The Locomotive - Lighthouse Survival Blog

130 THE LOCOMOTIVE, [September,
To assist those who have had difficulties of this sort, we present, herewith, another
plan for introducing the dissolved solvent, by means of which it is forced into the boiler
without passing through the pump at all. The present arrangement calls for more piping
than the ones previously shown, and its only advantage is, that it saves the pump.
Referring to the illustration, A is a section of big pipe,— say 6 inches in diameter
and 30 inches long,— which is to serve as a reservoir. This connects with the feed pipe
runnin"- from the pump to the boiler, by means of the pipes B, C, and F, which are so
arranged that they connect with the feed pipe on opposite sides of the stop valve D.
Over the reservoir is a funnel, 7i, by means of which the reservoir, A, can be filled
through the valve 77. The reservoir, A, is provided with pet-cocks, a and b, at the top
and bottom, so that it may be readily filled and emptied. A union is provided at C, to
facilitate the assembling of the piping. (A right-and-left elbow, of course, may be used
instead, if it is preferred.)
The device is used as follows : The
reservoir A being empty, valves E and F, and
pet-cock b, are first closed, and valve 77 and pet-cock a are opened. The soda ash solu-
tion is then poured into K, until the reservoir A is filled. The valve 77 and the pet-cock
a are then closed, as well as the valve I), in the main pipe. Valves E and 7 7 are then
opened, and the pump is started. The device is then in the condition shown in the
engraving, and the water from the pump passes around through B, C, and A, as shown
by the arrows, sweeping the contents of A out into the boiler.
When the pump has been run long enough to thoroughly remove all soda ash from
A, valve 7> may be opened, and valves E and 7^ closed. The reservoir A is then emptied
by opening pet-cock b and either pet-cock a or valve 77, and the device is again ready
for operation.
Boiler Explosions.
June, 1901.
(159.)— On May 24th the boiler of locomotive No. 492, of the Santa Fe railroad,
exploded near Paleman, Mo. Fireman John Hatfield received injuries from which he
died shortly afterwards. Engineer Andrew Smith was only slightly injured. The train
was running at full speed at the time, but the passengers were not injured, and would
not have known of the accident except for the noise and the stopping of the train.
(160.) — A boiler exploded on May 26th, at the coal dock of the Union railroad,
at Duquesne, Pa. Engineer John Turner and Fireman Jefferson Harris were painfully
scalded, and four other men were struck by flying bricks.
(161.) On May 27th a boiler exploded in the Cass City brick and tile works, at
Cass City, Mich. Engineer Auglus Leach was scalded and otherwise hurt, and died
within a few minutes. Perry Withey, George Warner, and H. Baxter were also in-
jured.
(162.)— A boiler exploded at Boonville, Mo., on May 28th, on the Rocheport
Ferry & Transfer Company's boat Lurline, plying between Boonville and Rocheport.
Nobody was injured, but the boat was destroyed.
(163.)— On May 28th the boiler of a steam shovel exploded at the Waukesha Stone
company's quarries, near Waukesha, Wis. Nobody but the night watchman was about
at the time, and he, fortunately, was not near the boiler at the time, and so escaped injury.
The explosion did considerable damage.