Lancashire boilerFig. 17.
Fig. 17.
Lancashire, 22ft. 6in. long, 7ft. 6in. diameter. Tubes 2ft. 10in.diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 70 lbs. pressure. The tube was somewhat corroded on the top, and gave way over the fire from weakness.
No.30. Bath.
May 25th.
1 killed, 1 injured.
Revolving Rag boiler of plain cylindrical shape, but revolving on trunnions, in the opposite direction toNo. 26, 12ft. high, 6ft. diameter, 9/16 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The steam was supplied from another boiler. The cover at one end was insecurely fastened and was blown off.
No.31. Oakengates. (Fig. 18.)
June 6th.
none injured.
balloon boilerFig. 18.
Fig. 18.
One of two, 20 years old. Balloon, 14ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 6 lbs. pressure. The pressure was allowed to far exceed the proper height during a temporary stoppage of the engine, and the bottom was rent off, and the top thrown some distance, but very little damage was done.
No.32. Wellingbro'. (Fig. 19.)
June 17th.
1 killed, 2 injured.
Cornish boilerFig. 19.
Fig. 19.
Cornish, 28ft. long, 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inchplates, 40 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed from weakness, and partly tore away from the back end, and the reaction from the issuing contents forced the boiler back a long way.
No.33. Tunstal (Fig. 20.)
June 28th.
8 killed 20 injured
Cornish boilerFig. 20.
Fig. 20.
Cornish, 43ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates. Tube 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed sideways from end to end through weakness, being without strengthening hoops, and with continuous longitudinal seams. The back end and part of the tube were thrown to the rear, and the rest of the boiler was thrown to the front, and separated into several fragments.
No.34. Glasgow.
July 9th.
3 killed.
The lid of a steam valve was being removed while under pressure, and the steam escaped and scalded those near.
No.35. Rotherham. (Fig. 21.)
July 11th.
none injured.
Cornish boilerFig. 21.
Fig. 21.
Cornish, 10 years old, 7ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 3ft. 3in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. Gave way where muchcorroded by the damp brickwork of the central wall, and the back ring of plates was torn out, and the boiler turned up on end, and much damage was done to the premises.
No.36.
July 17th.
none injured.
Cornish, 16 years old, 12ft. long, 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 48 lbs. pressure. Gave way at the bottom and rent open, a belt of plates being blown away to some distance. The bottom had been extensively corroded, by the boiler being left exposed to wet for many years before it was set at this place, rendering it unfit to bear the usual pressure.
No.37. Cumnock. (Fig. 22.)
July 28th.
1 injured.
one of five plain cylinder boilersFig. 22.
Fig. 22.
One of five, about 20 years old. Plain cylinder, 20ft. long, 4ft. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. The boiler had been much patched and altered, and was in very poor condition, and unfit to bear safely the ordinary pressure. Rupture commenced near the feed pipe, and ran along one side and then round each end, both of which were liberated and thrown far away, the barrel of the boiler spreading out on to the neighbouring boilers, one of which was much injured.
No.38. Shields. (Fig. 23.)
August 1st.
1 killed, 7 injured.
multitubular boiler pieces were much scatteredFig. 23.
Fig. 23.
Multitubular, 10 years old, 7ft. long, 3ft. 6in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure, but valve loaded to 80 lbs. Rupture commenced at the unguarded manhole, and the shell was rent intoseveral pieces which were much scattered. The safety valve was defective, and the boiler had been much weakened by many patches, and was in poor condition and unable to bear the pressure at which it was worked at the time of explosion.
No.39. Wakefield.
August 3rd.
1 killed, 1 injured.
One of five. Rag boiler, 5 lbs. pressure from the exhaust steam of an engine. The manhole was of very large size and insecurely fastened, and was blown off.
No.40. Cornwall. (Fig. 24.)
August 17th.
2 killed.
one tube Cornish boilerFig. 24.
Fig. 24.
Cornish, 30ft. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube 4ft. 3in. diameter, 18 lbs. pressure. Ruptured near brickwork at the bottom where much corroded externally, and one ring of plates was rent open. The boiler was displaced, and the premises were greatly damaged.
No.41. Shields.
August 26th.
none injured.
Chemical pan, 12ft. long, 5ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. The end was blown off, the rivets not being strong enough for the pressure of 35 lbs. as supplied from the boilers.
No.42. Blackburn. (Fig. 25.)
August 29th.
1 killed, 2 injured.
Lancashire boilerFig. 25.
Fig. 25.
Lancashire, 26ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tubes 2ft. 9in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The left hand tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water, and the contents issued violently and scalded those near.
No.43. Hereford.
August.
2 injured.
Chemical boiler, Plain cylinder, 12ft. 6in. high, 4ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, with cast-iron hemispherical ends with manhole in each. The pressure of 34 lbs. was obtained from another boiler. The bottom end gave way where the casting was defective, a piece was blown out, and the reaction of the issuing contents projected the boiler through the roof, through which it again descended and did much damage.
No.44. Cardiff. (Fig. 26.)
September 1st.
2 killed, 2 injured.
marine multitubular boilerFig. 26.
Fig. 26.
Marine. Multitubular, 6ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 60 lbs. pressure. The under side of fire box gave way at the front rivets, the heads of which were corroded, and a tongue of plate was torn upwards, allowing the contents to issue so violently, that those near were carried overboard and drowned.
No.45. Gresley. (Fig. 27.)
September 2nd.
7 injured.
one of six plain cylinder boilersFig. 27.
Fig. 27.
One of six, 2 years old. Plain cylinder, 40ft. long, 5ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 50 lbs. pressure. This case was peculiar, as the back part of the boiler was found a long way to the front, and the front end in the rear. An accumulation of scale caused pocket to form, and a hole to burn through the bottom over the grate, allowing the contents to issue so violently that the boiler was sent over end for end, when the front end was knocked off and thrown to the rear, and the contents then issuing more violently, the reaction sent the rest of the boiler in one piece a great distance to the front, where it fell, and was crushed nearly flat and broken into several fragments.
No.46. Cornwall. (Fig. 28.)
September 16th.
4 injured.
one tube Cornish boilerFig. 28.
Fig. 28.
One of two, 18 years old. Cornish, 32ft. 9in. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter. Tube 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 45 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from end to end, dropping together like an old sack, and cracking at the edges. A small piece at the front end was blown out. The cause was supposed to be shortness of water asthere was no gauge glass, but it was far more likely the weakness of so large a tube without strengthening hoops. The pressure was doubtless more than usual, as the engine had made a temporary stand. A similar collapse took place in the next boiler in December, 1869, and is described asNo. 57in the "records" of that year.
No.47. Hull. (Fig. 29.)
September 22nd.
2 injured.
Vertical with corrugated constructionFig. 29.
Fig. 29.
Vertical, with fire box of peculiar corrugated construction, 7ft. 6in. high, 3ft. diameter, 50 lbs. pressure. Gave way round the bottom of fire box where much corroded and rent open, and the reaction of the issuing contents carried the whole boiler to a considerable distance. The pressure gauge had been removed, and the safety valve did not act freely, and the pressure accumulated to more than the boiler could bear.
No.48. Grindleton. (Fig. 30.)
September 26th.
1 killed.
Lancashire boilerFig. 30.
Fig. 30.
Lancashire, 3 years old, 20ft. long, 7ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 2in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 60 lbs. pressure. The boiler gave way at the second ring of plates from the back end, at the side where externally corroded to a knife edge, by brickwork made damp by being next the side of a hill. The rents extended round the boiler,and it was turned nearly bottom upwards, and the shell opened out in the curious way shown in the sketch.
No.49. Bradford.
October 9th.
none injured.
One of three. Portable, multitubular, 8ft. long, 2ft. 6in. diameter, 80 lbs. pressure. There was no safety valve, dependence being placed on that of the boiler to which it was connected. Steam was got up without opening the connecting steam cock, and the consequent excessive pressure forced off the front end.
No.50. Tipton.
October 17th.
none injured.
One of twenty, 22 years old. One tube worked by two furnaces, 36ft. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube from end to left side 2ft. 8in. diameter, ½ inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water, and cracked at the edges and allowed the contents to escape without any violence.
No.51. Bury.
October 21st.
2 killed, 1 injured.
A wall fell upon and broke the steam pipes, and the escaping steam scalded those near.
No.52.
October 25th.
2 injured.
Chemical boiler. Plain cylinder, 9ft. 3in. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates. The back end was blown out, and the boiler moved forward a few yards, and the premises were much injured. The outlet pipes were choked up, and more pressure accumulated than it was capable of bearing.
No.53. Chesterfield. (Fig. 31.)
October 25th.
none injured.
plain cylinder boilerFig. 31.
Fig. 31.
Plain cylinder, 6ft. 6in. long, 2ft. 2in. diameter, 5/16 inch plates, 80 to 100 lbs. pressure. The manhole was weak and unguardedwith a strengthening ring, and ruptured and allowed the lid to blow out. The rents spread along a part where strength was much reduced by the rivets being countersunk to make room for attachments. The safety valve was defective and overloaded, and there was no gauge, and the boiler was unfit to bear the pressure to which it was exposed.
No.54. Northwich.
October 28th.
1 killed, 1 injured.
Chemical. The cover was unscrewed before the pressure was off, and the contents blew out violently and scalded those near.
No.55. Bowling. (Fig. 32.)
October 30th.
1 killed, 1 injured.
marine boilerFig. 32.
Fig. 32.
One of two, 17 years old. Marine, 12ft. 7in. long, 6ft. 3in. diameter. Tube 4ft. wide, 2ft. 9in. high, 16 lbs. pressure. The tube was much weakened by corrosion and screw-patching and collapsed upwards, with the slightly increased pressure of a temporary stoppage of the engine.
No.56. Bilston.
October.
none injured.
Chemical, 9ft. long, slightly oval, 4ft. greatest diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 2 lbs. pressure. Although not at work, it is supposed that a gas was gently passing off through a small pipe, 30ft. long, to a receiver which was under repair, and that this gas being accidentally lighted, communicated through the pipe with that in the boiler and exploded it. One end was blown off, the rupture passing completely round through the solid plate.
No.57. Newcastle. (Fig. 33.)
November 5th.
none injured.
Cornish boilerFig. 33.
Fig. 33.
Cornish, 25ft. long, about 6ft. diameter. Tube 3ft. 6in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. Tube collapsed from overheating through shortness of water.
No.58. Gravesend. (Fig. 34.)
November 8th.
2 killed.
marine boilerFig. 34.
Fig. 34.
One of two. Marine, 16ft. 6in. long, 8ft. 4in. diameter. Tube of irregular shape, about 2ft. 10in. high, 3/8 inch plates, 27 lbs.pressure. The gauge was so much out of order, that it only showed 24 lbs. under a real pressure of 80 lbs. The safety valve was defective and overloaded, and the pressure was sufficient to collapse and rupture the side flue, and the contents rushed out at the front.
No.59. Bilston. (Fig. 35.)
November 12th.
none injured.
Cornish boilerFig. 35.
Fig. 35.
One of four. Cornish, about 20 years old, 26ft. long, 6ft. 6in. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 40 lbs. pressure. Tube 3ft. 9in. diameter had been made in two parts, joined in the centre by a narrow plate 3/8 inch thick, and it collapsed at this joint, so that the top met the bottom, and thus so retarded the issue of the contents after being set in motion, that a shock was produced, which blew out an end and half the tube in opposite directions. The shell was left resting in its seat, and little damage was done to premises. The tube had much the appearance of collapse from shortness of water, but the most probable cause was that it was too weak without strengthening hoops to bear the ordinary pressure with safety.
No.60. Diss. (Fig. 36.)
November 11th.
2 killed.
portable multitubular boilerFig. 36.
Fig. 36.
Portable, multitubular, about 10 years old, 8ft. 3in. long, 2ft. 7in.diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. The bottom of the smoke box was reduced by external corrosion to less than 1/16 inch in thickness, and was consequently unable to bear the ordinary pressure, and a piece was blown out, and the reaction of issuing contents displaced the boiler a little and much damaged the premises.
No.61. Rotherham.
November 18th.
1 killed.
The screws of a manhole were loosened while the pressure remained in the boiler, and the lid was blown off.
No.62. Newcastle.
November 25th.
1 killed.
One of twelve. Chimney, 28ft. high, 6ft. diameter. Tube 2ft. 5in. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 25 lbs. pressure. The blow pipe was left open while some men were inside repairing, and the steam and water from the blow-off of another boiler in the same pipe was forced in upon them.
No.63. Cradley.
December 8th.
1 injured.
Locomotive, 11ft. long, 3ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 95 lbs. pressure. The pressure amounted to about 134 lbs. during a temporary effort to get up a steep curved incline, and the fire box was forced inwards and the outside shell outwards, and the stays drawn, but little other damage was done.
No.64. Middlesbro'. (Fig. 37.)
December 13th.
1 injured.
locomotiveFig. 37.
Fig. 37.
Locomotive, 18ft. 6in. long, 4ft. diameter, 7/16 inch plates, 120 lbs. pressure. Gave way under bottom of barrel where "furrowed" bythe combined action of corrosion and the strain upon the plates, by attachment to the frame of the engine.
No.65. Westbromwich. (Fig. 38.)
December 28th.
1 injured.
balloon boilerFig. 38.
Fig. 38.
One of five, 23 years old. Balloon, 16ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 5 lbs. pressure. It ruptured at the back where the plates in contact with brickwork were reduced by external corrosion, and the bottom was forced down upon the grate, and the top rolled over on to its side. The boiler was not being used, although connected with the other at work. The strain upon the bottom was increased by the boiler being over full and nearly to the brim. Those near were drenched with nearly cold water from it when it upset.
No.66. Glasgow. (Fig. 39.)
December 30th.
11 killed, 30 injured.
portable upright boilerFig. 39.
Fig. 39.
Portable upright, about 8 years old, 11ft. 4in. high, 4ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 100 lbs. pressure. The internal portion gave waywhere attached to the fire holes and collapsed inwards, and the reaction of the issuing contents forced the boiler up some distance on to the top of a house. The safety valve did not act properly, and the pressure appears to have accumulated to more than the boiler could bear, during a temporary stoppage of the engine.
R. Broomhall, Printer, Stourbridge.
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
Transcriber's note:In the Conclusions section, several figures are placed out of order as in the original.Several (apparently) missing punctuation marks have been added.The word ‘guage’ appears several times. It has been changed to ‘gauge’ in each location.Page numbers for the annual reports have been added.
Transcriber's note:
In the Conclusions section, several figures are placed out of order as in the original.
Several (apparently) missing punctuation marks have been added.
The word ‘guage’ appears several times. It has been changed to ‘gauge’ in each location.
Page numbers for the annual reports have been added.