Southern Pacific class GS-2

Infobox Locomotive
name=SP GS-2
powertype=Steam
gauge=4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
railroad=Southern Pacific Railroad
railroadclass=GS-2
whytetype=4-8-4
firstrundate=January 1937
retiredate=1956
builder=Lima Locomotive Works
roadnumber=4410 – 4415
numinclass=6
driversize=73½ inch diameter
boilerpressure=250 psi
tractiveeffort=62,200 lbf, 74,710 lbf with booster
disposition=scrapped
cylindersize=27 in dia × 30 in stroke
weight=448,400 lb
weightondrivers=266,500 lb
serialnumber=7646 – 7651
builddate=December 1936
The GS-2 was a streamlined 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive that served the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1937 to 1956. They were built by Lima Locomotive Works and were numbered 4410 through 4415. GS stands for "Golden State" or "General Service."

The GS-2 had a very different appearance than that of the GS-1. The GS-2s were streamlined and designed for high-speed passenger service. 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.

They were the first to receive the red and orange "Daylight" paint scheme 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, pulling such trains as San Jose-San Francisco commutes, the "Coast Mail" trains, and freight service.

No GS-2 locomotives survive.

References

*