Mid-2010
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Steam Locomotives Mid-2010 |
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Southern Pacific/Western Pacific "War Babies" - Class GS-6/GS-64 General Service 4-8-4 Northern |
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Wartime traffic made more power necessary on the Southern Pacific. However, War Production Board regulations allowed only existing freight or dual-purpose locomotives to be built. Thus, the SP harkened back to the GS-2 Northern design, raising the boiler pressure and eliminating the streamlining except for the skyline casing. This resulted in the Class GS-6 4-8-4 (numbered 4460 through 4469) being delivered in 1943 from Lima. Although sixteen locomotives were ordered by the SP, the W.P.B. diverted six to the Western Pacific. The Western Pacific copied the SP's requirements and received identical Northerns, classed as GS-64 and numbered 481 through 486; these were also Lima-produced. It should be noted that the WP locomotives were built with additional firebox and combustion chamber staybolts in the specifications. "Elephant-ear" smoke lifters were also added to the WP locomotives in 1946-1948.
The SP's GS-6s were planned to be used on the Northern District, but eventually were assigned to both freight and passenger duty on the Valley and Coast Lines as well. Replaced by diesels, all were retired by 1958, well short of their projected service life. The WP's GS-64s were used in both freight and passenger service, but fared less well. All were retired by January 1953. Numbers 481, 484 and 485 were sold (sans tenders) to the SP for spare parts.
We are enthusiastic about another SP project after all these years. Though unadorned by "Daylight" colors, these locomotives will be a proud addition the your collection or layout! The Division point and Boo-Rim will present these locomotives as they appeared in the mid-1940s through 1952, and all road numbers will be available.
| As usual, we are indebted to those folks who publish the information and photos we need. We urge you to buy their books and photos. |
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| Southern Pacific Class GS-6 circa 1950s (except where noted), Lima Locomotive Works 1943, Road Nos. 4460-4469; large "Southern Pacific" lettering on tender centerline: | ||
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| DP-1480.4460 Southern Pacific #4460 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern |  |
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| DP-1480.4461 Southern Pacific #4461 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1480.4462 Southern Pacific #4462 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern; as-delivered in July 1943 with "Souther Pacific Lines" high on tender, white lines on pilot | |
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| DP-1480.4463 Southern Pacific #4463 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern |  |
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| DP-1480.4464 Southern Pacific #4464 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1480.4465 Southern Pacific #4465 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1480.4466 Southern Pacific #4466 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1480.4467 Southern Pacific #4467 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern; ca. 1944, with round Southern Pacific herald on tender | |
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| DP-1480.4468 Southern Pacific #4468 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1480.4469 Southern Pacific #4469 Class GS-6 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| Western Pacific Class GS-64, Lima Locomotive Works 1943, Road Nos. 480-485: | ||
| DP-1490.481 Western Pacific #480 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1490.482 Western Pacific #481 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1490.483 Western Pacific #482 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1490.484 Western Pacific #483 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1490.485 Western Pacific #484 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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| DP-1490.486 western Pacific #485 Class GS-64 4-8-4 Northern | |
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