What its also interesting it the time period in which all this of discussion took place. the Boiler Inspection Act had been passed in 1911 and although it would be several years before it came fully into effect, RGS #1's boiler would undoubtedly been of wrought iron construction, and wouldn't have passed muster as far as factor of safety in concerned. None of the class 56 engines survived past 1911. I think most were gone by 1908 or so (don't have a roster handy), making #1 one of, if not the last, Class 56 engines still around. Other locomotives effected by the 1911 boiler law were the 4-6-0's used by the RGS in passenger service. The Rio Grande would eventually re-boiler all the Class 60 (C-16), 70 (C-19) 47 (T-12) locomotives, increasing their boiler pressure and keeping them in service.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2017 07:20PM by Earl.