The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-26
STOOD THE TEST.
Santa Fe Finds Good Locomotive
Fire Box.
Attempt to BLOW 1t Up" Ends
in Failure.
WATCHED IN INTEREST
E. L. Gibbs, of Interstate Com
merce Commission, Present.
Railr1 Dad Officials Also Observe
the Experiment.

santa F'e experts attempted to blow
up Jacobs-Shupert locomotive fire
box in the local shop yards this morn
ing and failed. This was the supreme
test planned for the new fire box ever.
since its invention by H. w. Jacobs,
assistant superintendent of motive
power for the Santa Fe system, and F.
w. Shupert, general boiler inspector,
about is months ago. The severe test
applied would have blown any other
boiler or fire box to scrap iron and
the successful termination pronounces
the new invention practically explosion
proof.
What such a result means to the rail-
road world can only be Appropriated
If the new Santa Fe production were
adopted everywhere it would mean an
end to the disastrous locomotive ex-
plOsiOns, the terror of operators and
passengers. With such a prospect in
mind the new fire box must be con :
sidered marvellous
Interstate Commerce Man Here
OF so much interest was the final
test of the J. & S. fire box to the rail-
road world and the populace in general,
that -. L. Gibbs, safety appliance in
spectOr for the interstate commerce
/ commission, was present to watch the
outcome. THE experiment was highly
{
/ boiler would have stood the test is
the way he voiced his approval
The demonstration was held in a
cleared space in the north end of the
Santa Fe shop yards. The boiler used
is of the largest kind and designed for
service on a 1900 class engine, the size
used by the Santa Fe in the mountains.
1t is an oil burner and has seen 10
months stationary service and demon
stration in the Topeka shops. steel
boiler as shelter for the throng of rail-
road officials, gathered to witness the
test, in case it should explode.
The test was conducted by H P. Nc
F'arIand engineer of tests, and his as
sistant B. Hoffman, from the interior
of another fire box Of the same make
mounted on flat car and backed with
in ten feet of the one to be tested.
From this steel refuge the engineers
! with their instruments, watched their
| experiments. The story of the test Us
| told by Mr. Hoffman follows:
First water was pumped into the
| boiler uD to the usual mark and the
| engine fired up. When the steam
pressure had reached 225 pounds
water was blown off to the level OF
the crown sheet and everybody took to
shelter. The water was then lowered
to four inches below the crown sheet
| observations being taken every minute
THE fire was allowed to burn al
full blast for ten minutes. our pyrO-
meters registering 1925 degrees al
the front end of the fire box and 1865
at the rear end. At the end of ten
minutes we shut off the fire by cut
ting off the oil supply. During al
this time two pops were left open
the steam pressure had averaged 80
pounds and the water had sunk six
inches below the crown sheet.
at this point water at so degrees
was pumped into the boiler which was
! filled again to the usual mark without
disaster Four boiler inspectors ex-
amined the plates. None were dis
torted and there were no leaks. The
object of the test was to show that
| the boiler would not explode under
i the conditions at which an ordinary
boiler explodes and the test was very
! successful"
Many Officials Present.
| Among the prominent Santa F'e Of
| ficials present were w. F. Buck, super
intendent of motive power. Mr.. Jacob!
and Mr.. Shupert, w. H. Haig, mechan
| icaI engineer, J. H. McGoff, mechan
icaI superintendent of the eastern lines
J. Purcell. superintendent of the TO
| peka shops, w. A. Austin, system boileI
| inspector, R Emerson. engineer o
track economy. J. T. Whiteford, bonU!
| SlInariutpDdROt of eastern lines and