#2760

Southern Pacific GS-6 class

🇺🇸 United States ·built by Lima Locomotive Works· from 1943· class of 10+6 American 4-8-4 locomotives

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. USA 030 Oakland 9: Brooksbank· CC BY-SA 4.0
2. Southern Pacific Lines, No. 4462 (12239679515): SMU Central University Libraries· No restrictions

what is it?

The Southern Pacific Class GS-6 is a class of semi-streamlined 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) from 1943 to 1958 and the Western Pacific Railroad (WP) from 1943 to 1953.

who runs it

Southern Pacific Transportation Company Western Pacific Railroad

base stats

weight 213 tin working order
built 16made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 83 years ago, in 1943.
Weighs about as much as 35 African elephants (~6 t each).
Served for 15 years (1943–1958).

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1943
in service from: 1943
retired: 1958
status: preserved
number built: 16
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: Lima Locomotive Works
operators: Southern Pacific Transportation Company, Western Pacific Railroad
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-8-4
weight: 213 t
nicknames: "War Babies", "Baby Daylights"

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q7570309, Wikipedia: Southern Pacific GS-6 class (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.