Part 7

Two tube Cornish, 22ft. 3in. long, and 7ft. 7in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, tubes 2ft. 7in. diameter, 40 lbs.

About 8ft of the back portion of the shell was torn off, leaving the tubes and ends intact.

The cause of the explosion was considered to be excessive pressure, but how accumulated did not transpire.

It is most natural to expect that there must have been corrosion under the bottom to cause the first rent.

_No. 6. Coatbridge. January 17th. 1 injured._

Cornish. No details have been obtained.

_No. 7. York. (Fig. 4.) January 18th. 1 killed, 2 injured._

Agricultural, 8ft. 2in. long, 3ft. 6in. diameter in the barrel, 5/16ths inch plates, internal fire box, 2ft. 4in. wide, 2ft. 4in. high, and 2ft. 10in. deep. From the back of this fire box, two 12-inch tubes passed to an internal chamber at the back of the barrel. From this again passed nine 3-3/4 inch tubes to an exterior smoke-box fixed over the fire door. The boiler was fitted with one spring safety valve, which was screwed down tight, but there was no pressure gauge. The front plate was intended to be bolted on so that the fire-box and tubes could be taken out for cleaning, but it had been rivetted, leaving no means of cleaning, and it was nearly full of scurf.

The crown plate of fire-box which was too flat and unstrengthened, rent at the front and along both top edges, and was driven into the fire. The boiler was thrown backwards and reared against a wall, resting on the front right hand corner.

The cause of the explosion was that the very dirty state, caused overheating where the water was not in proper contact with the plates, and the defective construction did not admit of proper cleaning. The mountings were insufficient for the proper protection of the boiler.

_No. 8. Durham. (Fig. 5.) January 29th. 1 killed, 3 injured._

Plain Cylinder Boiler with hemispherical ends, 30ft. long and 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. It was the second from the engine in a bed of five, and had been at work three years, then remained idle for eight years, working again fourteen years. The boiler was mounted with two safety valves 3-7/8 and 4 inches diameter, a float and alarm whistle. The boiler had been more than once repaired over the fire with several new plates. One seam over the fire had been observed to leak about a week before the explosion, but not seriously, and had been caulked. The boiler had just been started after cleaning. Six months before explosion, the boiler had been tested to 69 lbs.

About 5 feet of the front end of the boiler opened out flat, and was thrown to the rear about 60 yards; the front hemispherical end was liberated and thrown 20 yards also to the rear and right hand. The back part of the boiler was thrown in a mass, and after bounding twice, lodged at a distance of 230 yards.

The cause of the explosion appeared to be from the failure of a seam over the fire place in a plate deteriorated by age, and overheated through a deposit of scurf and mud.

_No. 9. Birmingham. (Fig. 6.) February 7th. 1 killed, 4 injured._

Plain Cylindrical Boiler, with hemispherical ends, 23ft. long, and 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. It was set so as to be fired under the bottom if required, but the grate was seldom used. The principal heat was supplied from a mill furnace, the neck of which was at the left hand of the back, and the flame was carried by a wheel flue round the front of the boiler to the stack on the right hand side of the back. The boiler was fitted with a 4-3/4-inch safety valve, and also a float, but it was suspected that the latter had broken from the rod.

A horizontal seam about the middle of the left hand side had given way, and the upper portion of the 3rd and 4th rings of plates had spread out like a lid without being detached from the boiler. The front end became detached and was thrown some distance to the front.

The cause of explosion was, that the left side of the boiler became overheated, and so much softened, that it first bulged outwards with the ordinary working pressure, and then rent open. The overheating was most likely the result of shortness of water, but it might possibly have been in consequence of the intense heat of a mill furnace impinging on a small area so near the water line, leading to such rapid ebullition as to prevent sufficient contact of the water to keep the plates cool.

_No. 10. Dunse. February 14th. 1 injured._

Locomotive. It exploded while standing in a shed, but no particulars have been obtained.

_No. 11. Middlesbro'. February 26th. 1 injured._

Marine, in a small tug boat, but no details have been obtained.

_No. 12. Gainsbro' (Fig. 7) February 26th. 1 injured._

One Tube Cornish, 21ft. long, 5ft. diameter, with one tube 2ft. 11in. diameter, plates 3/8 inch, 64 lbs. There were no strengthening rings on the tube. The boiler was second-hand, and had only worked a part of a day at its new position when it exploded.

The tube collapsed from weakness without strengthening rings.

_No. 13. Redruth. (Fig. 8.) March 3rd. 1 killed._

One Tube Cornish, 31ft. 9in. long, and 5ft. 9in. diameter, tube 3ft. 8in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs.

The tube had been repaired with a bolted patch on the left side the day before the explosion, and it is presumed it was slightly out of the circular shape, as it collapsed sideways, the top being thrown up above its proper height. There was no evidence of shortness of water.

The tube without strengthening rings was too weak to sustain the ordinary working pressure.

_No. 14. London. March 5th. 7 injured._

Cornish, at 27 lbs., but as the boiler was not injured, it is only noticed as an explosion, because of the imprudence of placing fittings in such dangerous positions. The boiler was beneath a work room, and the lever of the safety valve became displaced, allowing the valve to blow out, and the escaping steam rushed into the room above and scalded seven men very badly.

_No. 15. Manchester. March 6th. 1 killed._

This was a Boiler with two internal fireplaces, connected into one flue at the back.

The crowns of both furnaces were collapsed, and slightly rent, and the escaping steam and water scalded the attendant.

The water was 8 or 9 inches below its proper level, allowing the furnace crowns to become overheated and unable to bear the working pressure.

Each furnace had been fitted with a fusible plug, but they proved inefficient.

_No. 16. Norwich. (Fig. 9.) March 13th. 1 killed, 1 injured._

This was a very small boiler, 8ft. long, and 3ft. 2-1/2in. diameter, with two small tubes. It was fired externally.

The dome was blown off and the rents continuing, the top opened out on each side, and the upper portion of both back and front was bent back.

The dome cut away the whole of the top plate, and so much reduced the strength that it would not bear the ordinary working pressure.

_No. 17. Dudley. (Fig. 10.) March 19th. none injured._

Plain Cylinder Boiler, 36ft. long, 5ft. 6in. diameter, 60 lbs. It had frequently been repaired over the fire, so that the longitudinal seams ran for several plates without break of joint. A patch had been put on a few days before explosion, and as the rivet holes had badly fitted, there had been much strain caused by drifting, and the rivets were much distorted.

A longitudinal seam gave way over the fire, when two rings of plates opened out, rending the transverse seams at each side until completely separated, and fell in two parts at a distance of about 100 yards in front of the boiler. The front end was liberated and fell in one piece about 100 yards beyond the two pieces of the shell. The main body of the boiler was driven back a few yards and rolled over so as to be upside down, but was little injured.

The frequent and badly executed repair over the fireplace, had so weakened the structure as to make it unable to bear the very high ordinary pressure. This frequent repair over the fireplace had been made necessary by very hard firing and deposits of scurf from muddy water, preventing the proper contact of the water with the plates.

_No. 18. Liverpool. March 22nd. 1 killed._

This was a small Boiler to supply steam for some steam winches on board a steam boat, and exploded from the overheating of the upper tubes through shortness of water, or from over pressure in consequence of having only one safety valve.

_No. 19. Leeds. (Fig. 11.) March 27th. 2 killed, 18 injured._

Two Tube Cornish, 24ft. 6in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, tubes 2ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 54 lbs., fitted with steam gauge, blow-off cock, 1-1/2 inch dead weight safety valve, loaded to 54 lbs., and 4-3/8 inch lever safety valve, loaded to 62 lbs., and had been at work about five years.

Nearly the whole of the two back rings of the shell were torn off and opened out, and the boiler was turned partly round, and moved upon its seat sideways and forwards.

There was extensive corrosion at the under side of the back of shell, where the first rent took place, caused by the leaking of the joints and seams.

_No. 20. Swansea. (Fig. 12.) April 4th. 5 killed, 4 injured._

One Tube Cornish Boiler, 30ft. long, and 7ft. diameter, tube slightly oval about 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 43 lbs., fitted with 3-1/2 inch safety valve, which is much too small for such a boiler, glass water gauge, two gauge cocks, and pressure gauge.

The tube collapsed from end to end. The front end was blown out with a short length of the tube attached, and was driven against a wall about 30 yards to the front. The main body of the shell, and the back end, with the collapsed tube within it, were driven back against another wall, about the same distance away. Very great damage was done to the surrounding property.

The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the tube of so large a diameter, without strengthening rings, which made it unable to bear the ordinary working pressure. It is very probable, however, that at the time of the explosion, the pressure was considerably more than usual during the stoppage of the engine, and the confusion caused by a man becoming entangled in the machinery.

_No. 21. Morpeth. April 10th. 1 killed._

Plain Cylinder Boiler, 34ft. long, and 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates placed lengthways, 33 lbs.

The explosion took place at a seam in the front part of the bottom of the boiler just over the fire. This rupture allowed the sides to expand, until the boiler was completely destroyed and torn into seven pieces.

The cause of the explosion was supposed to be the defective state of the seams over the fire, which, being placed longitudinally, were in the weakest position.

_No. 22. Shiffnal. (Fig. 13.) April 21st. none injured._

Two Tube Cornish, 15ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tubes 1ft. 8in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. The heat was supplied by two furnaces, one of which played into each tube.

The left hand tube collapsed from shortness of water, and tore away from the angle iron in the front plate, and allowed the contents to issue violently and scatter the brickwork, but the boiler was not disturbed.

_No. 23. Burnley. April 26th. 2 killed, 2 injured._

Small internally fired Boiler, 5ft. high, 2ft. 4in. diameter, and was intended to work at 70 lbs. The fittings were defective, the spiral spring of the safety valve being most easily altered, so as to cause over pressure. The manhole was not strengthened by any ring, and the first rents commenced at that point.

The cause of the explosion was over pressure and defective construction.

The sketch at No. 57 explosion in this year, is of a similar boiler which exploded from nearly similar causes.

_No. 24. Bilston. (Fig. 14.) May 13th. none injured._

Balloon or Haystack Boiler, about 16ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, and worked at very little above atmospheric pressure.

The boiler was chiefly used to store water during the time another boiler by the side of it was emptied. When the water was required to refill the other boiler, a fire was lighted under the balloon, and sufficient steam generated to drive the water from it into the other boiler. The safety valve never being used, it had become fast, and as a little more steam than usual had accumulated, the bottom gave way, and the reaction of the issuing contents made the boiler rise from its seat, and it fell on its side at some distance away flattened by the fall.

_No. 25. Westbromwich. (Fig. 15.) May 25th. none injured._

One Tube Cornish Boiler, 15ft. long, and 4ft. 6in. diameter, taper tube, 2ft. 9in. diameter in front, and 2ft. diameter at back, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. The boiler rested on two walls forming the bottom flue. There was a safety valve, a glass water gauge, a pressure gauge, and two fusible plugs upon the tube.

Two longitudinal rents took place on the under side of the shell, allowing two strips, forming the central part, to open out by the continuation of the fracture, until they were blown to a considerable distance. The tube with the front end, and one ring of the shell were thrown to the front, while the back end was thrown to the rear, the smallest end of the tube having torn away from the back.

The shell was deeply corroded where it rested on the side walls of the bottom flue, and the strength of the boiler was thereby so much reduced, that it was unable to bear the ordinary working pressure.

_No. 26. Halifax. (Fig. 16.)_ _May 26th. 1 killed._

One Tube Cornish, 24ft. 6in. long, and 5ft. diameter, taper tube, slightly oval in the front, 2ft. 8in. diameter, and 2ft. diameter at the back, 3/8 inch plates. The boiler was fitted with glass water gauge, float, self-acting feed apparatus, and safety valve loaded to 52 lbs., and also a mercury gauge.

The tube collapsed over the fire, a rent taking place in the second ring of plates. The issuing steam and water caused the death of a man in front, but the shell of the boiler was not injured or moved.

The cause of the explosion was shortness of water, and as the glass 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._

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._

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._

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._