Misplaced Pages

#1998

45-524: The GS-4s served as the primary motive power of SP's famous Coast Daylight passenger train between San Francisco and Los Angeles, California , via San Luis Obispo, California . They even haul the San Joaquin Daylight and the overnight Lark , both of which also ran between San Francisco and Los Angeles, although the former ran via the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Pass . Some of

90-599: A 9 + 3 ⁄ 4 -hour schedule. It was the first of the Daylight series that later included the San Joaquin Daylight , Shasta Daylight , Sacramento Daylight , and Sunbeam . Coach fare San Francisco to Los Angeles was $ 9.47 one way; in 1938 it dropped to $ 6 to match Santa Fe's Golden Gate s. By June 30, 1939, the streamlined Daylights had carried 268.6 million passenger miles (432.3 million kilometres) on 781,141 train miles (1,257,125 kilometres) for an average occupancy of 344 passengers. A second train,

135-431: A dining car or restaurant car to allow passengers to have a meal during the course of their journey. Trains travelling overnight may also have sleeping cars . Currently, much of travel on these distances of over 500 miles (800 km) is done by air in many countries but in others long-distance travel by rail is a popular or the only cheap way to travel long distances. One notable and growing long-distance train category

180-548: A dining car . American Car and Foundry delivered new 90-seat coaches in 1923; the Southern Pacific also added a 32-seat parlor - observation car . 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives hauled the train up and down the coast. 4-8-2 "Mountain" locomotives displaced the Pacifics in the early 1930s. The Southern Pacific removed the observation cars in 1931. Pullman-Standard delivered two complete sets of equipment (consists) for

225-411: A counter. At the other end was the tavern, with booth seating for 18. Between the two areas was a kitchen. The dining car could seat 40 patrons at 10 tables. The parlor-observation car seated 10 in the rear, rounded-off observation area and a further 23 in the adjoining parlor section. Prior to the full reequipping in 1940 the Southern Pacific made several changes to augment capacity. In 1938 it replaced

270-591: A higher passenger capacity. Many prestigious passenger train services have been bestowed a special name , some of which have become famous in literature and fiction. The first occasion on which a railway locomotive pulled a train carrying passengers was in the United Kingdom in 1804, at Penydarren Ironworks in Wales , when 70 employees of the ironworks were transported 9 miles by an engine designed by Richard Trevithick . The first passenger train in regular service

315-475: A number of passenger cars hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be made up of self-propelled railcars . Car design and the general safety of passenger trains have dramatically evolved over time, making travel by rail remarkably safe. Some passenger trains, both long-distance and short-distance, use bi-level (double-decker) cars to carry more passengers per train. Passenger trains hauled by locomotives are more expensive to operate than multiple units, but have

360-486: A railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars . Passenger trains stop at stations or depots , where passengers may board and disembark. In most cases, passenger trains operate on a fixed schedule and have priority over freight trains . Passenger trains may be made up of

405-917: A speed limit restriction of 79 mph (127 km/h). They carried the signature SP orange and red Daylight paint scheme. The GS-4s pulled SP's premier passenger trains such as the Coast Daylight , the San Joaquin Daylight , the Imperial , the Lark , and the Sunset Limited . During wartime and in the first years after the war, some of the GS-4 locomotives were painted black until 1948, when they were all repainted back to their Daylight colors. Between 1947 and 1956, most were painted black again with their side skirts removed for easier maintenance, and were reassigned to

450-1098: A train consisting of a single passenger car (carriage, coach) with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g. the Great Western Railway , used the term " railmotor ". If the railcar is able to pull a full train, it is more likely to be called a " motor coach " or a "motor car". The term "railcar" is sometimes also used as an alternative name for the small types of multiple unit that consist of more than one coach. Rapid transit trains are trains that operate in urban areas on exclusive rights-of-way in that pedestrians and road vehicles may not access them. Light rails are electrically powered urban passenger trains that run along an exclusive rights-of-way at ground level, raised structures, tunnels, or in streets. Light rail systems generally use lighter equipment that operate at slower speeds to allow for more flexibility in integrating systems into urban environments. Trams (also known as streetcars in North America) are

495-411: A type of passenger train that runs a tramway track on or alongside public urban streets, often including segments of right-of-way for passengers and vehicles. Heritage trains are often operated by volunteers, often railfans , as a tourist attraction or as a museum railway. Usually, the trains are formed from historic vehicles retired from national commercial operation that have retained or assumed

SECTION 10

#1732845317002

540-409: A year later. The 1940 baggage-coach, tavern, and parlor were retained. It was assigned new articulated coach pairs (with the number increased from three to four), triple-unit coffee shop-kitchen-dining car, 44-seat coach, and parlor-observation car. Effectively it was the same train as in 1940, but a year newer, with an additional articulated coach. The Noon Daylight mixed old and new equipment: With

585-650: Is high-speed rail, which generally runs at speeds above 200 km/h (120 mph) and often operates on a dedicated track that is surveyed and prepared to accommodate high speeds. The first successful example of a high-speed passenger rail system was Japan's Shinkansen , colloquially known as the "bullet train", which commenced operation in October 1964. Other examples include Italy's LeFrecce , France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, literally "high speed train"), Germany's ICE (Inter-City Express), and Spain's AVE (Alta Velocidad Española). In most cases, high-speed rail travel

630-440: Is time- and cost-competitive with air travel when distances do not exceed 500 to 600 km (310 to 370 mi), as airport check-in and boarding procedures can add at least two hours to the overall transit time. Also, rail operating costs over these distances may be lower when the amount of jet fuel consumed by an airliner during takeoff and climbout is taken into consideration. Air travel becomes more cost-competitive as

675-514: The Noon Daylight was replaced by the overnight Starlight using the same equipment. The Morning Daylight reverted to the Coast Daylight name. The Coast Daylight ran behind steam until January 7, 1955, long after most streamliners had changed to diesel. In 1956 coaches from the Starlight were added to the all-Pullman Lark ; the Starlight was discontinued in 1957. Amtrak later revived

720-497: The Noon Daylight , was introduced on the same route on March 30, 1940; the Coast Daylight became the Morning Daylight . The Noon Daylight was suspended on January 6, 1942, to allow for equipment overhaul. The cut was originally planned to last just several months, but continued due to World War II. The Noon Daylight resumed on April 14, 1946, with timed bus connections serving Santa Cruz and Monterey. On October 2, 1949,

765-648: The San Jose - San Francisco Peninsula Commute service, freight service, and the occasional San Joaquin Daylight (steam locomotives remained on that train as late as 1956, which made it the last streamliner train to be pulled by steam on the Southern Pacific) until they were replaced by diesel locomotives. GS-4 No. 4443 pulled one of the final steam excursions on the Southern Pacific in 1957. A GS-4 pulled its last passenger train in October 1958, and they were all retired by

810-684: The United States began in the 1830s and became popular in the 1850s and '60s. The first electric passenger train was exhibited at the Berlin Industrial Exposition 1879 . The first successful commercial electric passenger train, the Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway , ran a year later in Lichterfelde . Long-distance trains travel between many cities or regions of a country, and sometimes cross several countries. They often have

855-568: The mars light mounted above the headlight in front of the smokebox door. Additionally, the GS-4s were equipped with an all-weather cab. They were built in two separate groups, the first batch of twenty locomotives (Nos. 4430-4449) in March-May 1941 and the second batch of eight locomotives (Nos. 4450-4457) in March-April 1942. The GS-4s were capable of reaching 120 mph (190 km/h), although SP had

900-415: The 1937 Coast Daylight . Each consisted of a 44-seat baggage-coach ; a 48-seat coach; three pairs of articulated coaches, with 50 seats in each of the six coaches; a lunch counter-tavern car, a dining car, a 29-seat parlor car; and a 23-seat parlor-observation car. Each consist cost $ 1 million (equivalent to $ 21.2 million in 2023 adjusted for inflation), the most expensive passenger trains built in

945-408: The GS-4s were first assigned to haul troop trains during World War II . In the mid-1950s, SP began to modernize their mainline passenger trains with diesel power , and the GS-4s were relegated to haul San Jose-San Francisco commuter trains and general freight trains . By 1956, SP began to retire their GS-4s and all but one were scrapped by 1959. No. 4449 was spared from the scrap yard and became

SECTION 20

#1732845317002

990-621: The Oakland–Los Angeles train to San Diego, renumbered it to #12/13, and renamed it Coast Daylight . The Seattle–San Diego train became the Coast Daylight/Starlight (#11-12) northbound and Coast Starlight/Daylight (#13-14) southbound. Both trains were cut back from San Diego to Los Angeles in April 1972, replaced by a third San Diegan . On June 10, 1973, Amtrak began running the combined Coast Daylight/Starlight daily for

1035-474: The United States to date. In the articulated coaches restrooms were split, with the men's restroom in the odd-numbered car and the women's restroom in the even-numbered car. Seating was 2×2, with a center aisle down the middle. Luggage storage was located adjacent to the vestibule . The coffee shop-tavern had two seating areas. At one end of the car was the coffee shop, with 24 individual stools arrayed around

1080-399: The character, appearance, and operating practices of railways in their time. Sometimes lines that operate in isolation also provide transport facilities for local people. Much of the equipment used on these trains' systems is original or at least aims to replicate both the look and the operating practices of historic/former railways companies. Passenger rail is one of the modes of travel with

1125-526: The coffee shop-tavern cars with individual tavern and coffee shop cars. The original cars were rebuilt as full taverns and assigned to the Los Angeles– New Orleans Argonaut . The following year the Southern Pacific swapped the individual 48-seat coaches with an additional articulated coach pair from the Houston – Dallas Sunbeam . The 1937–1939 equipment ran as the Noon Daylight with

1170-810: The conventional rail infrastructure to support trains that can operate safely at higher speeds. Many cities and their surrounding areas are served by commuter trains (also known as suburban trains), which serve commuters who live outside of the city they work in, or vice versa. More specifically, in the United States commuter rail service is defined as, "short-haul rail passenger transportation in metropolitan and suburban areas usually having reduced fare, multiple ride, and commuter tickets and morning and evening peak period operations". Trains are very efficient for transporting large numbers of people at once, compared to road transport. While automobiles may be delayed by traffic congestion , trains operate on dedicated rights-of-way which allow them to bypass such congestion. With

1215-403: The discontinuance of the Noon Daylight in 1949 its cars were reassigned to the San Joaquin Daylight and Starlight . The Coast Daylight gained new 48-seat coaches from Pullman-Standard in 1954, three per train. Dining cars were eliminated in the 1960s, replaced by Automat cars that offered food from vending machines instead of made-to-order meals in the dining cars, cutting the cost of

1260-533: The driving wheels from No. 4437, the pilot truck from No. 4443, and the trailing truck from No. 4450, as evidenced by the numbers stamped on each of the parts. Coast Daylight The Coast Daylight , originally known as the Daylight Limited , was a passenger train on the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) between Los Angeles and San Francisco, California , via SP's Coast Line . It

1305-545: The end of the decade. A plan by Chicago-based Corridor Capital would involve the use of ex-Santa Fe Hi-Level cars and EMD F59PHI locomotives in a top-and-tail formation. In 2021, Amtrak released its 15-year expansion vision for new and expanded rail corridors, including service between San Luis Obispo and San Jose . This service would not only follow the Coast Daylight route, but it would also connect to Caltrain services to San Francisco . The heavyweight Daylight Limited debuted in 1922 with five 72-seat coaches and

1350-465: The end of the year. No. 4449 is the sole surviving GS-4 locomotive and is one of the most recognizable locomotives of all time. It was donated to the City of Portland, Oregon in 1958 and moved to Oaks Amusement Park for static display. During its time at Oaks Park, the locomotive was vandalized and had many of its external parts stolen such as its builder's plate and whistle . On December 14, 1974, No. 4449

1395-489: The fact that a single consist could make only one trip per day. Amtrak took over intercity passenger service in the United States on May 1, 1971. The Coast Daylight was retained as an unnamed train, with its northern terminus changed to Oakland, California where it connected with the California Zephyr . Three days per week, it was extended to a San Diego – Seattle train. On November 14, Amtrak extended

Southern Pacific GS-4 class - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-411: The furthest points of the journey. This practice allows less populous communities to be served in the most cost-effective way, at the expense of a longer journey time for those wishing to travel to the terminus station. Higher-speed rail services operate at top speeds that are higher than conventional inter-city trains but below high-speed rail services. These services are provided after improvements to

1485-478: The inauguration of the Morning Daylight in 1940. For the Morning Daylight , the Southern Pacific ordered two new sets of equipment from Pullman-Standard. These included a 44-seat coach-baggage car; three pairs of articulated coaches, with 46 seats in each of the six coaches; a triple-unit coffee shop-kitchen-dining car; a 44-seat coach; a tavern car; a 27-seat parlor car; and a 22-seat parlor-observation car. The Morning Daylight would be completely reequipped just

1530-536: The name for its Los Angeles to Seattle service known as the Coast Starlight . A 1966 study by the Stanford Research Institute found that it cost the Southern Pacific $ 18.41 to transport a passenger on the Coast Daylight between Los Angeles and San Francisco (equivalent to $ 173 in 2023), roughly twice that of air or bus service. Reasons given included the labor-intensiveness of rail service, and

1575-522: The same trackage (though not simultaneously), as well as producing a more comfortable ride for passengers. "Inter-city" is a general term for any rail service that uses trains with limited stops to provide fast long-distance travel. Inter-city services can be divided into three major groups: The distinction between the three types of inter-city rail service may be unclear; trains can run as InterCity services between major cities, then revert to an express (or even regional) train service to reach communities at

1620-542: The sole survivor of the GS-4 class, where it was donated to the city of Portland, Oregon as a static display during 1958 until being restored to operating condition in the 1970s. It was still operational and was now based at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland. The Southern Pacific (SP) GS-4s were built to a similar design of the streamlined GS-3s , although the latters have a dual-headlight casing with

1665-418: The summer months. Positive response led to Amtrak to retain this service, and the Coast Daylight name was dropped on May 19, 1974. Amtrak has worked on plans for resuming Coast Daylight service from San Francisco to Los Angeles since the early 1990s. It may be merged with the existing Pacific Surfliner route, thus extending the line to San Diego. A review of the possibility of service restoration

1710-521: The train ran seasonally, beginning in April and ending in November. Daily operation began in July 1923. The SP shortened the running time to 12 hours for the 1924 season. Until the late 1920s, it made no intermediate stops (except for servicing). Its 12-hour schedule was two hours shorter than any other train on its route. The streamlined Daylight began on March 21, 1937, pulled by GS-2 steam locomotives on

1755-419: The train's dining crew. Two Coast Daylight locomotives survive: Southern Pacific 4449 , a GS-4 steam locomotive which was a Bicentennial American Freedom Train engine in 1975–76, and Southern Pacific 6051 , an EMD E9 diesel locomotive . 5910–5915, 5918–5924 (B units) 5900–5909, 5916 & 5917 (B units) Passenger train A passenger train is a train used to transport people along

1800-697: The travel distance increases because the fuel accounts for less of the overall operating cost of the airliner. Some high-speed rail systems employ tilting technology to improve stability in curves. Examples of tilting trains are the Advanced Passenger Train (APT), the Pendolino , the N700 Series Shinkansen , Amtrak 's Acela and the Spanish Talgo . Tilting is a dynamic form of superelevation , allowing both low- and high-speed traffic to use

1845-399: The use of bilevel cars , which are tall enough to have two levels of seating, commuter rail services can haul as many as 150 commuters per train car, and over 1,000 per train: much more than the capacity of automobiles and buses. In British and Australian usage, a "railcar" is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term is usually used in reference to

Southern Pacific GS-4 class - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-661: Was a horse drawn train on the Swansea and Mumbles Railway which opened in 1807. In 1808, Trevithick ran a passenger-carrying exhibition train called Catch Me Who Can on a small loop of track in London. The exhibition, which ran for two weeks, charged passengers for rides. The first steam train carrying passengers on a public railway was hauled by Locomotion No. 1 on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 , traveling at speeds up to 15 miles per hour. Travel by passenger trains in

1935-748: Was advertised as the "most beautiful passenger train in the world," carrying a particular red, orange, and black color scheme. The train operated from 1937 until 1974, being retained by Amtrak in 1971. Amtrak merged it with the Coast Starlight in 1974. Southern Pacific introduced the Daylight Limited on April 28, 1922. The train operated on a 13-hour schedule between the Third and Townsend Depot in San Francisco and Central Station in Los Angeles, running on Fridays and Saturdays only. In 1922 and 1923,

1980-581: Was made on August 14, 2014; the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) organized and hosted a meeting between the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency and the Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC), where substantial progress was made toward identifying which specific policy initiatives would be given priority so that restoration of the Coast Daylight service might be effectuated before

2025-597: Was removed from the park to undergo an operational restoration, performed by Doyle McCormack. From August 1975 to December 1976, No. 4449 shared duties with several other steam locomotives pulling the American Freedom Train (that train was pulled by Reading T-1 2101) throughout the U.S. No. 4449 is still operational and since mid-2012 resides at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland along with other preserved locomotives and rolling stock. Additionally, No. 4449 contained most of its sister locomotives' parts; one of

#1998