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]

The GS-2 locomotives were the Daylight's first streamlined steam engine. They were of the Northern type 4-8-4's and classed Golden State model 2. They were designed by Southern Pacific and built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1936 for the new 12 car Daylight passenger train.

Today, there are two GS locomotives that are preserved. #4449 is currently in active service and #4460 is on static display at Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1930, the SP designed a locomotive similar to those Mountains that had a very large firebox (90.4 sq ft) and a four wheel trailing truck to support it.

Oct 19, 2018 · In 1930, the SP designed a locomotive similar to those Mountains that had a very large firebox (90.4 sq ft) and a four wheel trailing truck to support it. Thus, evolved the Southern Pacific 4-8-4 which was designated Class GS (Golden State) by the SP.

Southern Pacific 4449, also known as the Daylight, is the only surviving example of Southern Pacific Railroad 's GS-4 class of 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives and one of only two streamlined GS class locomotives preserved, the other being GS-6 No. 4460 at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri.

Prototype References: A Century of SP Steam Locomotives - Guy L. Dunscomb. 4-8-4's Daylight The Complete Story of the Southern Pacific GS Class 4400 Series Locomotives - by Robert J. Church. Mainline Modeler July 1995 - Southern Pacific GS-2 History and Plans - by Robert J. Church. Model References: Model Railroader October 1948 page 707-711 - …

Introduced in 1937, the Southern Pacific's Daylight trains became some of the most heavily traveled routes in the country. Cars and locomotives received a brilliant livery of orange, red and silver. Streamlined, state of the art 4-8-4 locomotives dubbed the GS-2 class became the very first preferred power for these prestigious runs.

Aug 17, 2024 · By the 1950s it seems there weren't many photos of the GS2, GS3, or GS6 in passenger service, whether it was Daylight or Commute trains. In the Church book there really aren't any photos of the GS2 & GS3 past the mid 40s.

There are no existing GS-2s today. All of them were retired in 1955. All of them were scrapped in 1958. The GS-2 had a very different appearance than that of the GS-1. The Southern Pacific Railroad built 6 of these locomotives.

The GS-2's were the first streamlined 4-8-4s delivered to the Southern Pacific for use on the famous Daylight passenger trains. As more Northerns came to the roster, the GS-2s could be found on other priority trains as well. During World War …