1956January 24, 1957Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4449May 19417817May 30, 1941October 2, 1957April 24, 1958Donated to the City of Portland, Oregon for static display. Re-equipped with roller bearings in 1984. [9] Operational at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. [10]
4450March 19427848March 27, 1942September 24, 1958October 29, 1958Sold for scrap at Purdy Company in Los Angeles, California. Its trailing truck remained on No. 4449 today. [7]
4451March 19427849March 31, 1942September 24, 1958March 25, 1959Sold for scrap at Purdy Company in Los Angeles, California.
4452March 19427850April 4, 1942October 18, 1956March 25, 1959Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in Richmond, California.
4453March 19427851April 4, 1942February 7, 1957March 14, 1957Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4454March 19427852April 14, 1942May 2, 1957August 7, 1957Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4455April 19427853May 4, 1942September 24, 1958March 23, 1959Sold for scrap to National Metals in Los Angeles.
4456April 19427854May 6, 1942December 26, 1956February 8, 1957Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in South San Francisco, California.
4457April 19427855May 9, 1942June 12, 1956July 18, 1956Sold for scrap at Luria Brothers in Richmond, California.

Accidents and incidents

Preservation

No. 4449 is the sole surviving GS-4 locomotive and is one of the most recognizable locomotives of all time. It was donated to the City of Portland, Oregon in 1958 and moved to Oaks Amusement Park for static display. [14] During its time at Oaks Park, the locomotive was vandalized and had many of its external parts stolen such as its builder's plate and whistle. [4] [14] On December 14, 1974, No. 4449 was removed from the park to undergo an operational restoration, performed by Doyle McCormack. [15] From August 1975 to December 1976, No. 4449 shared duties with several other steam locomotives pulling the American Freedom Train (that train was pulled by Reading T-1 2101) throughout the U.S. No. 4449 is still operational and since mid-2012 resides at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland along with other preserved locomotives and rolling stock. Additionally, No. 4449 contained most of its sister locomotives' parts; one of the driving wheels from No. 4437, the pilot truck from No. 4443, and the trailing truck from No. 4450, as evidenced by the numbers stamped on each of the parts. [7]

In film

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Johnsen (2006), p. 37.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Johnsen (2006), pp. 102–103.
  3. 1 2 3 Johnsen (2006) , p. 34.
  4. 1 2 Johnsen (2006) , p. 49.
  5. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , p. 19.
  6. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , pp. 22–29.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Johnsen (2006) , p. 54.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnsen (2006) , pp. 98–99.
  9. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , p. 84.
  10. ↑ "Our Locomotives". Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Interstate Commerce Commission Report No. 2526 – September 19, 1941. Interstate Commerce Commission (Report). November 26, 1941. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Interstate Commerce Commission Report No. 2869 – February 11, 1945. Interstate Commerce Commission (Report). April 5, 1945. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , pp. 100–101.
  14. 1 2 Johnsen (2006) , pp. 86–87.
  15. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , pp. 88–89.
  16. ↑ Johnsen (2006) , p. 82.
  17. 1 2 3 Johnsen (2006) , p. 96.
  18. ↑ Putz, Nastassia (April 13, 2023). "Behind the scenes with Stephen Low". Trains. Kalmbach Media. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.

Bibliography

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