Part 9

_No. 20. Belfast. (Fig. 10.) April 20th. 1 killed, 2 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 6ft. long, 2ft. 5in. diameter, plates 1/4 inch, pressure 90 lbs. The end blew out from excessive pressure, as the escape from the safety valve was prevented by a plug in the exit pipe.

_No. 21. Birmingham. (Fig. 11.) May 9th. 2 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 3ft. 2in. long, 1ft. 8in. diameter, plates 5/16 inch, pressure 30 lbs. Workmanship and material very inferior. Piece of top ripped out from manhole and allowed manlid to blow out through manhole. The cause of the explosion was, the large manhole and over-pressure. The safety valve was too small, and very roughly made.

_No. 22. Hartlepool. (Fig. 12.) May 10th. 1 killed, 1 injured._

Locomotive, 130 lbs. pressure. Barrel blown away and broken to pieces, leaving fire and smoke boxes. The cause of explosion was supposed to be the strain on the boiler caused by its being made a stay to the frame without allowance for expansion, and thereby weakening a horizontal seam.

_No. 23. Newark. (Fig. 13.) May 18th. 4 injured._

Cornish, one tube 20ft. 6in. long, 5ft. 4-1/2in. diameter, tube 3ft. diameter, plates 3/8 inch, pressure 64 lbs. The ends came out and tube collapsed for its full length, every joint being broken. The cause of explosion was bad construction and workmanship, and tube too weak for pressure.

_No. 24. Tamworth. (Fig. 14.) June 4th. 2 killed._

Two tube, externally fired, 30ft. long, 7ft. diameter, tubes 2ft. 4in. diameter, pressure 50 lbs. Two plates lately put in bottom gave way, and shell rent along bottom and opened out, dividing into several pieces, which were scattered to great distances, but are arranged in sketch so as to show their original position. The cause of explosion was too frequent repair over the fireplace, and external firing.

_No. 25. Dudley. (Fig. 15.) July 10th. 1 killed, 2 injured._

Balloon, 22ft. diameter, pressure 5 lbs. Bottom blew out and was torn in pieces. Main portion of shell fell over on to another boiler. The cause of explosion was deep corrosion along the bottom where it rested on the brickwork.

_No. 26. Batley. (Fig. 16.) July 11th. 3 killed, 3 injured._

One tube Cornish, 26ft. long, 8ft. 10-1/2in. diameter, tube 5ft. diameter, for 8ft. 6in. of front end, tapering to 4ft. diameter at back, pressure 30 lbs. Rent along bottom, allowing central ring of plates to open out. The whole boiler was thrown some distance by the reaction of issuing contents. The cause of explosion was corrosion at mid-feather wall, the plates being little thicker than paper.

_No. 27. Rotherham. (Fig. 17.) July 13th. none injured._

Two tube Cornish, 31ft. long, 7ft. diameter, tube 2ft. 7in., tapering to 2ft., pressure 55 lbs. Left hand tube collapsed, and about the centre of collapse, plate was torn in two pieces from seam to seam. The cause of explosion was overheating, because the water was being let low before all the fire was out.

_No. 28. Bilton. (Fig. 18.) July 24th. 1 injured._

Locomotive. Side-plate in the upper part of high top fire-box blew away. The cause of explosion was most likely the boiler being made the frame of the engine without allowance for expansion.

_No. 29. Ecclesfield. August 5th. 1 killed, 2 injured._

Full particulars were not obtained, but the steam and hot water were allowed to come in from a neighbouring boiler through the blow-off pipe while the men were cleaning.

_No. 30. Belfast. (Fig. 19.) August 27th. 7 killed, 3 injured._

Cornish, 18ft. long, 4ft. 9in. diameter, tube 1ft. 6in. diameter, plates 3/8 inch, pressure 50 lbs. There were no stays. End plate blew out while being caulked at a jump joint in back angle iron. The cause of explosion was bad construction and want of stays, and also want of proper care in working.

_No. 31. Plashetts. September 2nd. 2 injured._

Locomotive, but no details obtained.

_No. 32. Ashton. September 9th. none injured._

Two flued, 40 lbs. pressure. The cast-iron mouth-piece of manhole fractured from insufficient strength, and allowed lid and upper flange to blow off.

_No. 33. Blackburn. October 4th. 4 injured._

Water Heater, made of large bottle-shaped pipes placed in the flue. The force of explosion caused the neighbouring boilers to be unseated. No details have been obtained as to the cause of the explosion.

_No. 34. London. (Fig. 20.) October 7th. 1 killed._

One tube Cornish, 11ft. long, 4ft. diameter, plates 3/8 inch, tube 2ft. 1-1/2in. diameter, pressure 50 lbs. Gave way underneath. Top thrown upwards. Front part and tube thrown to the front. The cause of the explosion was extensive corrosion at the bottom where it touched the walls.

_No. 35. Preston. October 31st. none injured._

Cornish, 26ft. long, 5ft. 6in. diameter, tube 2ft. 11in. diameter, plates 3/8 inch. Pressure 30 lbs. Tube collapsed for want of proper strengthening hoops, blowing out back end, and throwing boiler forward.

_No. 36. Durham. (Fig. 21.) November 3rd. 1 killed, 1 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 19ft. long, 6ft. diameter, pressure 40 lbs. It was 36 years old, and iron deteriorated and also much patched. The cause of explosion was over-pressure for so old a boiler.

_No. 37. Bradford. (Fig. 22.) November 6th. 2 killed, 3 injured._

Agricultural, wagon-shaped, 6ft. 5in. long, 3ft. high, 2ft. 4in. wide, plates 3/8 inch, pressure 50 lbs. Upper portion of barrel blew off. The cause of the explosion was over-pressure from locked safety valve and defective construction.

_No. 38. Sheffield. (Fig. 23.) November 7th. 1 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 12ft. 3in. long, 3ft. 11in. diameter, pressure 20 lbs., flat front, and round back end. Main portion thrown back and front forward. Front torn all round the root of angle iron, and stay rivets drawn through flat end. The cause of explosion was weakness of construction of flat end, and bad safety valve, which could have been loaded to 60 lbs.

_No. 39. Langley Mill. (Fig. 24.) November 11th. 3 killed, 10 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 40ft. long, 5ft. diameter, plates 7/16 inch, pressure 45 to 50 lbs. Parted at third seam, and front thrown forward and main portion backwards. The cause of explosion was a seam-rip of old standing near patch at place of first rupture.

_No. 40. Bradford. (Fig. 25.) November 14th. 4 killed, 3 injured._

Breeches tube 25ft. 6in. long, 7ft. 6in. diameter, plates 7/16 inch, pressure 30 lbs. Front end and fire-grate tubes and taper junction were thrown to the front in one piece. Main shell not injured. Back part of tube remained in boiler. Bottom part of taper junction where flattened to receive the two fire tubes, collapsed upwards. The cause of explosion was the want of proper stays or strengthening tubes, and consequent weakness. There was only one safety valve of small size.

_No. 41. Chippenham. (Fig. 26.) November 21st. 3 killed, 2 injured._

One tube Cornish, 11ft. long, 5ft. diameter, pressure 44 lbs. Tube gave way at an old crack at back of strap-plate and partially collapsed.

_No. 42. Dudley. (Fig. 27.) November 27th. 1 killed._

Plain Cylinder, 25ft. long, 6ft. diameter, plates 7/16 inch, pressure 50 lbs. Had been a one tube Cornish, but tube had been taken out, leaving flat ends. Back end was blown out. Main shell thrown forwards. The cause of explosion was weakness of construction in not sufficiently strengthening the flat end to compensate for loss of tube.

_No. 43. Shields. (Fig. 28.) December 7th. none injured._

One tube Cornish, 28ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tube 4ft. diameter, plates 3/8 inch. Pressure 28 lbs. Tube collapsed for the whole length, but no particulars of the cause obtained.

_No. 44. Belfast. December 14th. 2 killed._

Some repair had been done to a Boiler, and a blank flange used to stop off the steam was being removed without shutting the stop-valves to the other boilers, and the joint blew out when the bolts were loosened.

_No. 45. Manchester. (Fig. 29.) December 23rd. 6 killed, 4 injured._

One tube Cornish, 18ft. long, 6ft. diameter, tube 3ft. 2in. diameter, plates 3/8 inch. Pressure 25 lbs. Rent along bottom, and two rings of plates blown away, but tube and ends not much injured. The cause of explosion was extensive corrosion on the part resting on the mid-feather wall.

_No. 46. Barnsley. (Fig. 30.) December 28th. 1 killed._

Balloon, 11ft. 6in. diameter, and 11ft. 6in. high, plates 3/8 inch. Bottom domed up 3ft. 6in. over fire; ordinary pressure 8 lbs. Boiler had worked two days at 25 lbs. pressure, but safety valve loaded to 16 lbs. The cause of explosion was undue pressure for an old boiler of such weak shape.

_No. 47. Leeds. (Fig. 31.) December 30th. 2 injured._

Two tube Cornish, 22ft. long, 7ft. 2in. diameter, tubes 2ft. 7in. diameter, pressure 15 lbs. Rent along bottom, and shell blown away, leaving tubes and ends nearly uninjured. The cause of explosion was, that the bottom was corroded to a knife edge all along the mid-feather wall.

_No. 48. Shields. (Fig. 32.) December 31st. 2 killed, 1 injured._

Plain Cylinder, 30ft. long, 4ft. 6in. diameter, plates 3/8 inch, pressure 29 lbs. Rent over fire near where a new plate had lately been put in. Front part of shell opened out and rent, and back end blew away in one piece. The cause of explosion was deterioration from 20 years' wear, and bad management.

BOILER EXPLOSIONS IN 1868.

_No. 1. Newcastle. (Fig. 1.) January 13th. none injured._

One of three. Plain Cylinder, 27ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 35 lbs. pressure. The boiler was much torn up, and all the fragments thrown to the front of their original position. The cause of the explosion was that the boiler was very old and much deteriorated, so that it was unable to bear the ordinary pressure. The longitudinal arrangement of the plates, and the entrance of the feed directly on the bottom, no doubt contributed to the weakness.

_No. 2. Glasgow. January 27th. 1 killed, 5 injured._

One of four. Kier or steam chamber, and not used for generating steam. It was 8ft. 6in. high, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. It was rent from top to bottom, owing to inferior iron and workmanship.

_No. 3. Sheffield. (Fig. 2.) January 28th. 1 killed._

One of four. One tube Cornish, 26ft. 4in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. 9in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 15 lbs. pressure. The dotted line shows outside shell of boiler. The tube collapsed from end to end while the steam was being raised, owing to the weakness of so large a tube without strengthening rings.

_No. 4. London. (Fig. 3.) January 29th. 1 killed._

One tube Cornish, 18ft. 3in. long, 4ft. 10in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. Tube 3ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates. In sketch the external shell is shown in outline to allow the tube to be seen. The tube collapsed owing to shortness of water, and rent open at one seam, allowing the contents to issue violently, although the boiler itself was not disturbed.

_No. 5. Bolton. (Fig. 4.) January 31st. 1 injured._

Locomotive, 90 lbs. Sketch shows interior view of fire-box with front removed. The left side of the copper fire-box burst inwards owing to the plate in line of fracture being corroded to less than 1/8 inch.

_No. 6. Stoke. (Fig. 5.) February 6th. none injured._

One of three. One tube Cornish, with two external fire grates with a water tube over each fire. It was 30ft. 2in. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. External shell is shown in dotted lines to allow of the tubes being seen. The tube had formerly been placed rather higher in the boiler. The tube collapsed sideways, having become overheated from shortness of water. The boiler itself was but little disturbed.

_No. 7. Kelso. (Fig. 6.) February 11th. none injured._

One tube Cornish, 9ft. 9in. long, 4ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 2ft. 3in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The boiler rent open at the bottom, and was thrown a considerable distance by the reaction of the issuing contents. The plates along the bottom were reduced by corrosion to 1/16 inch where in contact with the brickwork, so that the boiler was unable to bear the usual working pressure.

_No. 8. Durham. (Fig. 7.) February 12th. 2 killed, 1 injured._

One of four. External shell is shown in dotted lines in sketch, to allow the tubes to be seen. It was 20ft. long, 7ft. diameter, 40 lbs. pressure. The two internal fire grates in the flues were 2ft. 8in. diameter, which joined at the back with a central return flue to a chimney passing out of the top of the boiler. The sides of flues were flattened to allow them to be packed closer together, and especially the central return flue, which was flattened on both sides, and thus rendered so weak that the left side collapsed and allowed the contents of the boiler to issue, blowing out the grate on the left side.

_No. 9. Halifax. (Fig. 8.) March 3rd. none injured._

Plain Cylinder, with flat ends, 18ft. 6in. long, 3ft. 11in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The back end gave way at the root of the angle iron all round, and was thrown 60 yards to the rear. The boiler was forced forward, and tilted up by the reaction of the issuing contents, and forced through a wall. The cause of explosion was the want of sufficient stays to the flat end.

_No. 10. Newcastle. (Fig. 9.) April 4th. 1 killed, 4 injured._

One of four. Plain Cylinder, 28ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The boiler was much torn and scattered, and much damage was done. The plates were improperly arranged longitudinally. The boiler gave way at a patch lately put on, and had become so deteriorated by nearly 30 years' wear, that it was unable to bear the usual pressure.

_No. 11. Aberdeen. April 7th. 1 killed._

Two tube Cornish, 6ft. diameter. Few particulars have been obtained. The upper part of front end was blown out and did considerable damage. Most likely this was for want of proper stays.

_No. 12. April 15th. 1 injured._

One of four. One tube Cornish, 15ft. long, 4ft. 7in. diameter. Tube 2ft. 8in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed and rent open near the bridge, owing to its weakness with such thin plates and no strengthening rings.

_No. 13. Cornwall. May 1st. 1 killed._

No details obtained. One tube Cornish. Tube collapsed, owing to its weakness without strengthening rings.

_No. 14. Cornwall. May 9th. none injured._

Few particulars obtained. One tube Cornish, 34ft. long. Tube 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed owing to its weakness without strengthening rings.

_No. 15. Oldham. May 11th. 1 killed, 1 injured._

A very small plain cylinder, 3ft. 5in. long, 1ft. 8in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. It burst at a faulty place at the lower part of the back, on the left hand side, allowing the hot water to issue, but the boiler was not much disturbed.

_No. 16. Bristol. May 11th. 1 killed._

Marine. Single internal fire grate, with small return tube, 7ft. 9in. long, 5ft. 4in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, tube 2ft. 7in. diameter, 1/4 inch plates, 62 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed and rent open owing to its weak, corroded, and deteriorated condition, and the contents issued so violently, as to cause much damage to the boat.

_No. 17. Hull. (Fig. 10.) May 12th. 2 killed, 2 injured._

One of two. Plain Cylinder, 4ft. 9in. long, 3ft. diameter, 1/4 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. This was a second-hand boiler, and rent into several pieces just after being put to work, owing to its having become thinned to 1/8 inch by corrosion.

_No. 18. Coatbridge. May 15th. 1 injured._

Plain Cylinder, flat ends, 15ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The back end blew out and caused considerable damage, and the boiler was thrown some distance. The end was very insufficiently stayed.

_No. 19. Gravesend. (Fig. 11.) May 28th. 2 killed._

One of two. Marine, 13ft. 5in. long, 7ft. 2in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. The fire was in two internal furnace tubes united at the back, and the flame was returned to the front by four smaller tubes. The furnace tubes were of exceedingly weak shape as the sides followed the curve of the shell, but were not attached to it by proper stays, so that the left hand tube collapsed upwards, and one seam rent open and allowed the contents to violently escape. It is probable there may have been greater pressure than usual at the time, but the furnaces without stays were unsafe, even at the ordinary pressure.

_No. 20. Durham. (Fig. 12.) June 8th. 2 killed._

One of eight. Plain Cylinder, 30ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 35 lbs. pressure. The plates were arranged longitudinally. Boiler had worked 27 years, and was much deteriorated, and gave way at an old fracture over the grate, and was torn into 4 pieces, which were thrown a great distance.

_No. 21. Huddersfield. (Fig. 13.) June 20th. 1 killed, 6 injured._

One tube Cornish, 24ft. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. The seams were arranged diagonally, but the rents had not followed the seams, but had torn the plates. The shell gave way where extensive corrosion had reduced the plates to 1/8 inch in thickness, and all the shell was blown off, and the tube thrown over and turned end for end.

_No. 22. June 22nd. none injured._

Two tube Cornish, 27ft. long, 7ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 70 lbs. pressure. Left hand tube collapsed from end to end owing to its weakness without strengthening rings.

_No. 23. Halifax. July 9th. 6 injured._

Two tube Cornish, 20ft. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube 2ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 55 lbs. pressure. The shell was blown completely off, leaving the tubes and ends intact. The bottom was extensively corroded, so that the strength of the boiler was so reduced as not to be able to bear the usual pressure.

_No. 24. Wrexham. (Fig. 14.) July 9th. 2 injured._

Two Furnace Upright, 22ft. high, 8ft. 10in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 14 lbs. pressure. Small piece was blown out of the bottom, and the issuing contents disturbed the brickwork surrounding the boiler. The plate was corroded to a knife edge in the line of fracture, from the leaking of the adjacent blow-pipe joint.

_No. 25. Dundee. July 13th. 1 killed, 1 injured._

Two tube Cornish, 28ft. 6in. long, 7ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. Tube 2ft. 2in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. Both furnaces collapsed, and ruptured from overheating through shortness of water.

_No. 26. Halifax. July 14th. 3 injured._

Locomotive, 10ft. 9in. long, 4ft. diameter, 1/2 inch plates, 130 lbs. pressure. Nearly all the barrel was blown away. The inside was very much corroded, and there was a deep furrow at the line of first rupture, caused by the alteration in form of the boiler in the strain of working. This is usually obviated by substituting butt for lap joints, so that the pressure does not tend to alter the circular shape of barrel.

_No. 27. Limerick. July 21st. 2 killed, 1 injured._

Locomotive. Few particulars are obtained. The connecting rod broke, and the loose end attached to the crank pierced the boiler, and allowed the contents to issue and scald those near.

_No. 28. Hanley. (Fig. 15.) July 31st. 1 killed._

One of three. Plain Cylinder, 36ft. 9in. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The boiler parted at a seam over the fire bridge. The front end was thrown upwards and to a considerable distance to the front. The back part of the boiler was forced backwards. The first rent took place at a seam-rip at the ruptured seam, and the boiler exploded while the fire was being drawn in order to repair the faulty place.

_No. 29. Easter Ross. August 8th. 2 killed, 3 injured._

Agricultural. It exploded while travelling, by its own steam power. The engine had stuck fast, and extra pressure of steam was raised to try and extricate it. The boiler was torn in pieces, and scattered to a great distance.

_No. 30. Bilston. (Fig. 16.) August 17th. 1 killed._

One of two. Plain Cylinder, 30ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 46 lbs. pressure. The boiler gave way on the side where the plates were overheated by the water being too low, and the front part of the shell was flattened out and thrown some distance to the rear, as its course was influenced by its remaining attached to the rest of the boiler as by a hinge; while the front end was rent into several pieces, and the back end was thrown also to the rear and rolled down a declivity into a stream.

_No. 31. Liverpool. (Fig. 17.) August 20th. 7 killed, 5 injured._

Two Furnace Chimney Boiler, 42ft. 4in. high, 6ft. 9in. diameter, 1/2 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. Nearly half the bottom plate was blown out, and the issuing contents found their way into the furnace and increased the damage. The line of rupture near where it joined the shell was corroded almost to a knife edge, which so reduced its strength as to make it unable to bear the usual working pressure of steam, in addition to that of the column of water in the boiler.

_No. 32. Accrington. August 31st. 1 killed._

A Kier or Steam Bleaching Chamber, somewhat like No. 2, and not used for generating steam, 9ft. high, 8ft. diameter, 1/2 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The bottom blew out, and the shell was torn to pieces. The cause of explosion was weakness of the ruptured end, and want of care in working.

_No. 33. Birmingham. September 11th. 1 killed, 1 injured._

Two tube Cornish. The manlid was wrongly fixed outside with internal clamps. It was being screwed up tighter to stop leaking when the bolt broke, and the lid came off and allowed the contents of the boiler to escape.

_No. 34. Greatbridge. (Fig. 18.) September 21st. none injured._

One of four. One tube, externally fired, 18ft. 6in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 1/2 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. In sketch the shell is shown in dotted lines to allow the tube to be seen. The tube collapsed from end to end and ruptured at two seams, and the contents issued so violently as to knock down the brickwork and displace the boiler. The tube was in a very weak and corroded condition, and unable to bear the usual working pressure.

_No. 35. Moxley. (Fig. 19.) September 28th. 13 killed, 2 injured._