Southern Pacific 4449
Mfg. Part No.
Mfg. Description
N 4-8-4 GS-4 Southern Pacific Lines. Has forward mounted train number boards.[1]
DCC decoder
Kato EM13
Length without couplers
Length including couplers
Prototype Description
From Kato USA:
Prototype Information
The GS-4 runs on eight massive 80" drivers, 300 psi boiler pressure, and puts out a roaring 5,500 horsepower at 55mph, with a maximum speed of 110 mph. The large drivers gave the locomotive a high top speed; the telling mark of a steam engine built for passenger service. The GS-4 was built for the Southern Pacific Railroad by the Lima Locomotive Works and delivered in the early 1940's for the SP's premier passenger trains, finding its way to the Daylight series of name trains. One of the more unique specifications for the GS-4 by the SP was its Mars light, a necessity with the large amount of grade crossings and fog present on the West Coast. The Mars light, like ditch lights on modern locomotives, was utilized as a warning for grade crossings that a high speed train was approaching, its shifting light patterns serving as an eye catcher in foggy conditions.
About the "American Freedom Train" GS-4 Scheme
From 1975 to 1976, in celebration of the United States' 200th birthday, GS-4 #4449 was re-painted into a striking red, white, and blue paint scheme, and put into excursion duty pulling a special display train all around the United States.
About the BNSF Excursion Black GS-4 Scheme
In 2000, the Daylight was repainted black and silver for a Burlington Northern Santa Fe employee appreciation special. It was to celebrate the BNSF freight railroad and to commemorate the days of the 4449 and other GS locomotives assigned to freight, helper, or local passenger trains. This train excursion went through Seattle, Washington and then east into Montana before heading back to her home in Portland, Oregon.
Southern Pacific Railroad[1]
City of Portland, Oregon[3]
Lima Locomotive Works[1][2]
Model / Class
GS-4[1] (Golden State or General Service)
May 1941[3] See Note 1.
First Run
May 30, 1941[3]
Retired Date
October 2, 1957[3]
Restored Date
April 21, 1975[3]
Operational. Based in Portland, Oregon, at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.
Model production number units
Model production dates
April–May 1941[2], March–April 1942[2]
Locomotive Weight
475,000 lb[3] (215,000 kg)[3]
788,730 lb [3](357,760 kg)[3]
Adhesive Weight
110 ft[3] (34 m)[3]
10 ft[3] (3 m)[3]
Driver Wheel Diameter
80 in[1] (2,032 mm)
Track Gauge
4 ft 8 ½ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Whyte Configuration
110 mph[1] (177 kph)
5,500 hp[3] (4,100 kW)[3]
Tractive Effort
66,326 lbf[3] (295,030 N)[3]
78,000 lbf[3] (350,000 N)[3] with booster
Factor of Adhesion
4.16[3]
Boiler Pressure
300 psi[1] (2068.427 kPa)
25.5 in × 32 in[3] (648 mm × 813 mm)[3]
6,275 gallons[3] bunker oil
23,300 gallons[3]
Mars light[1]
In 1984, 4449 pulled an all-Daylight-painted train from Portland to New Orleans, Louisiana and back, to publicize the World's Fair. The 7,477-mile (12,033 km) round trip was the longest steam train excursion in US history.[3]
Note 1. 4449 was the last engine manufactured in Southern Pacific's first order of GS-4 (Golden State or General Service) locomotives.[3]
Note 2. _____.
' ' " "
[1] _____. "N-Scale GS-4 – KATO USA: Precision Railroad Models". KatoUSA.com. No date. Accessed January 11, 2018.
[2] Wikipedia contributors. "Southern Pacific Class GS-4". Wikipedia. September 16, 2017, 13:47 UTC. Accessed January 11, 2018.
[3] Wikipedia contributors. "Southern Pacific 4449". Wikipedia. January 9, 2018, 08:29 UTC. Accessed January 11, 2018.
[4] _____. "Engines of the Coast Daylight". Southern Pacific Coast Daylight. No date. Accessed January 11, 2018.
Friends of SP 4449 —
Oregon Rail Heritage Center — Railway museum. Located at 2250 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214, (503) 233-1156.
Southern Pacific Coast Daylight —