Southern Pacific GS-1 class

Southern Pacific GS-1 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial numberT&NO: 61390–61391, 61408–61409
SP: 61410–61415, 61430–41433
Build dateMay–July 1930
Total produced14
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.73+1⁄2 in (1,867 mm)
Wheelbase88.23 ft (26,893 mm)
Axle load67,000 lb (30,000 kilograms; 30 metric tons)
Adhesive weight262,000 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 typeFuel 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 heaterWorthington 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)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston
Performance figures
Tractive effort62,200 lbf (276.68 kN), 75,910 lbf (337.66 kN) with booster
Factor of adh.4.14
Career
OperatorsSouthern Pacific
Texas and New Orleans
ClassGS-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.

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, 1957Vacuum 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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Duke (1962), p. 65.
  2. ^ Johnson (2006), pp. 11–12.
  3. ^ a b Solomon (2007), p. 130.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x 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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