Ed Workman Wrote:
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> Nice to see it has, after too many years, been
> given a paint job and a cover
> I saw it ca 1973 in dismal shape, as were all the
> locomotives on 'display'
>
> Are we sure of the facts from the interweb??
> My thought is that SP told WPB 'GS'. stood for
> General Service.
> As to redesign of the streamlined versions, not so
> fast.
> Take a look at the diagrams. The never streamlined
> GS-1, and the original Daylight GS-2 and the GS-6
> and the WP and the contemporary C of G engines
> differ only in the smallest details and
> accessories.
> Never heard why SP was denied the bigger engines,
> but guess WPB figured the GS-1 would fit more
> places or better suited to 'General Service'.
> Please note the Overnights were suspended for the
> duration. I wonder if there is a pic of any GS on
> a really freight train taken 1942-1946? Tough
> years for those who would take pix of trains.
> No big deal on the skirts as IFAIK the little GSs
> spent a lot of time in the Oregon tunnels.

Originally, the "GS" stood for "Golden State". However, when the SP desired to purchase additional GS-4 locomotives for their ever increasing passenger traffic, the WPB (War Production Board) was in control by that time, and determined that absolutely no locomotives with 80" diameter drivers would be allowed, as they were considered "passenger locomotives" (at the same time, EMD was prohibited from producing ANY passenger diesels). Reportedly, the SP management tried to tell representatives of the WPB, that their "GS Class" locomotives were all "General Service". The WPB allowed that, with 80" diameter drive wheels they are passenger locomotives, and NOT "General Service". Thus, all subsequent purchases of 4-8-4 type steam locomotives during WWII had to have 75" diameter drivers, or less.

The ONLY exception to that WPB policy was the Santa Fe and the UP, as both were permitted to purchase 80" diameter drivered 4-8-4s for the growing troop movements to the west coast. Thus, the Santa Fe received additional 2900 class 4-8-4s, although NOT with the light-weight alloy rods, and UP received additional FEF-3 4-8-4s.