New Lionel GS-4 4449.

Something else you might want to point out Marty. The passenger cars appear to be lettered "Southern Pacific Lines" and its the only set shown in the catalog. When MTH has done the Daylight they not only lettered the engines both ways but also offered two complete sets lettered to match each engine. Might only matter to hard core SP fans though.

Pete

Good point Pete.  I can live with it.  SP is a great looking railroad.

Marty;

Thanks for that clarification. I also love the GS4 Northern and was leaning toward the Daylight version over the Freedom Train (have two of the Lionel HO Freedom Train engines). The online Catalog was too unclear for me to figure out the difference between all the Daylight choices, but you've helped steer me toward a final decision... I think I will also order the version with Southern Pacific across the middle of the tender.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

...  Charlie will sell you both if you desire.  ...

I'm sure he'd be more than happy to take an order for both!!! 

All kidding aside though... I hope Lionel realizes the degree to which enthusiasts are making buying decisions based on what's featured in the catalog.  Although it wasn't a deal-breaker for me, I was surprised when I purchased my separate-sale NYC ESE steamer w/PT Tender recently to find that all drivers were silver color.  I was expecting the center drivers to be black as depicted in the catalog.  Thought it would look cool, but I'm OK with the all-silver look too.

David

Since I don't have any SP Steamers I wanted to be somewhat proto typical so I ordered the the Southern Pacific Lines GS4 X4449 with all the cars. 

This may or may not be true but I was told that I should match the Tender with the cars or visa versa. I do like the larger Southern Pacific across the Tender. Can some one verify that this is the way this was set up? Does it really matter? I do want to represent how these were turned out.

Kevin

I'm absolutely floored that Lionel actually is offering the #4449 in AFT colors!  I've been wanting this for a very long time especially with whistle steam effect and air horn as well as whistle. I was hoping that my wallet would get a break this time around but it's not looking so!! 

PSU1980 posted:

Since I don't have any SP Steamers I wanted to be somewhat proto typical I ordered the the Southern Pacific Lines GS4 X4449 with all the cars. 

This may or may not be true but I was told that I should match the Tender with the cars or visa versa. I do like the larger Southern Pacific across the Tender. Can some one verify that this is the way this was set up? Does it really matter? I do want to represent how these were turned out.

Kevin

The SP Daylight first appeared in1937 with the GS2s. A few years later the GS4s were produced. From then until sometime around 1945-46 the Cars and engines were lettered with Southern Pacific Lines. After that date the "Lines" was dropped. For most of its life 4449 appeared with the large  Southern Pacific on the tender. Some years ago, HW or others may know exactly, the engine was returned to its "as built" configuration with SP lines and forward mounted number boards.

Note a year or two after it was first built the lighted number boards on the engine were moved from its forward postion near the stack to the middle of skyline casing supposedly because the light from the headlight was making it hard to read the number.  Most every model you see will have the number board forward with the small SP lines and the centered number board with the large SP lettering.

If era is important to you the early and present configuration would be SP Lines.

Pete 

Hi Pete,

Thanks, I just went back and read the catalog after I read your post. This is the first SP Steamer I am getting.  Based on your comments I think the SP Lines engine, 6-83193, and the matching cars is the way to go. Era is important in this case. Maybe if Lionel offered an alternative car set I might have gone with the tender with the SOUTHERN PACIFIC on it.

Either way, I think I will be pleased.

Light and number board is interesting bit of information because you can't see that in the catalog and as a person not familiar with the different engine versions I would have never know that.

I was happy to see them too, but saddened that they are O54 and without white walls.  I'm mostly limited to O36, so I will have to pass on them this time around and hope someday Lionel will make a LionMaster version.