The War Production Board controlled locomotive manufacturers during World War II and had turned down Southern Pacific's order of fourteen new Daylight locomotives in 1942.

The engine was the first GS-6 ever manufactured and is famous for pulling the last steam-powered passenger train and being the last operational steam locomotive on the Southern Pacific Railroad in October 1958.

[1] That final run was from Sacramento, California to Sparks, Nevada, and return, with no diesel assistance except for when No.

A local Boy Scout Bugler from the Bay Area Council, played taps for the funeral of the No.

4460 was donated to the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 16, 1959, where the engine has since sat along with many other historic steam and diesel locomotives from around the country.