PRODUCT REVIEWS
56 GARDEN RAILWAYS FALL 2019MTH
Southern
Pacific
PRODUCT REVIEWS
M
TH Electric Trains has
added a 1:32 proportion
model of Southern Pacific’s
class GS-4 4-8-4 steam
locomotive to its RailKing One-Gauge
line. The semi-streamlined model uses
polycarbonate and die-cast metal con-
struction and features a sound decoder
and prototypical lighting functions.
THE PROTOTYPE. Southern Pacific’s
class GS-4 4-8-4 steam locomotives were
built by the Lima Locomotive Works in
1941 and 1942. The 28 engines, numbered
4430 through 4457, were oil burners that
featured all-weather cabs. The easily rec-
ognizable engines were used on passengertrains until they were eventually displaced
by diesel locomotives.
The class GS-4 engines (GS standing
for “Golden State” or “General Service,”
depending on sources) were retired
between 1956 and 1958. The sole survivor
was no. 4449, which was donated to the
city of Portland, Ore., in April 1958. It sat
on display until December 1974, when it
was restored to operating condition. The
4449 re-entered service in April 1975 in a
patriotic paint scheme, pulling the Ameri-
can Freedom Train throughout the United
States to celebrate the nation’s bicentennial.
THE MODEL. Our sample is decorat-
ed as SP no. 4449 in the distinctivered-and-orange Daylight paint scheme
with large lettering on the tender. Paint
on the locomotive is smooth and evenly
applied with opaque striping and the
Daylight herald on the skirting above the
pilot truck. Both sides of the smokebox
have a separately applied Lima builder’s
plate and Southern Pacific equipment
trust plate. The engineer’s side also has a
manufacturing plate for The Superheater
Co. The lettering on all of the plates is
legible under magnification.
The polycarbonate locomotive body
features a mix of molded and separately
applied details. Freestanding details
include the turbogenerators, safety valves,GS-4 4-8-4
Steam Locomotive
A sublime streamliner with equally impressive pulling power
WATCH VIDEO of the MTH GS-4 4-8-4 in action when you explore the links at GardenRailways.com/Fall2019