Southern Pacific class GS-7

Class of 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives (ex-Cotton Belt class L1 locomotives)
  • Total: 99 ft 8+1⁄2 in (30.39 m)
  • Tender: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
Width10 ft 5+5⁄8 in (3.191 m)Height15 ft 10 in (4.826 m)Axle load62,000 lb (28.1 tonnes)Adhesive weight248,000 lb (112.5 tonnes)Loco weight438,500 lb (198.9 tonnes)Tender weight312,000 lb (141.5 tonnes)Total weight750,500 lb (340.4 tonnes)Fuel typeOilFuel capacity5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal)Water cap.15,000 US gal (57,000 L; 12,000 imp gal)Firebox:​ • Grate area88.3 sq ft (8.20 m2)Boiler pressure250 lbf/in2 (1.72 MPa)Heating surface:​ • Firebox469 sq ft (43.6 m2)Superheater:
​ • Heating area1,962 sq ft (182.3 m2)CylindersTwoCylinder size26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)Valve gearWalschaertsValve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort61,564 lbf (273.85 kN)
Factor of adh.4.03
Career
OperatorsSt. Louis Southwestern "Cotton Belt"
Southern Pacific Transportation Company
ClassCotton Belt L1
Southern Pacific GS-7
NumbersSSW #801-802, #804-805, #807-809
SP #4479-4481
Delivered1930
Retired1957
Scrapped1957
DispositionAll scrapped

The Southern Pacific Class GS-7 is a class of seven 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the St. Louis Southwestern Railway (also known as the "Cotton Belt Route"), as Cotton Belt Class L-1 steam locomotives but would be later leased to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company where they would be classified as GS-7.[1][2]

History

During the second World War, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company needed more motive power to tackle the issues throughout the second World War, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway (also known as the "Cotton Belt Route") decided to make an agreement with the Southern Pacific Transportation Company to lease seven of their own Class L1 4-8-4 locomotives to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, this resulted in what would become the Southern Pacific Class GS-7.[1][2]

The Southern Pacific class GS-7 actually was one of two classes of ex-Cotton Belt Route Class L1 that were leased to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, with the other one being the GS-8.[3]

The Southern Pacific class GS-7 and GS-8 locomotives were built at the exact same time that their GS-1 locomotives were built.[3]

None were seven Southern Pacific Class GS-7 locomotives were preserved, all seven of them were retired from active service on the Southern Pacific Transportation Company and they were all scrapped.[2]

Fleet details

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Strapac (1999), p. 140
  2. ^ a b c Dunscomb., Guy L. (1963). A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives, 1862-1962. Guy L. Dunscomb. pp. 301, 304, 317.
  3. ^ a b Garratt, Colin; Wade-Matthews, Max (2003). Illustrated Book of Steam and Rail - The History and Development of the Train and an Evocative Guide to the World's Great Train Journeys. Barnes & Noble Books. p. 87. ISBN 9780760749524.

Further reading

  • Garratt, Colin; Wade-Matthews, Max (2003). Illustrated Book of Steam and Rail - The History and Development of the Train and an Evocative Guide to the World's Great Train Journeys. Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 9780760749524.
  • Church., Robert J. (1976). 4-8-4's Daylight The Complete Story of the Southern Pacific GS Class 4400 Series Locomotives. Kratville Publications.
  • Dunscomb., Guy L. (1963). A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives, 1862-1962. Guy L. Dunscomb. pp. 301, 304, 317.
  • Strapac, Joseph (1999). Cotton Belt Locomotives. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253336019.
  • Church., Robert J. Mainline Modeler June 1995 - Southern Pacific GS-1 History and Plans.

External links

  • Southern Pacific Class GS-7 Information Page