Chuffer

While the St. Louis Robin soared 420 hours and the Bremen plowed a trans-Atlantic furrow in record time, a ponderous, unspectacular freight engine--No. 4113 of the St. Louis & San Francisco ("Frisco") R. R.--chuffed back and forth between Birmingham, Ala., and Kansas City, Mo., establishing a railroad record: for continuous non-refiring operation of a locomotive. On the afternoon of July 19, No. 4113 was fired, coupled to a 55-freight-car train, driven out of the Kansas City yards to break the record of 3,500 miles set by the Great Northern R. R. in 1927.

After 24 1/2 days, No. 4113 had made five round trips between Kansas City and Birmingham on the same fire, more than doubled the old record, traveled 7,350 miles.

No vain stunt was this record because every mile produced revenue. Only a standing rule of the Interstate Commerce Commission that every 30 days a locomotive must be unfired, have its boilers blown, its brasses checked, prevented No. 4113 from continuing its endurance test.

Facts of the record which railroad men scrutinized: coal consumption, 975 tons; water consumption, 1,500,000 gal.; gross ton mileage, 13,780,749; cars hauled, 555; average day's run, 320 mi. On its last run into Kansas City, No. 4113, pulling perishable freight, clipped 3 1/2 hours off its running schedule. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Co. in 1923, No. 4113 was a 2-8-4 type (two pilot wheels, eight drivers, four trailers) equipped with a Baker valve gear, a Chicago K45 lubricator, a radial stay type firebox. With a total heating and superheating surface of 5,450.9 sq. ft. this engine developed a tractive effort of 59,800 Ib. While 60 different engine crews were operating No. 4113 to make the record, David L. Forsythe, Frisco's equipment foreman, rode every mile. Every five days he would leave his smooth-breathing charge, go back to the caboose, snatch eight hours' sleep. Now 65, Foreman Forsythe began with the Frisco at 14, was a "hoghead" (engineer) for 41 years.