a question Wrote:
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> Is 4449 supposed to have the stars or not?

Yes, the stars are indeed correct for 4449, as she still has the pressure feed oil lubricated, babbitted crown bearings on all four of the drive axles. The identifying "stars" was developed by the SP Mechanical Dept. to differentiate the new, pressure feed oil lubrication, as compared to the "old style" grease cake lubricated axles (no stars at all). The only other symbol used by SP was on the two GS-5 locomotives equipped with roller bearings on all axles, thus the axle centers on the drives had starts with rounded off points (to signify rollers in the roller bearings).

For what it's worth, both 4294 in the CSRM and #4460 in the Museum of Transport at St Louis, should also have the "stars" on the axle centers, as both locomotives have the pressure feed oil lubrication system.

KRK