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Southern Pacific GS-1 class
Southern Pacific 4400 at San Francisco, California, on July 14, 1953
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number T&NO: 61390–61391, 61408–61409 SP: 61410–61415, 61430–41433 Build date May–July 1930 Total produced 14
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 weight 442,300 lb (200,600 kg; 200.6 t) Total weight 733,300 lb (332,600 kg; 332.6 t) Fuel type Fuel oil Fuel capacity 4,690 US gal (17,800 L; 3,910 imp gal) Water cap. 16,150 US gal (61,100 L; 13,450 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 90.2 sq ft (8.38 m) Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa), formerly 210 psi (1.45 MPa) Feedwater heater Worthington Type S, No. 5 Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 356 sq ft (33.1 m)  • Total surface 4,858 sq ft (451.3 m) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 2,565 sq ft (238.3 m) 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 Numbers SP: 4400–4409, 4470–4473 T&NO: 700–703, 704–710 Retired SP: 1959 T&NO: 1953 Disposition All scrapped
References:

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.

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. They ordered a batch of fourteen 4-8-4 GS-1 locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotives Works between May and July 1930. The prefix GS indicates Golden State. Originally, the GS-1s' operating boiler pressure was 210 psi (1.45 MPa), but would eventually increase to 250 psi (1.72 MPa). The GS-1s were the first SP steam locomotives to have the cylinders connected to the frame in one piece. 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. They were designed to traverse through curves as sharp as 18 degrees.

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. 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

References

1. ^ Duke (1962), p. 65.
2. Johnson (2006), pp. 11–12.
3. ^ Solomon (2007), p. 130.
4. ^ Diebert & Strapac (1987), p. 236.

Bibliography

• Diebert, Timothy S.; Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium (1st ed.). Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
• Duke, Donald (1962). Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives: A Pictorial Anthology of Western Railroading (1st ed.). Golden West Books.
• Johnson, Kenneth G. (2006). Southern Pacific Daylight Steam Locomotives (1st ed.). Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-194-9.
• Solomon, Brian (2007). Southern Pacific Railroad (1st ed.). Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-2931-3.

Further reading

• Church, Robert J. (2004). Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives (1st ed.). Signature Press. ISBN 1-930013-11-6.

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