The Steamboating Forum

Interesting account, in the UK inspections were promoted by the Manchester Steam Users Association but design was originally dealt with by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Probably the first boiler explosion in the UK was in 1716 and may have been a Savory pump, the Newcomen engines only working just above atmospheric pressure (utilised the power of the vacuum).

JohnG

I'm going by memory here and I can't seem to find anything on the web to confirm this, but I THINK that it the 1840's, a group of engineers, businessmen, and others interested in boiler safety convened in Boston to examine the causes of boiler explosions.The conclusion reached was.... guess what? That HUMAN ERROR was the main cause of boiler explosions.

I seem to remember that the first recorded boiler explosion in the United States was on the steam locomotive Best Friend of Charleston when the engineer got tired of the noise coming from the safety valve sat on it (I think it must have been one of those very early types with a long lever carrying a weight at its very end). Good old human error again.

Of course it is always human error. Often operator human error but not always. The whole reason for boiler codes is to try to pass on hard won lessons about human errors to the next generation.

That is why the codes not only specify the physical properties and processes involved with the building of the boiler but things like making it an offense not only against the code but often against the law to fool around with the safety valve.

A person who buggers up a safety valve and thus causes an explosion should not only be liable in civil court but in criminal court. As I have said before, when I first saw my boat there was a shut off valve between the boiler and the safety valve! If I saw that at a steam meet I would first remonstrate with the owner/operator of the vessel. Then, if that didn't take care of it, appeal to the organizers. If that didn't get some attention I would seriously entertain bringing in some higher authority, be it the Coast Guard or local law enforcement.

Yes, there might not be a law specifically dealing with this situation but I would be prepared to be the bad boy who raised an almighty stink rather than get someone injured or killed.

Better to alienate the few than obliterate the many.

Lopez Mike wrote:Of course it is always human error. Often operator human error but not always. The whole reason for boiler codes is to try to pass on hard won lessons about human errors to the next generation.

That is why the codes not only specify the physical properties and processes involved with the building of the boiler but things like making it an offense not only against the code but often against the law to fool around with the safety valve.

A person who buggers up a safety valve and thus causes an explosion should not only be liable in civil court but in criminal court. As I have said before, when I first saw my boat there was a shut off valve between the boiler and the safety valve! If I saw that at a steam meet I would first remonstrate with the owner/operator of the vessel. Then, if that didn't take care of it, appeal to the organizers. If that didn't get some attention I would seriously entertain bringing in some higher authority, be it the Coast Guard or local law enforcement.

Yes, there might not be a law specifically dealing with this situation but I would be prepared to be the bad boy who raised an almighty stink rather than get someone injured or killed.

Things are a little jumbled in my memory at the moment, but when I was reading all I could find about that horrible traction engine explosion in Ohio, I seem to remember it being said the the owner had been ejected from more than one steamup with other engines because of unsafe practices, specifically keeping the water low.

87gn@tahoe wrote:Better to alienate the few than obliterate the many.

Where is the like button?....Thumbs up!

Ken