Southern Pacific class GS-2

The GS-2 was a class of streamlined 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) from 1937 to 1958. A total of six were built by the Lima Locomotive Works, numbered 4410 through 4415. GS stands for "Golden State" or "General Service."[3]

Southern Pacific GS-2
Southern Pacific Daylight GS-2 locomotive.
The debut of Southern Pacific's Daylight in 1937.
Type and origin
References:[1][2]
Power typeSteam
BuilderLima Locomotive Works
Serial number7646–7651
Build date1937
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.73+1⁄2 in (1,867 mm)
Trailing dia.45+1⁄2 in (1,156 mm)
Axle load67,000 lb (30,000 kilograms; 30 metric tons)
Adhesive weight266,500 lb (120,900 kg; 120.9 t)
Loco weight448,400 lb (203,400 kg; 203.4 t)
Total weight821,400 lb (372,600 kg; 372.6 t)
Fuel typeFuel oil
Fuel capacity4,900 US gal (19,000 L; 4,100 imp gal)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		90.2 sq ft (8.38 m2)
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.72 MPa)
Heating surface4,858 sq ft (451.3 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area2,565 sq ft (238.3 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speedAt least 90 mph (145 km/h)
Power output4500hp at 55 mph (89 km/h)
Tractive effort62,200 lbf (276.68 kN), 75,950 lbf (337.84 kN) with booster
Career
OperatorsSouthern Pacific
ClassGS-2
Numbers4410–4415
First runJanuary 1937
Retired1955-1958
DispositionAll scrapped

History

The GS-2 had a very different appearance than that of their predecessor, the GS-1. The GS-2s were streamlined and designed by Southern Pacific Company for high-speed passenger service in 1935. They featured a silver smokebox with a cone-shaped single headlight casing, skyline casing on the top of the boiler, skirting on the sides, and an air horn. They retained the teardrop classification lights and whistles of the GS-1. They had 73.5 inches drivers and could develop 4500 horsepower at 55 mph with a maximum speed of 90 mph. The tenders were rectangular and had two independent tanks: a 6010-gallon fuel oil tank, and a 22,000-gallon water tank. Access to the open cab was by two ladders attached to the front of the tender.[4]

They were the first to receive the silver, black, red, and orange "Daylight" paint scheme designed by Charles L. Eggleston of the Southern Pacific,[5][6] and were used for the streamlined debut of Southern Pacific's premier passenger train, the Coast Daylight, in 1937. The following year they were replaced by the improved GS-3 engines. During World War II, they were painted black and silver and were used to transport troops. In the 1950s their side skirting was removed for easier maintenance, and the locomotives were assigned to general service, such as the San Jose-San Francisco Peninsula Commute service, the "Coast Mail" trains, and freight service.

References
  1. Johnson (2006), p. 37.
  2. Johnson (2006), p. 102.
  3. Solomon (2005), p. 44.
  4. Solomon (2005), p. 43.
  5. Solomon (2005), p. 39.
  6. Solomon (2005), p. 40.

Further reading
  • Church, Robert J. (2004). Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives (1st ed.). Signature Press. ISBN 1-930013-11-6.
  • Diebert, Timothy S.; Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium (1st ed.). Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
  • Johnson, Kenneth G. (2006). Southern Pacific Daylight Steam Locomotives (1st ed.). Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-194-9.
  • Solomon, Brian (2005). Southern Pacific Passenger Trains. Great Passenger Trains (1st ed.). Voyageur Press. ISBN 0-7603-1795-X.
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