Re: A winner???

The only reason I didn't say RGS 41 from the git go was that 400 was built in May of 1881 and 409 was built in September. But for that four months they are certainly neck and neck. 41 has probably seen more "continuous" service just because of the nature of the Southern that squeezed every mile out of their engines.
In fact, the two both survive to work together for exactly the opposite reasons: 340 because she was unpopular with enginemen and the mechanical forces and therefore first to be stored and; 41 because she was very popular with enginemen and mechanical forces and therefore well maintained and run till she was ready to drop on the RGS. They finally took her out of service in 1950 because the crown sheet was paper thin. Got a full rebuild before going to Knotts and has been maintained by top boiler men since.