Broadway Limited Imports is excited to introduce a brand-new HO scale production run of the iconic Southern Pacific GS-4—this time with a twist: de-skirted versions!
What does de-skirted mean?
On this version of the GS-4, it refers to the removal of the streamlined side skirting along the boiler. The Southern Pacific made this modification sometime before 1956 to improve maintenance access for crews. Around this time, many GS-4s were reassigned to San Jose–San Francisco Peninsula commute service, freight duties, and occasional appearances on the San Joaquin Daylight.
This run features all-new tooling to accurately represent the de-skirted GS-4s, along with several new paint scheme variations, including the aluminum-painted pilot trim and two all-new fantasy schemes.
For those modeling the Southern Pacific during the transition from steam to diesel, these locomotives are a perfect fit—both historically and visually. And for fans of the legendary #4449, we’re also bringing back a few popular versions of this famous locomotive, which still runs today thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and the Friends of SP 4449.
Each of our models comes equipped with our newest Paragon4 Sound & Control System (compatible with DC and DCC), featuring synchronized puffing smoke and integral GoPack capacitors. Our models feature die-cast locomotive and tender bodies for maximum weight and tractive effort. See below for additional model features, including a full list of individually controllable lights.
✨ Industry-Leading Model Features
- Advanced System: ALL-NEW Paragon4 Sound & Control System.
- Synchronized Smoke: Synchronized puffing smoke with realistic chuff sound.
- Dynamic Intensity: Variable puffing smoke intensity and timing.
- Integrated Decoder: Built-in DCC Decoder with Back EMF for industry-best slow-speed operation in both DC and DCC.
- Precision Drive: Precision drive mechanism engineered for continuous heavy-load towing and smooth low-speed operation.
- High-Performance Motor: 5-pole can motor with skew-wound armature.
- Die-Cast Body: Heavy die-cast boiler, tender body, and chassis for maximum tractive effort.
- Premium Painting: Premium-caliber paint finish with historically authentic schemes.
- Prototypical Lighting: Pro Lighting Mode offering individual control of all lights, including headlight, reverse light, cab light, Mars light, front numberboards, front marker lights, and rear marker lights.
- Crew Figures: Factory-installed engineer and fireman figures.
- Road Number Accuracy: Prototypically accurate details customized for each road number.
- Fine Details: Numerous separately applied details such as handrails, ladders, conduit, generators, whistle, horn, and brass bell.
- Enhanced Traction: Equipped with rubber traction tires for increased pulling power.
- Minimum Radius: Recommended minimum operating radius of 22 inches.
- Authentic Sounds: Prototypically accurate sounds recorded for the SP GS-4 Northern.
🎛️ Paragon4 Sound & Control System Features
Broadway Limited Imports is proud to introduce Paragon4: The new benchmark for premium HO sound-equipped locomotives. These DC and DCC-sound equipped locomotives feature the ALL-NEW Paragon4 sound and control system. Each Paragon4 locomotive comes with BLI's own integral DCC Decoder factory installed.
Paragon4 locomotives offer Dual Mode DC and DCC operation with superb back EMF motor control, improved DC motor control, a built-in capacitor pack for more reliable electrical pick-up, industry-best on-board sound with Rolling Thunder functionality, Pro Lighting Mode for prototypical light control, Switcher mode for precise low-speed control, recordable DCC operation for automated playback, and the same excellent detail level as Broadway Limited's Paragon3 Series models.
【System Highlights】
- Dual Mode Compatibility: Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound).
- Built-In Capacitors: Integrated capacitor pack to smoothly navigate imperfect track sections.
- Decoder Pro Compatible: Capacitor pack automatically disables on program tracks for full compatibility with JMRI Decoder Pro.
- Advanced Lighting: Pro Lighting Mode offers individual on/off control of all lights on the model.
- Switcher Mode: Switcher Mode enables ultra-precise, low-speed micro-control.
- Record & Play Operation: Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for fully automated layout operation.
- High-Resolution Audio: Premium quality high-resolution sound output.
- Quillable Whistle: Whistle responds dynamically for variable lengths and realistic playing patterns.
- Horn Selection: Choice of 3 user-selectable horns.
- Alternate Whistle/Horn: Where applicable, locomotives feature both an air horn and steam whistle—both can be easily played.
- Adjustable Bell: Customizable bell-ringing intervals for faster or slower pacing.
- Mappable Functions: Numerous user-mappable functions assigned to available DCC keys.
- Reversing Sound: Mechanical Johnson Bar sound triggers automatically upon direction change.
- Crew Dialogue: Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command.
- Grade Crossing Signal: One-touch automatic grade crossing signal warning.
- Motion Signal Horns: When activated, stopping triggers a brake squeal and a stop whistle toot. Moving forward from a stop automatically toots twice; moving in reverse toots three times.
- Dynamic Chuff: Chuff sound intensity and volume vary dynamically based on engine load.
- Individual Volumes: Sound volumes for each individual effect can be adjusted independently.
- EZ Reset Button: One-touch button for a quick return to factory default settings.
(Note: Specifications on this page are subject to change by the manufacturer.)
