List of boiler explosions

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This article contains a list of steam boiler explosions such as railway locomotive, marine transport (military and civilian), and stationary power.

Events[]

Event Date Type Nation City/Locale Killed Injured Missing
Savery Explosion[1] 1716 Industrial  United Kingdom 1
Brunton's Mechanical Traveller[2] July 31, 1815 Locomotive  United Kingdom Philadelphia, Tyne and Wear 16
The Washington[3] 1816 Marine (Civilian)  United States Marietta, Ohio 12 5
The Aetna[3] May 15, 1824 Marine (Civilian)  United States New York City, New York 10 40
Stockton and Darlington Railway No. 2[4] or No.5[2] March 19, 1828 Locomotive  United Kingdom Simpasture, near Shildon 1 1
Stockton and Darlington Railway No. 1 Locomotion[2] July 1, 1828 Locomotive  United Kingdom Aycliffe Lane 1
Best Friend of Charleston[5] June 17, 1831 Locomotive  United States Charleston, South Carolina 1 3
Locomotive under test[6] November 1834 Locomotive  United States Baltimore, on Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1
Liverpool and Manchester Railway No. 33 Patentee[7] November 12, 1834 Locomotive  United Kingdom Whiston Bank
PS Union[8][9][10] 1837 Marine (Civilian)  United Kingdom Hull 20 20
SS Moselle (riverboat)[11] April 28, 1838 Marine (Civilian)  United States Cincinnati, Ohio 81 13 55
SS Pulaski June 14, 1838 Marine (Civilian)  United States Cape Hatteras, North Carolina 128
Harlem Railroad[12] July 4, 1839 Locomotive  United States 14th Street, New York City 2 5
Surprise[13][2] November 10, 1840 Locomotive  United Kingdom Bromsgrove 2 ?
SS Henry Eckford April 27, 1841 Marine (Civilian)  United States New York City, New York 1 2
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Richmond[14] September 2, 1844 Locomotive  United States Reading, Pennsylvania 4
London and North Western Railway 122 Goliah[15] 1847 Locomotive  United Kingdom
Great Western Railway Goliah[16] June 29, 1849 Locomotive  United Kingdom Plympton, foot of Hemerdon Bank 1
London and North Western Railway 401 [17] 1850 Locomotive  United Kingdom Longsight
Firth Woollen Mill[18] 1850 Industrial  United Kingdom Halifax, West Yorkshire 12[19] 17
The [20] February 4, 1850 Industrial  United States New York City, New York 67 50
Midland Railway 363 (ex Bristol and Gloucester Railway 7 Wickwar) [21] January 8, 1853 Locomotive  United Kingdom Clay Hill, Bristol
Erie Railroad [22] June 16, 1853 Locomotive  United States Susquehanna, Pennsylvania 5
SS Canemah August 8, 1853 Marine (Civilian)  United States Champoeg, Oregon 1
SS Shoalwater May 1853 Marine (Civilian)  United States , Oregon
SS Gazelle April 8, 1854 Marine (Civilian)  United States Oregon City, Oregon 24 many
Fieldhouse Mills[23] July 15, 1855 Industrial  United Kingdom Rochdale, Greater Manchester 10 13
Georgiana[24] November 23, 1855 Marine (Civilian)  United States Petaluma, California 1 2 0
SS Pennsylvania June 13, 1858 Marine (Civilian)  United States Memphis, Tennessee 250
London and North Western Railway 249[25] July 4, 1861 Locomotive  United Kingdom Rugby, Warwickshire 1
Erie Railroad [22] October 25, 1862 Locomotive  United States Jersey City docks 5
Great Western Railway Perseus[26] November 1862 Locomotive  United Kingdom Westbourne Park shed
Hembrigg Mills[27] June 27, 1863 Industrial  United Kingdom Morley, West Yorkshire 9
SS Ada Hancock April 23, 1863 Marine (Civilian)  United States San Pedro Bay, California 26 23
Tugboat Greenwood June 15, 1863 Marine (Civilian)  United States Barrytown, New York 7 3 3
Calcutta Explosion 1863  India Kolkata, West Bengal
Merrick Sons, Southwark Foundry April 6, 1864 Industrial  United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 7 13
USS Chenango April 15, 1864 Marine (Military)  United States New York City New York 28 6
Midland Railway 356[26] May 5, 1864 Locomotive  United Kingdom Colne, Lancashire 1 2
Great Northern 138[28] May 5, 1864 Locomotive  United Kingdom Metropolitan Railway's Bishop's Road station (now Paddington)
? 108[29] 1864 Locomotive  United Kingdom Leominster, Shrewsbury and Hereford Joint Railway
New York Central Railroad [22] June 18, 1864 Locomotive  United States Syracuse, New York 3
USS Tulip November 11, 1864 Marine (Military)  United States Potomac River, Maryland 49
Sultana April 27, 1865 Marine (Civilian)  United States Memphis, Tennessee 1800
Spa Well Mill, Elland[30] December 15, 1873 Industrial  United Kingdom Elland, nr Huddersfield, 3 4
Town & Son Factory[31] June 9, 1869 Industrial  United Kingdom Bingley, West Yorkshire 15
SS Senator May 6, 1875 Marine (Civilian)  United States Portland, Oregon
HMS Thunderer July 14, 1876 Marine (Military)  United Kingdom Portsmouth Harbour 45 70
Boston Stamping Company, under Seavey & Co. April 6, 1878 Industrial  United States East Cambridge, Massachusetts 3 6
Railway Explosion December 21, 1881 Locomotive  Australia New South Wales
Queensland Railways 1890 Locomotive  Australia Queensland
North East Dundas Tramway June 18, 1892 Locomotive  Australia Tasmania
Annie Faxon April 14, 1893 Marine (Civilian)  United States Columbia River 8
Zeehan May 1, 1899 Locomotive  Australia Tasmania
Great Eastern Railway No. 522[32] September 25, 1900 Locomotive  United Kingdom Westerfield, Suffolk 2 2
Grover Shoe Factory disaster March 20, 1905 Industrial  United States Brockton, Massachusetts 58 150
HMS Implacable July 12, 1905 Marine (Military)  United Kingdom 2
USS Bennington July 21, 1905 Marine (Military)  United States San Diego, California 66
HMS Implacable August 16, 1906 Marine (Military)  United Kingdom 2
Hemingway Paint & Colour Manufacturers boiler explosion[33] August 23, 1907 Industrial  United Kingdom Millwall, London 2
Central of Georgia Railway October 12, 1907 Locomotive  United States Reynolds, Georgia 2 2 0
Rhymney Railway 97[34] 1909 Locomotive  United Kingdom Rhymney Railway's Cardiff shed 3 3
SS Sarah Dixon January 18, 1912 Marine (Civilian)  United States Kalama, Washington 3
Southern Pacific Roundhouse[35] March 18, 1912 Locomotive  United States San Antonio, Texas 26
Rumney Shed April 21, 1912 Locomotive  United Kingdom Cardiff, Wales
SS City of Liverpool[36] February 24, 1913 Marine (Civilian)  United Kingdom Manchester Ship Canal, Nr Runcorn 1
SS James T. Staples[37][38] January 10, 1913 Marine (Civilian)  United States Bladon Springs, Alabama 26 21
Destroyer Ikazuchi October 9, 1913 Marine (Military)  Japan Ominato
Southern Pacific 4037[39] February 14, 1914 Locomotive  United States SP's San Joaquin Division
Maine Central Railroad [40] 1915 Locomotive  United States Ayers Junction
No.2[41] January 10, 1918 Locomotive  Spain Medina del Campo, VA 15 15 0
London and North Western Railway 132[42] November 11, 1921 Locomotive  United Kingdom Buxton, Derbyshire 2 1
Southern Pacific 4017[39] September 12, 1929 Locomotive  United States
LMS 6399 Fury February 10, 1930 Locomotive  United Kingdom 1
Southern Pacific 4402[43] December 25, 1931 Locomotive  United States near Richvale, California
Elkhorn Piney Coal Company January 27, 1934 Locomotive  United States Powellton, West Virginia 16
Deutsche Reichsbahn 02 101 April 3, 1939 Locomotive  Germany
Southern Pacific 4199[39] May 3, 1941 Locomotive  United States Cooper, California 4
Canadian National 242 August 9, 1941 Locomotive  Canada Montreal, Quebec 1 1
Pennsylvania Railroad 520 November 14, 1942 Locomotive  United States Cresson, Pennsylvania 2 4
SS Cascades 1943 Marine (Civilian)  United States Portland, Oregon
New York Central Railroad J-3a No. 5450 while hauling the 20th Century Limited[22][44] September 7, 1943 Locomotive  United States Canastota, New York 3
USATC S160 Class 1943, 1944 Locomotive  United Kingdom
Great Northern 2581[45] January 9, 1947 Locomotive  United States Crary, North Dakota ? ?
RL Smith Lumber Company 91[46] February 14, 1948 locomotive  United States Canby, California 2 2
Union Pacific 9018[47] October 20, 1948 Locomotive  United States 1.97 miles east of Upland, Kansas 3
May 4, 1951 Locomotive  East Germany Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works 11
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1642[48] June 9, 1953 Locomotive  United States Hinton, West Virginia 3
British Railways January 24, 1962 Locomotive  United Kingdom Bletchley, Buckinghamshire 0 2
New York Telephone Company building explosion[49] October 3, 1962 Stationary power  United States New York City, New York 23 94
USS Basilone February 5, 1973 Marine (Military)  United States 7
Deutsche Reichsbahn 01 1516 November 27, 1977 Locomotive  East Germany Bitterfeld railway station 9 45
Gettysburg Railroad 1278[50] June 16, 1995 Locomotive  United States Gardners, Pennsylvania 2
USS Willamette June 29, 1995 Marine (Military)  United States 0 7
[51][52][53] July 29, 2001 Antique Steam Tractor  United States Medina County 5 ~40
SS Norway May 25, 2003 Marine (Civilian)  United States Miami, Florida 8 17
Orewa College[54] June 24, 2009 Industrial  New Zealand Orewa, Auckland 1 1
[55][56] April 3, 2017 Industrial  United States St. Louis, Missouri 4 3

-SS Helen McGregor, Boiler Explosion, Memphis, TN, February 1830.

-Staten Island Ferry, Westfield II, FT boiler explosion: July 30, 1871.

-Givaudan Corporation, Delawanna Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey: Portable Fire Tube Boiler Explosion (1990s)

-Ford's River Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, Gas Boiler explosion, 6 killed 2/1/1999.

-St Mary's Hospital, Pennington Avenue, Passaic, New Jersey: Cleaver Brooks boiler Explosion 7/15/2006.

-Dana Corporation, Paris Tennessee, 400 Hp fire-tube boiler explosion 6/19/2007

Key safety developments[]

Year Event/Activity Type Nation Description
1847 Institution of Mechanical Engineers Technical Society  United Kingdom IMechE formed, emphasizing the importance of specialized mechanical knowledge, particularly with respect to steam power (i.e., see also Institution of Civil Engineers)
1855 Steam Users' Association[57] Technical Society  United Kingdom In Manchester, the "Association for the Prevention of Steam Boiler Explosions, and for effecting Economy in the Raising and Use of Steam" is formed and, eschewing direct regulation, advocates creation of trained inspectors.[58] Later adds the prefix " ..." to the name.
1855 Ramsbottom Safety Valve Safety valve  United Kingdom John Ramsbottom (engineer) invented a tamperproof safety valve.
1864 Bengal Act VI of 1864[59] Legislation  India Provided for the inspection of steam boilers in and around Kolkatta
1866 The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company Commercial  United States The first boiler insurance company in the U.S. is established in Hartford, CT[60]
1866 Gesellschaft zur Überwachung und Versicherung von Dampfkesseln Technical Society  Germany In response to a brewery explosion, a private society is founded to offer boiler inspections to its members. It is highly successful and later becomes the modern TÜV.
1880 American Society of Mechanical Engineers Technical Society  United States ASME formed, largely in response to calls for improvements in boiler safety
1882 Boiler Explosions Act, 1882[61] Legislation  United Kingdom Required notice of a boiler explosion to be sent to the Board of Trade within 24 hours of occurrence and established inquiry authorizations
1884 ASME Boiler Testing Code Safety Standard  United States The "Code for the Conduct of Trials of Steam Boilers", the first U.S. code for conducting boiler tests, is issued
1890 Boiler Explosions Act, 1890[62] Legislation  United Kingdom Extended 1882 requirements to marine vessels
1911 Uniform Boiler Rules, Massachusetts[63] Legislation  United States The Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopts uniform boiler rules, the first statewide boiler code to apply in the U.S. Equivalent rules are quickly adopted by other states (e.g., Ohio)
1915 ASME Boiler Code[64] Safety Standard  United States The ASME Boiler Code Committee issues "Standards for Specifications and Construction of Boilers and Other Containing Vessels in Which High Pressure is Contained"

-1887 Robert Henry Thurston's book Steam Boiler Explosions in Theory, and in Practice is published

References[]

  1. ^ Le Van, William Barnet (1892). Safety-Valves: Their History, Antecedents, Invention and Calculation. New York: Norman W. Henley & Co. pp. 134–135. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Hewison 1983, p. 26.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Grohman, Adam M. (April 2011). "Sentinels and Saviors of the Sea" (PDF). Boating World U. S. Coast Guard Series. River & Sound Publishing of NY, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-27. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  4. ^ Baxter 1986, p. 65.
  5. ^ Shaw 1978, p. 16.
  6. ^ Shaw 1978, pp. 46–47.
  7. ^ Baxter 1978, p. 13.
  8. ^ Schroder, Henry (1851), "Explosion of a Steam Packet Boiler at Hull", The annals of Yorkshire from the earliest period to the present time, 1, Crosby & Co., Leeds, pp. 303–4
  9. ^ "Abstract of the evidence at the inquest relating to the explosion of the boiler of the "Union" steam packet at Hull", The Mechanics' magazine, museum, register, journal, and gazette, 27, W.A. Robertson, London, 1837, pp. 189–192
  10. ^ Timperley, J.; Cubitt, W.; MacNeill, J.; Buddle, J.; Field, J. (1838). "On the Explosion of One of the Boilers of the Union Steam Packet, at Hull. (Includes Discussion)". Minutes of the Proceedings. 1 (1838): 41. doi:10.1680/imotp.1838.24811.
  11. ^ Lloyds Steamboat Disasters
  12. ^ Shaw 1978, p. 47.
  13. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, p. 69.
  14. ^ Shaw 1978, pp. 47–48.
  15. ^ Baxter 1978, p. 16.
  16. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, pp. 69–70.
  17. ^ Baxter 1978, p. 22.
  18. ^ "Boiler Explosion at Halifax". The Mechanics' Magazine. LIII (1428): 488–489. 21 December 1850. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  19. ^ Leeds Intelligencer 22 March 1851
  20. ^ Common Council, New York, NY (1850). Report of the Special Committee: Catastrophe In Hague Street. New York: McSpedon & Baker. Retrieved 2009-06-13.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Also see: Little, George P. (1860). The Fireman's Own Book, Chapter: Explosion and Fire in Hague Street. pp. 259–277. Retrieved 2009-06-13. "The Dreadful Explosion in New York". The Friend: A Religious and Literary Journal: 176. February 16, 1850. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  21. ^ Baxter 1982, p. 27.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Shaw 1978, p. 48.
  23. ^ Dodsley, James (1855). The Annual Register, Entry for July 15, 1854: Terrific Boiler Explosion At Rochdale. London: F. & J. Rivington. p. 112. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  24. ^ Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 10, Number 1456, 24 November 1855 p.2, col.5
  25. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, p. 71.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Rolt & Kichenside 1982, p. 72.
  27. ^ William, Smith (1866). Rambles about Morley. London: John Russell Smith. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  28. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, pp. 72–73.
  29. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, p. 73.
  30. ^ Huddersfield Chronicle, 17 Dec 1873, p4, printed in Huddersfield, England
  31. ^ Burke, Edmund (1869). The Annual Register, Entry for June 9, 1869. p. 55. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  32. ^ Lt.-Col. P G von Donop, R.E. (November 13, 1900). (PDF) http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_Westerfield1900.pdf. Retrieved 15 July 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. ^ Lincolnshire Echo, 24 Aug 1907, p4, col3, printed in Lincoln, England
  34. ^ Rolt & Kichenside 1982, pp. 74–75.
  35. ^ "THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE EXPLOSION". colfa.utsa.edu. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  36. ^ Directors minutes of North Lonsdale Ironworls Co, BDB47 box 16 at CRO, Barrow
  37. ^ Ward, Rufus (2010). The Tombigbee River Steamboats: Rollodores, Dead heads, and Side-wheelers. Charleston, South Carolina: History Press. pp. 129, 169. ISBN 978-1-59629-285-7.
  38. ^ James V. Swift (May 14, 2001). "This Southern Steamboat Had A Tragic Ending" (PDF). Waterways Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c Reed, Brian (1972). Loco Profile 28: S.P. Cab-in-Fronts. Windsor, Berkshire: Profile Publications Ltd. p. 95.
  40. ^ Shaw 1978, p. 49.
  41. ^ «La Horrorosa Catástrofe de Medina (The terrible disaster of Medina)», article in El Adelanto de Salamanca (The Forward of Salamanca), 11-01-1918, page 2. Ministry of Culture of Spain historic newspaper server.
  42. ^ "Accident at Buxton on 11th November 1921". Railways Archive. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  43. ^ Reed, Brian. Loco Profile 20: The American 4-8-4. Windor, Berkshire: Profile Publications Ltd.
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  45. ^ Keyes, Norman C., Jr; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company:All-Time Locomotive Roster, 1861-1970". Railroad History. Boston: The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. (143).
  46. ^ "Foothill Rails Rosters P-Q-R".
  47. ^ Kratville, William W.; Bush, John E. (1995). The Union Pacific Type, Volume II. Omaha, Nebraska. pp. 282–289. LCCN 90082171.
  48. ^ Long, Roy (October 29, 2002). "Railroad Recollections: More About Engine 1642 Explosion". The Hinton News. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  49. ^ "BOILER‐BLAST SUIT ASKS $8.2 MILLION; 10 Sue in '62 Phone Building Explosion Fatal to 23". The New York Times. July 15, 1964.
  50. ^ "Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion on the Gettysburg Railroad Near Gardners, Pennsylvania June 16, 1995" (PDF). ntsb.gov. National Transportation Safety Board. November 15, 1996. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  51. ^ Boiler Explosion in Ohio, USA First Hand Observations from Andrew Semple
  52. ^ "Steam Engine Blast At Ohio Fairgrounds Leaves 4 Men Dead". The New York Times. 30 July 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  53. ^ "The Final Report on the Tragedy at the Medina County Fairgrounds - Steam Engines - Steam Traction". Farm Collector. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  54. ^ Ruscoe, Kim (25 June 2009). "Death after school boiler explosion". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  55. ^ Byers, Christine (April 6, 2017). "4th victim who died from boiler blast near Soulard remembered as hard worker; funds set up for families". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  56. ^ Bell, Kim; Byers, Christine; Kohler, Jeremy (April 4, 2017). "2 new employees filling out paperwork among dead in St. Louis boiler explosion". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  57. ^ Fairbairn, William (1855). Useful Information For Engineers, Lecture III "On Boiler Explosions: The remedies applicable for the prevention of accidents arising from explosions" and Appendix IV "Association for the Prevention of Steam Boiler Explosions" (1st ed.). London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green (4th Ed.). pp. 75–83, 350–353 (4th Ed., 1864). Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  58. ^ Fletcher, Lavington E. (October 1869). "Boiler Explosions". Van Nostrand's Eclectic Engineering Magazine. I (X): 940–941. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  59. ^ Bombay Legislative Council (1870). Proceedings of the Council of the Governor of Bombay. Government Central Press. p. 85. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  60. ^ Zartman, Lester William (1909). Fire Insurance, Chapter XIX. Steam Boiler Insurance. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. pp. 352–353. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  61. ^ Great Britain (1882). The Law Journal Reports for the Year 1882, Boiler Explosions Act (Chapter 22). pp. 41–43. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  62. ^ Great Britain (1890). The Practical Statutes of the Session 1890, Boiler Explosions Act, 1890. London: Horace Cox. pp. 332–333. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  63. ^ Heine Safety Boiler Co. (1920). Steam Boiler Engineering. St. Louis, Missouri: Heine Safety Boiler Co. p. 51. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  64. ^ Croft, Terrell (Ed.) (1921). Steam Boilers, Division 4 "Boiler Codes and Inspection Laws". New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. pp. 73–76. Retrieved 2009-06-14.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • Baxter, Bertram (1978). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 2A: London and North Western Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 0-903485-51-6.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1982). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923. 3A: Midland Railway and its constituent companies. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 9780903485524.
  • Baxter, Bertram (1986). Baxter, David (ed.). British Locomotive Catalogue 1825–1923, Volume 5A: North Eastern Railway, Hull and Barnsley Railway. Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Moorland Publishing Company. ISBN 0-903485-54-0.
  • Hewison, Christian H. (1983). Locomotive Boiler Explosion. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8305-1.
  • Rolt, L. T. C.; Kichenside, G. M. (1982). Red for Danger: A history of railway accidents and railway safety (4th ed.). Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8362-0. OCLC 9526651.
  • Shaw, Robert B. (1978). A History of Railroad Accidents, Safety Precautions and Operating Practices. LCCN 78104064.

Further reading[]

Contemporary listings and accounts[]

Other[]

  • For a short status of European steam users' associations and boiler insurance companies c. 1897, see Hale, R. S. (April 1897). "European Boiler Practice". Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies. XVIII (4): 242–243. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
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