The Southern Pacific ordered 28 Class GS-4 “Golden States” from Lima (road numbers 4430 through 4457). Only 4449 still exists. Where were the others sent to be scrapped?
I suspect that they were sent to various scapyards convenient to where they were taken out of service. Most of the equipment SP white-lined in the LA area went to Purdy just south of Mojave.
Most large to medium SP steam finished their careers in the bay area on the commuter runs, Purdy in SO. SF was a major scrapper as well as the SPs own Sacramento Shops which cut up most of the 4300s and quite a few Cab Forwards.
Thanks for the info. The reason I asked is this: The original whistle was taken from 4449 when it was put on display in Oaks Park in Portland. I am a friend of Doyle’s. We were talking a couple weeks ago down at the Brooklyn Roundhouse, and the subject of 4449’s whistle came up. We would very much like to get an original GS-4 whistle back on 4449. It seems to me that it would be possible to locate and talk to some of the guys who were working when the GS-4’s were scrapped, and find out who ended up with the whistles. Does anyone out there know anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction? I’m in Portland, OR, right now. This company you referenced, Purdy. Do they still exist?
The second scrapper that eluded my memory was Lauriet Brothers of south San Francisco, can’t comment as to if currently in business, Purdy possibly may still be around.
You might consult SP disposition records to begin your search. They provide the date a engine was removed from service, point of orgin when removed from service, date sold, sold to with location and date removed from company property. SP only listed an Engine as sold when it was physically removed from the property, regardless of date recorded as retired, thus two 4300s survived until 1961, despite a recorded retirement date of 1957 for example.
The California State Railroad Muesum maintains extensive SP archives that would be my first choice in any search.
I thought the Southern Pacific scrapped them right on the spot.
But the 4449 is my favorite train!
Being a car inspector on Santa Fe for thirty years I seen quite a few Locomotives in the 1950s go by “deadheading” as part of a freight train going into Chicago with their drivers “clanking” account of no steam putting tension on bearings,ect. I have a picture on my wall showing Engine 5026 going to scrap yard and also picture of myself in siding at controls of a switch Locomotive which local train was taking on to Chicago. I have often wondered where they were “cut up”. H.W…
WHAT ABOUT 4460?!
Thats a GS 484!
Does it still have it’s whistle?!
WHY would you dredge up a posting from 2005??? Surely you don’t think the person who created this thread is still looking for responses!!
4460 is a GS-6. I believe it’s preserved in a museum in St Louis. It & 4449 are the only surviving 4400s. It, along w/ the other GS 6s, was never painted Daylight.
History is about searching and researching. A true historian is always looking and relooking. Disposition information is always interesting. Keep dredging, that’s one good way to find gold.
One problem. Ive been to the museum and there is no 4460, you might be thinking of the SF engine there.
Wyoming I am sure that the SP GS-6 #4460 is still at the Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri. There have been no reports of it moving anywhere else. My only personal contact in the St. Louis area moved to Florida, anyone else know the current status of the 4460?
#4460 is still at the MOT here in St. Louis, although it needs some cosmetic attention.[:(]
{Pic shot by Allen Dale, courtesy Steam Locomotive.com.}
That’s a shame… [:(]
Btw, isnt 4460 the one that has SKF rollerbearings instead for Timken or was it the 4459?
A friend of mine has a book by Robert J. Church called “Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives”.
It has the answers to most of the questions I’ve seen on this and other SP 4-8-4 related threads, including when and where each of the SP 4-8-4’s were scrapped. According to Church’s book, 4458 and 4459 were the only SP 4-8-4’s with roller bearings. Seems like a real shame that one of them couldn’t have been saved from the scrap heap, but I guess that same sentiment would apply to any one of the thousands of steam locomotives that were scrapped in the '40’s, '50’s & '60’s.
Anyone with an interest in SP’s 4-8-4’s will find Church’s book to be outstanding.
Andy
The 4460 is at St. Louis museum. I have been on it many times, but I have been told it did not have a whistle on it when it arrived at the Museum. It had been cut off.
CZ