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
The debut of Southern Pacific's Daylight in 1937.
Type and origin References:[1][2] Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 7646–7651 Build date 1937 Total produced 6
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 in (1,854 mm) Axle load 67,000 lb (30,000 kilograms; 30 metric tons) Adhesive weight 266,500 lb (120,900 kg; 120.9 t) Loco weight 448,400 lb (203,400 kg; 203.4 t) Total weight 821,400 lb (372,600 kg; 372.6 t) Fuel type Fuel oil Fuel capacity 4,900 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 pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa) Heating surface 4,858 sq ft (451.3 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 2,565 sq ft (238.3 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed At least 90 mph (145 km/h) Power output 4500hp at 55 mph (89 km/h) Tractive effort 62,200 lbf (276.68 kN), 75,950 lbf (337.84 kN) with booster
Career Operators Southern Pacific Class GS-2 Numbers 4410–4415 First run January 1937 Retired 1955-1958 Disposition All 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 sliver, 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.

Preservation

The Southern Pacific GS-2 retired in 1955. None of these locomotives have been preserved.

References

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.

External links

• Media related to Southern Pacific class GS-2 at Wikimedia Commons
• Southern Pacific Coast Daylight Engines