Steam Locomotive Registry

Southern Pacific “Daylight” No. 4449

Southern Pacific “Daylight” No. 4449
Photo credit: Drew Jacksich (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Specifications

Road NameDaylight
Number4449
Original RailroadSouthern Pacific Railroad
BuilderLima Locomotive Works, Lima, Ohio
Build DateMay 20, 1941
Wheel Arrangement4-8-4 (GS-4 class)
GaugeStandard gauge (4 ft 8½ in)
WeightLocomotive ~475,000 lb; total with tender ~870,600 lb
Tractive Effort64,800 lbf
Boiler Pressure300 psi
Driver Diameter80 in
Years Operated1941–1957
Current StatusPreserved and operable — based at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center
Current LocationPortland, Oregon
Current OwnerCity of Portland

No. 4449 was built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1941 as one of 28 GS-4-class 4-8-4 locomotives for the Southern Pacific Railroad, delivered in the railroad’s striking streamlined red, orange, and black “Daylight” livery. It spent most of its career hauling the Coast Daylight between San Francisco and Los Angeles at speeds up to 120 mph.

Southern Pacific retired No. 4449 in 1956–57, and it was donated to the City of Portland in 1958, sitting on outdoor static display for roughly two decades. In 1974, volunteers began a full restoration to return it to operating condition for the United States Bicentennial.

Restored and repainted in patriotic red, white, and blue, No. 4449 became the motive power for the American Freedom Train, touring the 48 contiguous states in 1975–76. Volunteers later restored it to its original Daylight colors, and it has since operated in excursion and charter service across the western United States. It remains the only surviving GS-4-class locomotive, maintained by the all-volunteer Friends of SP 4449 organization at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland.

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