gauge was set unusually low, the man in charge may have been deceived.
The oval shape of the fireplace, and the laminated iron, as shown in
the fracture, rendered the tube peculiarly liable to collapse.
_No. 27. Durham. May 26th. 1 killed._
Plain Cylinder Boiler, 34ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45
lbs., fitted with two 5-inch safety valves, and 2 floats.
The boiler was torn in two pieces, that were thrown to a considerable
distance. The first rent had taken place immediately over the fire.
The cause of the explosion was the weakening of the shell by frequent
repair over the fire, rendered necessary by the deposit from the muddy
water preventing proper contact of the water with the plates.
_No. 28. Durham. May 27th. 1 killed._
Plain Cylinder Boiler, 32ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 35
lbs., fitted with two safety valves, two floats, and two alarm whistles.
The boiler was lifted from its seat, and one end was separated and
thrown to a considerable distance.
The cause of the explosion was weakening of the shell from repair a few
days before, and perhaps over pressure, as the gauge was found some
time after, and indicated that the pressure had at some time exceeded
80 lbs.
_No. 29. Redruth. May 28th. 1 killed, 4 injured._
One Tube Cornish, 30ft. 8in. long, 6ft. 8in. diameter, tube, 4ft.
diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs.
The tube collapsed, and rent, and the issuing steam and water scalded
those near, as it was too weak to bear the ordinary working pressure.
_No. 30. Leicester. (Fig. 17.) May 31st. 1 killed, 1 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 17._]
Plain Cylinder Boiler, with dished ends, and only 4ft. 2in. long, and
2ft. 6in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates. It was most inefficiently mounted,
the safety valve was only 1-5/8-inch diameter, and of such faulty
construction, that it would not open under a pressure of 162 lbs. There
was no steam gauge or float, and the gauge cocks were defective. There
was no means of putting water in the boiler when there was a pressure
of steam. The manhole was very large for so small a boiler.
Four rents started from the manhole and continued along the top of the
boiler and round the end seams. A tongue-shaped strip of the top plate
was attached to the back end plate; two strips about a foot wide on
either side were blown away. The boiler had been turned nearly round
in its flight, and fell with the back about 12 feet from the original
position of the front.
The boiler was worked until it was nearly dry, and, during a temporary
stoppage of the engine, an accumulation of steam caused a greater
pressure than the boiler could bear.
_No. 31. Newcastle. June 7th. none injured._
Marine Boiler in a Tug Boat.
The boiler was blown completely out of the vessel, and the greater part
of it fell into the water, and a large piece alighted on a crowded
quay, but without doing any damage.
The cause of the explosion was supposed to be over-pressure during a
temporary stoppage of the engine.
_No. 32. Barnard Castle. (Fig. 18.) June 11th. 2 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 18._]
Agricultural, of about 7 horse power. The barrel of the boiler was
6ft. 1in. long, 2ft. 5in. diameter; the fire-box end was 3ft. wide,
and 2ft. 4in. deep; the fire-box was 2ft. 5-1/2in. wide, and 2ft. 7in.
high, and 1ft. 9-1/2in. deep, with 23 tubes passing from it through the
barrel to the smoke box and chimney. The boiler was fitted with a 2in.
safety valve, which was intended to blow at 45 lbs., but as there was
no ferrule, it is supposed to have been screwed down to a much greater
pressure.
The upper portion of the shell over the fire-box rent through the
manhole, and allowed the shell to open out and fall on each side. A
large portion of the front plate was also torn off.
The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the manhole, which was
not strengthened by any ring, and also excessive pressure from want of
proper safety valve.
_No. 33. Breage. June 11th. 1 killed._
Cornish Boiler, 36ft. 6in. long, and 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45
lbs.
The tube collapsed and rent, and the issuing contents caused the death
of the attendant.
The weak tube of such large diameter, was unable to bear the ordinary
working pressure, having no strengthening rings.
_No. 34. Nottingham. June 19th. 2 killed, 4 injured._
Locomotive, 1/2 inch plates, 140 lbs.
The explosion occurred at the left hand side of the ring of plates
in the barrel next the fire-box, and below the foot-plate. The rent
tore along the edge of the lap and into the next ring of plates. The
reaction of the issuing contents threw the engine off the rails.
The cause of the explosion was partial corrosion at the point of
rupture and strain of the plates, as the boiler itself formed part of
the frame of the engine.
_No. 35. Richmond. June 26th. 2 injured._
Locomotive, being tried for the first time. The funnel came in contact
with a bridge, and the dome was also torn off.
_No. 36. Gainsbro' June 29th. none injured._
No details have been obtained.
_No. 37. Durham. July 2nd. 4 killed._
Plain Cylindrical Boiler, 30ft. long, and 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch
plates, 28 lbs. It had been repaired a short time before the explosion,
with 5 new plates.
The boiler was torn up into several pieces, but the main portion
remained flattened out on the seating, while some smaller pieces were
sent 250 yards away.
The cause of the explosion was the deterioration of the boiler, and its
frequent repair over the fireplace.
_No. 38. Liverpool. June 12th. 4 injured._
Elephant Boiler, 20ft. long, and 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, and
worked at low pressure. The bottom shell had a tube through its whole
length.
A rent took place in the lower part of the fireplace, and extended
along the bottom, and the reaction of the issuing contents caused the
top to rear up.
The cause of the explosion was supposed to be that the bottom plates
were worn too thin to bear the ordinary pressure.
_No. 39. Sheffield. July 4th. none injured._
Two Tube Cornish Boiler, externally fired, 30ft. long, and 6ft.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs.
The second seam over the fire gave way, and the plate sank down upon
the fire.
The cause of the explosion was the deterioration of the seams over
the fire, in consequence of the deposit of scurf which could not be
properly cleared off owing to the internal tubes.
_No. 40. Oldham. July 14th. none injured._
Boiler, with two internal furnaces, 9ft. 6in. long, and 2ft. 11in.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, uniting into one tube beyond. The furnace
crown collapsed near the front of the boiler.
There was an extra weight upon the safety valve, and the steam valve
was left closed, so that more pressure accumulated than the boiler
could bear.
_No. 41. Oxford. July 23rd. 3 injured._
Rag Boiler, not used for the generation of steam. It was a plain
cylinder, with hemispherical ends, about 16ft. long, and 7ft. diameter.
There was a neck at each end upon which the boiler revolved, and
through one of these the steam was admitted to a pressure of 30 lbs.,
in order to assist in cleaning the rags. There was a large manhole for
filling and emptying.
The boiler rent in the middle, and each half was blown to some distance.
The manhole was so large, that the strength of the boiler was too much
reduced, and the constant strain of revolving caused a central seam to
give way at the ordinary pressure.
The sketch to No. 63 is of a similar boiler.
_No. 42. Tunstall. (Fig. 19.) July 28th. 2 killed, 7 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 19._]
Boiler, 36ft. 6in. long, and 8ft. 9in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates,
with flat back and hemispherical front end, 36 lbs. A tube 3ft. 3in.
diameter, passed from the back end nearly to the front, and returned
to the back end, but of 6 inches less diameter and then passed to an
iron chimney. The fire grate was beneath the hemispherical end.
The angle iron of the flat back end gave way, and separated from the
shell and with the tubes attached was blown to a good distance, and the
reaction drove the shell far in the opposite direction.
The cause of the explosion was the bad construction of the boiler, as
the back end was quite unsupported, as there were no stays, and the
bend of the tubes was not attached to the shell.
An adjoining boiler which was being cleaned inside by two men, was
rolled off its seat by the force of the explosion.
_No. 43. Widnes. August 2nd. 2 killed, 6 injured._
Plain Cylindrical Boiler, with flat ends, 23ft. long, 5ft. 3in.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs.
Both the flat ends were blown out, and the first ring of plates at the
front end torn off.
The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the flat ends without
stays.
_No. 44. Sunderland. August 7th. 1 killed, 3 injured._
Locomotive, 13ft. 4in. long, 3ft. 11in. diameter, with 140 2-in. tubes.
The fire-box was 4ft. 5in. long, 3ft. 6in. broad, and 5ft. deep, and
made of copper, 1/2 inch thick, 100 lbs. It was fitted with two 4-in.
safety valves, and a steam gauge.
The fire-box gave way about the middle of the left side, 2ft. 6in.
below the water line, where corroded to 1/8 inch, and the issuing water
and steam scalded those near.
_No. 45. Runcorn. (Fig. 20.) August 22nd. 3 killed, 5 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 20._]
Marine Multitubular, 5ft. 8in. long, and 6ft. 6in. diameter, with two
internal tubular furnaces, which joined to an internal chamber of large
size, and small tubes passed to a smoke box and chimney in the front
over the fire doors. Both ends were flat.
The flat back end was insufficiently stayed, and was blown completely
out and torn into two pieces, the lower portion remaining in the
vessel, and the upper part falling in the water, and the reaction of
the issuing contents caused the boiler to be thrown on to the side of
the quay.
_No. 46. Hull. (Fig. 21.) August 25th. 1 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 21._]
One Tube Cornish, 24ft. 3in. long, and 6ft. diameter, taper tube 3ft.
5in. diameter, for about 7ft. 6in. in length, and 2ft. 6in. diameter
for the rest of the length, 33 lbs.
The tube was much corroded, and the fireplace gave way on left side,
and was so much torn, that the plates were forced out of the front.
_No. 47. Morecombe. August 27th. 3 killed, 1 injured._
Marine, of the usual construction, and had been tested to 60 lbs.
It gave way at the lower portion of the back, and the issuing steam and
water scalded those near.
A seam rent, 6ft. 6in. long, had not been detected by testing.
_No. 48. Tuddenham. August 29th. 2 killed, 2 injured._
Agricultural. It burst during a temporary stoppage from accumulation of
steam, causing undue pressure.
_No. 49. Glasgow. August 31st. 3 killed, 6 injured._
Upright Boiler, 36ft. high, 5ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 45
lbs.
The bottom gave way from shortness of water, and the main bulk of the
boiler was thrown straight up into the air to a great height, but
descended again on its seating.
_No. 50. Chatham. (Fig. 22.) September 7th. 2 killed, 30 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 22._]
Two Tube Cornish, 22ft. long, 7ft. 6in. diameter, with tubes, 3ft.
diameter, 7/16 inch plate, 60 lbs.
Some rents took place at the under side of the shell, allowing the
central portion to open out and blow away. The portion containing the
dome was thrown to the left, and the other to the right. The front
end, with 3 rings of the shell, with the tubes and back end, were but
little moved from their original position. The tubes were dented in on
the top and bottom, by the fall of some large coping stones upon them,
but the crowns of the furnaces were uninjured, and there was no sign of
shortness of water or overheating.
Extensive corrosion on the under side of the shell, where it rested on
the brickwork, had so reduced the strength, that it was unable to bear
the working pressure.
In the sketch the fragments are drawn so as to show their position when
in the boiler.
_No. 51. Newark. September 21st. none injured._
One tube Cornish. The tube collapsed from shortness of water, and the
escape of the steam and water blew off the door frame.
_No. 52. Ashton. September 23rd. 1 injured._
Plain Cylindrical Boiler, 7ft. long, and 2ft. diameter, 3/8 inch
plates, 30 lbs.
The upper part of the boiler at the first ring of plates was torn off,
and the front end was blown out.
Extensive external corrosion, where the plates rested against the
brickwork, rendered the boiler too weak to bear the ordinary pressure.
_No. 53. Norwich. (Fig. 23.) September 25th. 7 killed._
[Illustration: _Fig. 23._]
One Tube Cornish, 20ft. long, 4ft. 6in. diameter, tube 2ft. 6in.
diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 100 lbs. It was double-rivetted, and the
crown of tube was strengthened with angle iron. The shell was formed
of six rings, each of two plates alternately jointed top and sides.
The third ring from the front had stripped off, and was thrown to the
right and forwards against a wall. The line of rent was confined to the
plates forming the ring, which was an outer one, and covered the two
adjoining rings in the laps, the rent being from the edge of the inner
lap to the nearest rivets. The first rent had taken place in the solid
iron, about 1 inch from the rivets of a seam on one side, and from this
the rent had extended along the seams on either side, and of course
the whole ring soon tore off when the equilibrium was destroyed by the
first rent.
The fittings of the boiler were sufficient, except that there was only
one safety valve, and that was so constructed that it could only open a
very little way.
The cause was a defect in the iron at the point of the first rent, and
accumulated pressure during the time of standing.
_No. 54. Macclesfield. September 25th. none injured._
Multitubular Boiler, with large internal fireplace, 60 lbs.
The furnace crown became overheated from shortness of water, and was
crushed down and torn across two seams. The boiler was lifted from its
seat and thrown back against a stone wall.
_No. 55. Chelmsford. October 5th. 1 killed, 7 injured._
Agricultural, 45 lbs., and had only just been set to work.
The crown plate to the fire-box was so deeply corroded from long wear
that it gave way, and the issuing contents scalded those near.
_No. 56. Greenwich. (Fig. 24.) October 8th. 2 killed, 2 injured._
Marine, 16ft. long, slightly oval, front end flat, 8ft. 6in. wide,
7ft. 10in. high, and the dimensions of the back hemispherical end were
2ft. less each way, 3/8 inch plates, 26 lbs. There were two internal
fireplaces, of irregular shape, uniting at the back into one flue of
similar shape, which did not come to the front, but passed through the
steam space, and out at the top of the boiler.
While the vessel was waiting to start, with steam up, the wing furnace
of the starboard boiler collapsed on the wing side, as shown by the
dotted lines, and allowed the steam and water to escape into the stoke
hole.
[Illustration: _Fig. 24._]
The side of the furnace next the shell was rent along the edge of a
longitudinal seam in a line, which was slightly nicked in the caulking.
This rent extended about 5ft. 6in. from the front, and then at a cross
seam it went along the line of rivets from the crown to the bottom of
the furnace. Beyond this cross seam the furnace was collapsed, until it
nearly touched the other side of the furnace, and the bulge died away
towards the back end. There was also a rent in the lower part of the
front of the shell, as shown in dotted line.
The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the shape of the flue,
which was not stayed to the shell. It had evidently gradually been
giving way some time before the explosion, and eventually collapsed at
nearly the ordinary pressure. Symptoms of the same alteration of shape
were noticed in the corresponding flue of the other boiler.
_No. 57. Liverpool. (Fig. 25.) October 9th. 7 killed, 1 injured._
Crane Boiler, 5ft. 6in. high, and 2ft. 6in. diameter, with internal
conical fire-box, with two cross tubes and a chimney at the top, 1/4
inch plates, 75 lbs.
The outer shell of the boiler was rent into many pieces, leaving the
central conical fireplace intact. The nature of the rents showed that
the plate round the manhole, which was unstrengthened by a ring, had
first given way, and all the other fractures had led away from that
point. This is confirmed by the fact, that the manlid was thrown a good
distance, with force enough to make its way through the timber walls
of a cabin. The front plate divided into many pieces, and scattered
right and left, while the back plate was thrown through a cabin in the
opposite direction to the manhole.
[Illustration: _Fig. 25._]
The central flue showed a slight indication of overheating, but the
construction was such that the upper portion passed through the steam
space, and was always exposed to the action of the fire, without the
protection of the contact of water. The manhole without a ring on its
edge to strengthen the plate, and held in by two clamps, which caused
additional strain when carelessly screwed up, was by far the weakest
place. The engine was standing after a short time of working, and as
the safety valve was very defective, and could be screwed down until
tight, against almost any pressure, it is most probable that the
pressure mounted much higher than usual, when the weakest part gave
way, and led to the sudden tearing up and scattering of the whole
fabric.
Faulty construction of both boiler and fittings, rendered it unable to
bear that accumulated pressure, which the safety valve ought to have
made impossible.
_No. 58. Durham. October 13th. 1 killed._
One Tube Cornish, 14ft. long, 6ft. diameter, internal flue 3ft. 3in.,
by 2ft. 10in., 3/8 inch plates, 27 lbs., standing on three saddles,
with a bearing surface of 3ft. by 4 inches.
A portion of plate 20in. by 18in., at the bottom of the boiler, was so
corroded that it was blown out, and the issuing contents scalded a man
to death.
_No. 59. Bristol. (Fig. 26.) November 1st. 7 killed._
[Illustration: _Fig. 26._]
Two Marine Boilers exploded simultaneously. They were 16ft. long,
6ft. 6in. diameter at the flat front ends, and somewhat less at the
hemispherical back ends. Each had two internal fireplaces, united in
one flue, which returned nearly to the front and passed up through the
steam space, and out at the top of shell into the funnel. The central
fireplaces were not circular, and the outside fireplaces and the return
flues were still more distorted, but the weakness of the shape was
somewhat compensated for by stays between the tubes, and from the tubes
to the shell. The mountings to the boiler were of the ordinary kind and
efficient.
The under sides of the shells were so deeply corroded that they were
rent longitudinally for their whole length, allowing the sides to
open out and tear away from the front ends. Each shell fell at a
considerable distance. The furnaces, with parts of the front ends
attached, fell into the water, but except one of the side flues that
was a little collapsed, they were uninjured. Small pieces of the front
ends were thrown to a great distance. The sides of the vessel were so
completely blown out that she sank.
The corrosion was no doubt caused by the leakage of the vessel, keeping
the shells of the boilers constantly wet.
_No. 60. London. (Fig. 27.) November 3rd. none injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 27._]
Agricultural, barrel was 3ft. 9in. long, and 2ft. 6in. diameter, 70
lbs. From the internal fire-box the heat passed through a number of
1-inch tubes to the front smoke box and chimney.
During a stoppage for breakfast, the fire-box end was torn from the
barrel, and from the position of those fragments that could be found,
the boiler appeared to have turned over. Part of the fire-box was sent
through the stage upon which the boiler was travelling, and the barrel
with the tubes remaining in it, first struck a rail which caused it to
be dented in, and then rebounded to a point about 100 yards from its
original position.
Enough of the fragments were not recovered from the river to trace the
cause of the explosion, but it is presumed that, although when the
boiler was left, only 20 lbs. pressure was shown by the gauge; the fire
door being left closed, the pressure must have risen to a point much
above the working pressure, and to more than the boiler could bear.
_No. 61. Bilston. (Fig. 28.) October 1st. none injured._
One Tube Cornish, 22ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tube 4ft. 6in. diameter,
3/8 inch plates, 12 lbs. There was an unusually large dome at the back
end, 5ft. diameter, and the whole of the shell was cut out from under
it, so that the construction was peculiarly weak.
[Illustration: _Fig. 28._]
The boiler had been off for cleaning, and steam was being got up in the
night, and it was said that an extra pressure was caused by the stop
valve being left closed, but it could not have been very great, or the
large tube would have collapsed.
The dome was split in two, in the line marked in the sketch, owing to
the extreme weakness of the shell at the juncture of the dome, and the
shell was a little ruptured on each side of it, and so large a rent was
suddenly made, that the contents of the boiler passed harmlessly into
the air, without moving the boiler on its seat.
_No. 62. Preston. (Fig. 29.) November 11th. 1 killed, 1 injured._
[Illustration: FRONT VIEW. BACK VIEW.
_Fig. 29._]
One Tube Cornish, 16ft. 3in. long, and 5ft. 8in. diameter, tube 3ft.
1in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 60 lbs.
The tube collapsed from end to end, from over-pressure, as the man in
charge had fastened 3 bricks to the lever of the safety valve causing
27 lbs. extra pressure, under the impression that he could thus
accumulate a quantity of steam during the night, to be available on
commencing work on the morrow.
_No. 63. Tamworth. (Fig. 30.) November 20th. none injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 30._]
Revolving Steam Chamber, 12ft. 6in. long, and 5ft. diameter, 12 lbs.
The manhole was large, to facilitate filling and emptying, and was
rectangular and unstrengthened on the edges, and measured 3ft. 6in. in
length, and 1ft. 6in. in width, and the lid fitted on the inside and
was held by clamps.
The boiler was much out of repair, and a crack shown in sketch, from
one corner of the manhole to the commencement of the hemispherical end
was only temporarily prevented from leaking by a screw-patch, which did
not restore the strength.
The explosion happened when in revolving, the manlid was downwards, and
the lid was driven nearly through the floor, and the shell was rent
from opposite corners of the manhole, and blown through the roof.
The large manhole cut away nearly all the strength on one side, and
the fastenings of the lid were not contrived to compensate at all for
the loss of strength. The constant strain when revolving, also tended
to weaken it. These two causes together were sufficient to account for
the explosion, at the usual working pressure of 12 lbs., although it is
possible that it might have been increased to 35 lbs., as that was the
pressure in the boiler supplying the steam, although the pressure was
regulated by a check valve.
This explosion (and also No. 41 in this year) clearly show that a mere
vessel of steam not exposed to the fire, or any chance of overheating
of the plates, can burst and cause very great destruction, although
there could be no sudden _increase of pressure_ which is so often
supposed necessary to account for the havoc caused by explosions.
_No. 64. Manchester. November 26th. none injured._
This Boiler was 28ft. long, 7ft. diameter, made of 7/16 inch plates,
and worked at 50 lbs. pressure, with two internal fireplaces united
into one tube beyond.
The sides of the oval chamber forming the junction of furnaces and
tube, crushed inwards, being of such a weak shape as to be unable to
resist the ordinary working pressure.
_No. 65. Hull. (Fig. 31.) December 1st. 3 killed, 2 injured._
[Illustration: _Fig. 31._]
Agricultural, 7ft. 6in. long, and 3ft. 8in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates,
35 lbs., fire-box 2ft. long, and 2ft. 10in. broad. Two 11-1/2-inch
tubes led to an internal chamber at the other end of the boiler, and
three 8-1/4-inch tubes led back again to an external smoke box and
chimney fixed over the fire door.
The bottom of the right hand side lower tube was forced upwards, and
rent along to within 12 inches of the fire-box.
The tubes were so corroded from leakage of patches, that they were
unable to bear the slight increase of pressure during a short stoppage.