Description

The ever popular GS-4 is back! Kato USA will be releasing a new 'Post War' version of the GS-4 in her late Southern Pacific lettering and rear-mounted number boards, as it looked in the years following WWII. "Postwar" black - Like the wartime black, these GS-4's had rear mounted train number boards but replaced the traditional "Southern Pacific Lines" lettering with the larger "Southern Pacific" on the tender.

Prototype Information:

The GS-4 runs on eight massive 80” drivers, 300lbs psi boiler pressure, and puts out a roaring 5,500 horsepower at 55mph, with a maximum speed of 110 mph. The large drivers gave the locomotive a high top speed; the telling mark of a steam engine built for passenger service. The GS-4 was built for the Southern Pacific Railroad by the Lima Locomotive Works and delivered in the early 1940’s for the SP’s premier passenger trains, finding its way to the Daylight series of name trains. One of the more unique specifications for the GS-4 by the SP was its Mars light, a necessity with the large amount of grade crossings and fog present on the West Coast. The Mars light, like ditch lights on modern locomotives, was utilized as a warning for grade crossings that a high speed train was approaching, its shifting light patterns serving as an eye catcher in foggy conditions.

Model Features:

• Designed to accompany the Kato Southern Pacific "Morning Daylight" Passenger Train sets, able to pull all 18 cars without assistance
• Drivers are operated by functional side rods for smooth performance
• Electrical pickup from both driver and tender for constant electrical connection
• Directional, operating (simulated) Mars light
• Directional headlight
• Illuminated number boards
• Detailed cab interior
• Front and rear kato magnetic knuckle couplers
• All detail parts installed
• DCC friendly design, designed to take the EM13 Motor Function Decoder