Anyone out there have a picture of a Southern Pacific GS 8? I recently purchased one in brass and have it ready to paint. I don’t, however, have any prototype pictures that will give me engine detail. I know this Alco produced engine came after the more famous Daylight 4-8-4, but I don’t know if this loco was considered a “war baby”. HELP!
GS8s were not built by ALCO, they were built by Pine Bluff. Specifically 4485 was SSW 815, 4486 was SSW 817, 4487 was SSW 818, and 4488 was SSW 813. These locomotives were built with Baldwin Boilers and various other parts. The 813 was built in 1937 and the other three are war babies 1942-1943. See Cotton Belt Locomotives by Joe Strapac for their previous service. In the pictures in Strapac’s book the engines look little different from their Cotton Belt days.
Thanks for your reply. We are never too old to learn. I thought all the GS’s were made by ALCOi. I appreciate you information.
Go here, join the group, and ask your question: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Espee/
The only difference noted in Strapac’s book is that air pump shields were either painted black or aluminum. You really need a photo to work from to match.
War baby 819 is still in Pine Bluff, you can visit her here: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/8199/cb819.html