The Mighty Southern Pacific “Daylight” GS-4 Steam Locomotive # 4449 & Passenger Consist

The Mighty Three  SP "Daylight" #4449 GS-4's That Were Released In N Scale

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Photo  # 1  Three SP "Daylight" GS-4's Available In N Scale

Photo  # 1A  Frontal View Of  Three  SP  "Daylight" GS-4's Available In N Scale

In February of 2008, Kato USA released the most famous steam locomotive in United States railroad history, #4449, the mighty "Daylight" GS-4. The "Daylight" GS-4 #4449 was previously released in N scale by Con-Cor and Key Imports. The significance of the Kato release is it's reasonable price and well thought out design. The Kato GS-4 #4449 sells for a MSRP of $235 and can be purchased at many online e-tailers at a price below $150. The Con-Cor GS-4 lists for $ 300 and the Key Imports GS-4 lists for $400. The Key Imports GS-4 is no longer in production and can be found on Ebay or similar auctions for prices that exceed $400. Of the three locomotives, the Kato GS-4 "Daylight" #4449 looks and performs the best of the steamers.

Photo  # 2  Closeup Of  Kato GS-4  #4449

The Kato USA version of the "Daylight" SP GS-4 is very well designed and it is "DCC friendly". Kato also supplies a decoder that is an add-on option (EM-13). This decoder only controls the motor aspects of the locomotive and a separate sound decoder is needed to supply sound. Soundtraxx makes a Micro Tsunami decoder that controls motor and sound functions. If you use the Kato decoder (EM-13) for motor functions, you can use the Soundtraxx Micro Tsunami sound decoder for all the GS-4 sound functions. Both decoders can fit in the tender. The Kato SP GS-4 #4449 locomotive doesn't have white rimmed drivers as does the Con-Cor GS-4 #4449.

Photo  # 3  Closeup Of Key Imports SP "Daylight" GS-4  # 4449

The Key Imports GS-4 isn't DCC friendly at all. A sound decoder has to be hardwired to the locomotive and the decoder and speaker can be placed in the tender. Of the three GS-4's, the Kato GS-4 offers the most possibilities for different sound decoder choices. You can also hard wire a Lenz silver mini decoder above the frame in the Kato GS-4 boiler. Both the Con-Cor GS-4 and Key Imports GS-4 don't offer this alternative, as there is no room above the frame in the boiler. The Key Imports GS-4 has exquisite detailing that you would expect to find in a brass steam locomotive. However the Kato SP GS-4 is a close second and has outstanding detail for a locomotive with a plastic shell.

Photo  # 4  Closeup Of Con-Cor "Daylight" GS-4  # 4449

The Con-Cor GS-4 has white rimmed drivers that distinguish the Con-Cor version of this steamer from the Kato GS-4 and Key Imports GS-4. The Con-Cor GS-4 has room for a drop-in Digitrax decoder in the tender. This steam locomotive was one of the first N scale steamers that came with a eight pin board for a PlugN'Play decoder. A Soundtraxx micro Tsunami sound decoder and speaker can be installed in the tender once the original eight pin board is removed. The micro Tsunami decoder has to be hardwired to the tender and steamer. All three N scale GS-4's are very well designed. The three steamers are about equal in weight. The Key Imports brass Gs-4 might be slightly heavier due to it's brass construction. Con-Cor and Kato GS-4's have plastic boilers. While the Key Imports GS-4 has by far the best detailing, Kato's GS-4 is a close second. Con-Cors GS-4 is not far behind although the detailing isn't as crisp as the first two GS-4's discussed above.





Kato  SP GS-4 "Daylight" #4449

Photo  # 5  Kato "Daylight" GS-4  # 4449 & Tender

Kato also has released an 10 car "Daylight" passenger car series, followed by the release of four articulated passenger sets of two cars each, for a grand total of 18 cars. The passenger cars are also very highly detailed, which continues in the tradition that Kato has established with all its passenger car series through the years. Kato was very accurate in its design of the 18 car "Daylight" passenger set. Ten cars were released in the initial run of this series.The cars included #3302 baggage car, #10258 coffee shop car, # 10257 kitchen car and # 10256 dining car. The above three cars were articulated together. # 2492 was an individual chair car. #2474 and #2473 were articulated together as one unit. This was followed by #10315, a tavern car, #3002, a parlor car and last but not least #2955, a parlor observation car. The second run of eight cars included four articulated chair car sets. There are two cars in each set. These include #2458, #2457, #2477, #2478, #2479, # 2480, #2468 and # 2467. Car #'s 2458, 2457, 2477 and 2478 were positioned behind the baggage car #3302 and in front of the articulated coffee shop, kitchen and dining cars. Car #'s 2468 and 2467 were positioned behind articulated chair car #2473 and in front of the tavern car #10315. This completed the original 18 car "Daylight" series passenger car train. In later years, the number of cars varied depending on the run.


Kato Trucks On "Daylight" Passenger Cars

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On close inspection of these cars, Kato's detailing is very crisp and close to the prototype.The paint on each car is very well done and crisp. The articulation between the articulated cars is very realistic and provides close coupling. The coupling of the single cars can be improved upon with the Kinetmatic close coupling kit which is now available. However Kato gives the modeler an opportunity to close couple cars by leaving one coupler on each car with room to shorten the coupling space.

Photo  # 6  Truck Used On SP  "Daylight" Passenger Cars

However Kato gives the modeler an opportunity to close couple cars by leaving one coupler on each car with room to shorten the coupling space ( See Photo's # 6  &  # 7 ). You first remove the wheel set that is closest to the coupler. Then the coupler can be lifted up and slide one notch over to shorten the coupler distance. Reinsert the wheel set when this adjustment is completed. The closer coupling distance will limit the radii you can use with the cars if you make this modification. The turning radii should be 14 3/4" or greater. Any sharper radii will cause this closer coupling arrangement of the cars to derail.

Photo  # 7 Kato Truck Coupler Can Be Moved To Close Couple Cars

 SP "Daylight" #3302 Baggage Car

SP "Daylight" #3302 - A chair baggage car that was built in 1939 by Pullman Standard. This car was equipped with 44 seats and a 19'10" baggage compartment. ( Photo  #  8 ).

Photo  # 8  SP "Daylight"  # 3302

SP "Daylight" #2457 & SP "Daylight" #2458 Chair Cars

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SP "Daylight" #2457 & #2458 - Tow articulated Chair Cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car has 46 seats.

Photo  # 9  SP "Daylight" # 2457  & SP  "Daylight"  # 2458 Chair Cars

Closeup Of Articulation Of SP "Daylight" #2457 & #2458 Chair Cars

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This photo's shows a closeup of the articulation of the two Chair cars.

Photo  # 10  Closeup Of Articulation Of The Two Chair Cars

SP Daylight" # 2477 & #2478 Articulated Chair Cars

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SP "Daylight" # 2477 Articulated Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car has 46 seats.

Photo  # 11 SP "Daylight"  # 24 77 Articulated Chair Car

SP  "Daylight" #2478 Articulated Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car has 46 seats.

Photo  # 12 SP "Daylight"  # 2478 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" #2479 & #2480 Articulated Chair Cars

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SP "Daylight" # 2479 Articulated Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car has 46 seats.

Photo  # 13  SP "Daylight" #2479 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight' #2480 Articulated Chair Car was built by Pullman in 1941. This car also has 46 seats.

Photo  # 14  SP "Daylight" # 2480 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" Triple Unit Dining Car

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One triple unit Diner Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941.This triple unit car consisted of a dining room car, a kitchen car and a coffee shop car. This unit was run on the "Daylight Morning" run.

SP "Daylight" #10256 Coffee Shop Car

Photo  # 15  SP "Daylight" # 10256 Coffee Shop Car

SP "Daylight" # 10257 Kitchen Car

Photo  # 16  SP "Daylight"  # 10257  Kitchen Car

SP "Daylight" #10258 Dining Car

Photo  # 17  SP "Daylight"  #10258 Dining Car

SP "Daylight" # 2492 Standard Chair Car

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SP "Daylight" #2492 - A standard Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 44 seats and was used on the San Joaquin "Daylight". Nine cars were built using this configuration. Four cars were used in general "Daylight" service runs. Three were built for the San Francisco Challenger. Two of these cars were radio equipped ( antennae) which provided music and news for the train.

Photo  # 18  SP "Daylight"  # 2492 Standard Chair Car

SP "Daylight" # 2473 & #2474 Articulated Chair Cars

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SP Daylight" #2473 Articulated Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 46 seats.

Photo  # 19  SP "Daylight"  # 2473 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" #2474 Articulated Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car also had 46 seats. SP "Daylight" # 2474 was radio equipped (antenna) and provided music and news on the train.

Photo  # 20  SP "Daylight"  # 2474 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" #2467 & #2468 Articulated Chair Cars

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SP "Daylight" #2467 Articulated Chair car was built by Pullman in 1941. This car had 46 seats.

Photo  # 21  SP "Daylight" # 2467 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" # 2468 Articulated Chair Car was built by Pullman in 1941. This car also had 46 seats.

Photo  #  22  SP "Daylight"  # 2468 Articulated Chair Car

SP "Daylight" # 2489 Standard Chair Car

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SP "Daylight" # 2489 - A Standard Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 46 seats. Nine cars of this type were built. Four were used on general "Daylight" service runs. Two cars were used for The San Joaquin "Daylight" service run and three were used on the San Francisco Challenger. This car is radio equipped.

Photo  # 23  SP "Daylight"  # 2489 Standard Chair Car

SP "Daylight" # 10315 Tavern Car

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SP "Daylight" # 10315 - A Tavern Car built by Pullman Standard in 1939. This car was also radio equipped.

Photo  # 24  SP "Daylight"  #10315 Tavern Car

SP "Daylight" # 3002 Parlor Car

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SP "Daylight" # 3002 - A Parlor Car built by Pullman Standard in 1939. This car had 27 seats.

Photo  # 25  SP "Daylight"  # 3002 Parlor Car

SP "Daylight" # 2955 Observation Car

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SP "Daylight" #2955 - An Observation Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 22 seats and was radio equipped.

Photo  # 26  SP "Daylight"  # 2955 Observation Car

Photo  # 27  Kato SP "Daylight" GS-4  # 4449 Locomotive & Tender

A typical "Daylight" passenger consist in 1955 didn't change dramatically from the "Daylight" passenger consist in 1946. Here are the car numbers found on a "Daylight" passenger consist in 1955. __________________________________________________ _______________________ SP # 3302 or # 3303 - A Chair Baggage Car that was built in 1939 by Pullman Standard. This car was equipped with 44 seats and a 19'10" baggage compartment. SP # 2457 & # 2458 - Two Articulated Chair Cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car had 46 seats. SP # 2473 & # 2474 - Two Articulated Chair Cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car had 46 seats. SP # 2474 was radio equipped (antenna) and provided music and news on the train. SP # 10259, # 10260 & # 10261 - One trip unit Diner Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This diner consisted of a Dining Room Car, Kitchen Car & a Coffee Shop Car. This unit was used on the "Daylight" Morning run. SP # 2485 - A Standard Chair car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 44 seats and was used on the San Joaquin "Daylight". Nine cars were built using this configuration. Four cars were used in general "Daylight" service runs. Three were were built for the San Francisco Challenger. Two of these cars were radio equipped (antennae) which provided music and news on the train. SP # 2357 - A Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1954. This car had 44 seats. This Chair Car was part of the last group of cars built for the "Daylight" passenger consist. SP # 2459 & # 2460 - Two Articulated Chair Cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car had 46 seats. SP # 2352 - A Chair Car built by Pullman Standard in 1954. This car had 44 seats. This Chair car was part of the last group of cars built for the "Daylight" passenger consist. SP # 10316 - A Tavern Car built by Pullman Standard in 1949. This car was used on the Shasta "Daylight" run. SP # 3002 - A parlor Car built by Pullman Standard in 1939. This car had 27 seats. SP # 2953 - An Observation Car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 22 seats. The history of the GS-4 "Daylight" steam locomotive and "Daylight" passenger consist was an important part of railroad history in the United States. From its inception in the early 1940's, till its demise in 1958, this steam locomotive and passenger consist thrilled rail fans all over the world.



A Brief History Of The SP "Daylight" GS-4

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Below is a brief history of this very famous steam locomotive.

The Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449 is the last surviving steam locomotive in Southern Pacific GS-4 class of steamers. GS stands for Golden State as it operated in California, mainly from San Francisco to Los Angeles in its early years (1940’s). GS also stands for General Service. Lima Works produced the #4449 in 1941 and the steam locomotive continued in General Service until 1957.

The GS-4 runs on four massive 80inch drivers, with 300 psi boiler pressure and 5500 horsepower at 55 mph. The GS-4 has a maximum speed of 110 mph. The very large drivers give this steamer a high top speed, which denotes a steam locomotive, built for passenger service. One of the unique features of the GS-4 is its Mars light, which was a necessity due to all the grade crossings and fog this steamer encountered on it’s many runs along the coast of California. The Mars Light was used as an effective warning on the locomotive’s approach at grade crossings.

The #4449 was given the name of “Daylight” because of its orange and red colors, which also was the coloring of the passenger cars it pulled. The locomotive was put on display at a museum in Oak Park, Portland Oregon where it remained until 1974 when it was retired from service in 1958.. It was decked out in black and silver coloring during the American Bicentennial celebration. The mighty #4449 GS-4 was used to pull the second American Freedom train which toured the continental United States during the American Bicentennial ceremonies.

In 1981, #4449 was returned to its original “Daylight” colors and has been used exclusively on excursion trains ever since. #4449 played a prominent role in the movie “Tough Guys” starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Eli Wallach in 1999. This magnificent steam locomotive is the most recognizable steam locomotive in United States railroad history and modelers in all scales look to purchase this locomotive what it became available.

In 1999, The United States Postal Service issue a 33 cent stamp honoring the GS-4 pulling the “Daylight” series passenger train along its route down the coast of California from San Francisco to Los Angeles. This stamp was part of the series “All Aboard, Twentieth Century American Trains”. Five stamps of famous American Passenger trains comprise this series.

A documentary was also made of the GS-4 and its “Daylight” passenger consist which features the GS-4 and its “Daylight” passenger consist as it traveled along its coastal route in California.


Steam Locomotives used to pull the “Daylight’ passenger car consist:
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Locomotive Years of
Class Number Service Retired Current Survivors

GS-2 4-8-4 #4410-4415 1937-1941 1956 None
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GS-3 4-8-4 #4416-4429 1938-1942 1957 None
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GS-4 4-8-4 #4430-4457 1941-1955 1958 One #4449
__________________________________________________ _______________

GS-5 4-8-4 #4458 1941-1955 1958 None
#4459
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In 1958, the last GS-4’s and GS-5’s were retired and diesels were used to pull the ‘Daylight” passenger consist until the early 1990’s.


Here are a list of diesels that pulled the “Daylight Passenger consist:
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Locomotive Years of
Builder Model Number Service Retired Current Survivors

“A” Units
Alco PA #6005-6016 1953-1971 1971 None
#6019-6045
#6055-6068

“B Units”
#5910-5915
#5918-5924
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EMD E-7 “A” Units 1953-1968 1968 None
#6000-6004
#6017

“B” Units
#5900-5909
#5916; #5917
__________________________________________________ ______________________

EMD E-8 #6018 1954-1968 1968 None

__________________________________________________ ______________________


EMD E-9 #6046-6054 1954-1971 1971 One Survives
#6051

EMD FP7 #6446-6462 1953-1971 Early 1980’s None
All But #6462
Sold To
Amtrak In 1971

EMD SDP45 #3200-3209 1967-1971 Early 1990’s None
Leased To Amtrak
Until
1976


A Closeup of the EMD SP "Daylight" E-9 #6047

A closeup of the EMD SP E-9 #6047. The SP # 6047 replaced the GS-4's when they were retired from the fleet of SP locomotives in 1958. SP had six E-9's and they pulled the "Daylight" series passenger until early 1972. There is one EMD SP E-9 still in service.

Photo  # 29  SP  "Daylight"  EMD E-9  # 6047

Equipment Used on a “Daylight” Passenger Train.
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Typical 1946 passenger car consist:

· Baggage Chair Car Combine
· Articulated Chair Car (Pair)
· Articulated Chair Car (Pair)
· Articulated Chair Car (Pair)
· Articulated Dining Car (Triple Unit)
· Chair Car
· Articulated Chair Car (Pair)
· Articulated Chair Car (Pair)
· Chair Car
· Tavern Car
· Parlor Car
· Parlor Observation Car


GS-4 “Daylight” Passenger Consist in 1946-1958
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SP #4430-4457 GS-4 – One of the 28 GS-4’s would be used to pull the “Daylight” passenger train consist. Two GS-5’s which were actually GS-4’s that have been modified with roller bearings on the drivers were also used.
SP 3302 – A chair baggage car that was built in 1939 by Pullman Standard. This car was equipped with 44 seats and a 19’10” baggage compartment.

SP 2473 & SP 2474 - Two articulated chair cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car had 46 seats. SP 2474 was radio equipped (antenna) and provided music and news on the train.
SP 10259, 10260 & 10261 - One triple unit diner car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This diner consisted of a dining room car, kitchen car and a coffee shop car. This was used on the “Daylight Morning” run.
SP 2485 - A standard chair car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 44 seats and was used on the San Joaquin Daylight Nine cars were built using this configuration. Four cars were used in general daylight service runs. Three were built for the San Francisco Challenger. Two of these cars were radio equipped (antennae) which provided music and news for the train.
SP 2357 – A chair car built by Pullman Standard in 1954. This car had 44 seats. This chair was the part of the last group of cars built for the “Daylight” passengers consist.
Sp 2459 & 2460 - Two articulated chair cars built by Pullman Standard in 1941. Each car had 46 seats.
SP 2352 - A chair car built by Pullman Standard in 1954. This car had 44 seats. This chair was the part of the last group of cars built for the “Daylight” passengers consist.
SP 10316 - A tavern car built by Pullman Standard in 1949. This car was used on the Shasta Daylight run.
SP 3002 - A parlor car built by Pullman Standard in 1939. This car had 27 seats.
SP 2953 - An observation car built by Pullman Standard in 1941. This car had 22 seats.
The history of the GS-4 steam locomotive and “daylight” passenger consist was an important part of railroad history in the United States. From it’s inception in the early 1940’s till it’s demise in 1958, this steam locomotive and passenger consist thrilled rail fans all over the world.

SP "Daylight" #4450 GS-4 On Mainline Track Of The "new" JJJ&E

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An SP "Daylight" #4450 GS-4 on the elevated mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background. I used the two decoder approach for installing motor and sound functions in this steamer.

Photo  # 30  SP "Daylight" GS-4  # 4450on the elevated mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background.