Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion on the Gettysburg Railroad ...

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Abstract: On June 16, 1995, the firebox crownsheet of Gettysburg Passenger Services, Inc., steam locomotive 1278 failed while the locomotive was pulling a six-car excursion train about 15 mph near Gardners, Pennsylvania. The failure resulted in an instantaneous release (explosion) of steam through the firebox door and into the locomotive cab, seriously burning the engineer and the two firemen. This accident illustrates the hazards that are always present in the operation of steam locomotives. The Safety Board is concerned that these hazards may be becoming more significant because Federal regulatory controls are outdated and because expertise in operating and maintaining steam locomotives is diminishing steadily. As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board issued safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, and the Tourist Railway Association, Inc. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Information about available publications may be obtained by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Public Inquiries Section, RE-51 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 (202) 314-6551 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 (703) 487-4600
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX EXPLOSION ON THE GETTYSBURG RAILROAD NEAR GARDNERS, PENNSYLVANIA JUNE 16, 1995 SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT Adopted: November 15, 1996 Notation 6768 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Page 1: PB96-917008 NTSB/SIR-96/05 NATIONAL
Page 6 and 7: ANALYSIS General ..................
Page 9 and 10: INTRODUCTION At about 7:20 p.m. on
Page 11 and 12: INVESTIGATION Accident On the day o
Page 13 and 14: first fireman stated that he “alw
Page 15: n! t --- Kaae=2 —— —___ —
Page 18 and 19: led as helpers or backup relief for
Page 20 and 21: Delineation of Duties.--The followi
Page 22 and 23: gage cock 17 above the crownsheet w
Page 24 and 25: Roof Sheet of Boiler Knuckle / /
Page 27 and 28: of service for 6 months, from Novem
Page 29: The FRA requires that “the lowest
Page 32 and 33: Figure 13. Plugged spindle after re
Page 34 and 35: he said, “Open the bottom valves
Page 36 and 37: /. ; ;. / Steam Ar
Page 38 and 39: supplies water to the boiler indire
Page 40 and 41: nozzles. The Advisory Mechanical Co
Page 43 and 44: The first steam-locomotive boiler e
Page 45 and 46: procedure that requires an inspecto
Page 47 and 48: ANALYSIS General The phenomenon of
Page 49 and 50: participated as investigators were
Page 51 and 52: There was also a discrepancy betwee
Page 53 and 54:
among the members of the crew in th
Page 55 and 56:
The Safety Board believes that the
Page 57 and 58:
PROBABLE CAUSE The National Transpo
Page 59:
of objective measurable standards.
Page 63:
APPENDIX B Abbreviations Used in th
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Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion on the Gettysburg Railroad ...

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