The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the firebox explosion on steam locomotive 1278 was the failure of Gettysburg Passenger Services, Inc., management to ensure that the boiler and its appurtenances were properly maintained and that the crew was properly trained. Pushing the throttle forward allows steam into the cylinders, sending the piston inside hurtling forward, expelling a burst of vaporized waterPRUFFT! 1278 back under steam by 1988, and the locomotive was subsequently used to pull the road's tourist trains between Gettysburg and Mount Holly Springs alongside Mississippian Railway 2-8-0 No. If the tubes would have been ripped out, would the boiler have experienced a complete explosion? [1] The Gettysburg Railroad was sold to Delaware Valley Railroad Company, a subsidiary of RailAmerica, in 1996. [2] The damage from the firebox incident is repairable, and the engine could be restored to operation if desired,[3] however, the engine remains on static display within the roundhouse as of 2022. The Gettysburg Railroad was a railway line in Pennsylvania that operated from 1858-1870 over the 17 mile (27 km) main line from the terminus in Gettysburg to the 1849 Hanover Junction. Its easy to forget that a high pressure system suffering a BLEVE is waay mire dangerous than a system designed to run on explosions as in the latter case, everybody counts on explosions and usually keeps in mind to GTFO and be careful. 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. Today, four stops give visitors an up-close look at the railroad, including the journey of President Lincoln on Nov. 18, 1863. The NTSB also concluded improper maintenance of the locomotive and improper training of the crew were contributing factors to the accident, adding that specially-designed firebox likely reduced the severity of the accident. Due to low water level the crown sheet (above the firebox) failed and three crewmen were seriously injured by escaping steam. As recently as 1995, the firebox failed on a scenic railroad steam locomotive in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, owing to a low water level inside the boiler. The firebox door is mounted in the center, surrounded by valves and gauges, tubes and rods, along with a pile of anthracite coal and a set of oddly shaped oil cans. 1278 was indefinitely retired from excursion service after its boiler incident, and it was subsequently purchased by Jerry Joe Jacobson at an auction in 1998 as a possible spare parts provider for No. Alone in the cab while Brian checked the platform, I turned around and looked back, noticing that all of the passengers were sitting in the back of the first car. It took him three and a half months to recover from the burns. Gettysburg Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour 186 Adventure Tours from $9.99 per adult Gettysburg American Brew Tour Walking Tours from $69.00 per adult Gettysburg: Baltimore St. and Jennie Wade House Walking Tour 2 City Tours from $122.00 per adult SPECIAL OFFER BEST Gettysburg Historic Day Tour from Washington DC 4 Full-day Tours from $261.00 While the 1278 was mostly intact, its firebox suffered major damage; the crown sheet toward the front tubesheet, next to the rear tube sheet knuckle, had bulged down to a foot, composing an area at about 60 crown stays. The Gettysburg Railroad was sold to Delaware Valley Railroad Company, a subsidiary of RailAmerica, in 1996. This means I know how to driveonethe Henschel 0-4-0 at the Boothbay Railway Village. They ranged from 12 tons to 80 tons, and most were a gas-mechanical drive, using the same engines as Mack trucks of the era. The Gettysburg railroad explosion 25 years later Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions 110K subscribers Subscribe 23K 1.5M views 2 years ago Update 5/6/2021: 1 Million Views! Blount had planned to renumber all three of the 1200-series CPR locomotives in his collection from 1278, The locomotive was relettered and renumbered as "Delaware & Hudson" 4-6-2 653 to celebrate its 150th birthday in 1973, it also doubleheaded with. It's to be a parts donor to keep Jerry's other Canadian Pacific 4-6-2 alive. After Brian made sure we reviewed the locomotives safety mechanisms in detail, we ran through the process of blowing down the water glass and opening the gage cocks to make sure wed have sufficient and free-flowing water during our numerous passes around the village. Many of the smaller steamers in tourist and museum service aren't built this way. As a result of these factors and others, including an unclean boiler and the lack of a proper water treatment program by the Gettysburg Railroad, the NTSB recommended stricter inspection procedures on all operational steam locomotives in the United States to ensure safe operations. Built in 1920 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, you'll see number 76 switching the Gettysburg yard, then hop on board for a special excursion run to Mount Holly Springs, PA and back. Begs the question of whether the progression of unsloped crowns which do arch from the sides up to the center might be designed with progressive rows longitudinally? There is a bullet lodged inside, about .58 cal. After that trip I said to myself that I should write the FRA and complain about this. 1278 suffered a boiler backdraft explosion while hauling an excursion train, seriously injuring the engineer and both firemen, however, no passengers were injured. Gettysburg Railroad 1278 train. Place: Gettysburg Railroad near Gardners, PA Accident Date: June 16, 1995 The Accident: Steam locomotive 1278 with six passenger cars had completed two excursions and was preparing for a third and final excursion for the day. Think of it as the locomotives transmission. It also operated a tourist railroad under a subsidiary . Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion Gettysburg Railroad September 01, 2005 The Accident: Steam locomotive 1278 with six passenger cars had completed two excursions and was preparing for a third and final excursion for the day. Investigators determined that the deficiencies were the result of a lack of the specialized knowledge, skills, and training necessary to properly maintain a steam locomotive. [13] The excursion train was delayed 45 minutes until a diesel could be connected to complete the train's trip. The NTSB also found that the locomotive's water glass was severely blocked with scale, which caused it to give inaccurate readings and make it appear as though the water level in the boiler was sufficient for safe operation. Posts: 160. 0000030300 00000 n The Gettysburg Railroad (reporting mark GETY) was a short-line heritage railroad that operated in Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1996. 1278 worked most of its career hauling freight and passenger trains throughout the Canadian Pacific Railway until it was retired from revenue service in 1961. Never allow major repairs to a boiler without authorization. Briefs | I love the slow, rhythmic PRUFFT, PRUFFT, PRUFFT of the engine as it sluggishly climbs a grade; its as soothing as the tick-tock of a grandfather clock. That's all for now. This program features the Gettyburg's ex-Mississippian 2-8-0 consolidation number 76. The 126th Anniversary of this valiant and tragic event . Just like sister engine Canadian Pacific 1293, the engine was built by Canadian Locomotive Company in April 1948 and is a type 4-6-2 class G5d light weight "Pacific" locomotive. The branch was acquired by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which then sold the line to a new company, the Blairsville & Indiana Railroad, in 1976. The latter company subsequently changed its name to Gettysburg Railroad. 76 with diesel engine assistance.[13]. 50 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 52 /H [ 760 326 ] /L 316931 /E 30532 /N 7 /T 315813 >> endobj xref 50 16 0000000016 00000 n Blobs of oil blurp upwards through a water-filled glass tube like an intravenous line into who-knows-where. The superheated steam creates a huge pressure wave that explodes the boiler. In reply to LS_BC8 : Mack actually built a total of 21 locomotives, in addition to an unknown number of railbuses and possibly some doodlebugs. 0 6. [13] I was unaware of this incident, and I think it would be a great starting point to do more research on the effects it has. The absolute best thing about driving a steam locomotive is the sound. I've always wanted more pictures of the whole Firebox. It's fun for kids of all ages and one of the best Gettysburg tours! *Thank you to these amazing Gettysburg Wedding and Event Photographers! The power for the day was the 1278, and they ran the engine without a fireman! 0000004324 00000 n -Dana Corporation, Paris Tennessee, 400 Hp fire-tube boiler explosion 6/19/2007. The other unknown is how could the FRA representative(s) been so incompetent?? The boiler explosion occurred because of a wrong reading of how high the water was in the boiler. It served the railroad from 1985 to the end of operations in 1996 before it was transferred to the Knox and Kane Railroad. never went to prison. The latter company subsequently changed its name to Gettysburg Railroad. Common education sufficient. "Make a request of Age of Steam, and if they agree, travel to Sugarcreek and take your own photos. As recently as 1995, the firebox failed on a scenic railroad steam locomotive in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, owing to a low water level inside the boiler. However, since No. 14 9. The Home for all things "Iron Horse". 90 to assist No. The Gettysburg Railroadwas a railway line in Pennsylvaniathat operated from 1858 to 1870 over the 17-mile (27 km) main line from the terminus in Gettysburgto the 1849 Hanover Junction. 3254. 1278 suffered a boiler backdraft explosion while hauling an excursion train, seriously injuring the engineer and both firemen, however, no passengers were injured. (Check it out here) Brian Fanslau, Chief Engineer of the Railway, was my instructor. The NTSB also determined that poor maintenance of the locomotive, as well as inadequate training, were contributing factors to the accident. A number of lines were approved in the area, such as the Leeds and Selby Railway, in 1830, which would link the former . battlefield. Looks like it's a little way past the campus football field but I'm not entirely sure where exactly the wye starts. It was scrapped in 2004. View Full Item. The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation in Gettysburg and Conrail at Carlisle Junction in Mount Holly Springs. No. Because the Safety Board believes the circumstances surrounding this accident are not unique but reflect an ongoing attrition of specialized knowledge and skills within the tourist steam-excursion industry, the Board did a special investigation of the accident. It was acquired by the Railroad in 1977. The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation in Gettysburg and Conrail at Carlisle Junction in Mount Holly Springs. I rode the Gettsburg RR the summer before their accident with the 1278. 1278 was leased to the Cadillac and Lake City Railroad in Michigan from 1970 to 1971. Thankfully though, the design of 1278's boiler and crown sheet was a factor that helped prevent both serious injuries to the passengers and deaths of the crew, as the crown sheet only bulged downwards, but didn't result in the whole boiler exploding. Canadian Pacific Ry 4-6-2 No. Gettysburg Railroad Steam Engine Failure 25th Anniversary, https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-stud IR9605.pdf. No. As Manchester had grown on cotton spinning, so Leeds had a growing trade in weaving. 0000002054 00000 n As of 2021, it is currently undergoing restoration by the, It operated for the railroad from 1985 to 1989 before it was sold to the, It was used on the railroad from 1978 to 1983. Prior to the explosion, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had cleared the Gettysburg Railroad's steam locomotives to remain in service. Walk though of the now retired GE C40-8M. (Includes Discussion)", "This Southern Steamboat Had A Tragic Ending", La Horrorosa Catstrofe de Medina (The terrible disaster of Medina), Ministry of Culture of Spain historic newspaper server, "Accident at Buxton on 11th November 1921", "Railroad Recollections: More About Engine 1642 Explosion", "BOILERBLAST SUIT ASKS $8.2 MILLION; 10 Sue in '62 Phone Building Explosion Fatal to 23", "Steam Locomotive Firebox Explosion on the Gettysburg Railroad Near Gardners, Pennsylvania June 16, 1995", Boiler Explosion in Ohio, USA First Hand Observations from Andrew Semple, "Steam Engine Blast At Ohio Fairgrounds Leaves 4 Men Dead", "The Final Report on the Tragedy at the Medina County Fairgrounds - Steam Engines - Steam Traction", "4th victim who died from boiler blast near Soulard remembered as hard worker; funds set up for families", "2 new employees filling out paperwork among dead in St. Louis boiler explosion", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_boiler_explosions&oldid=1132473899, Midland Railway 363 (ex Bristol and Gloucester Railway 7. Only the owner of the Gettysburg Railroad, the engineer's father, demonstrated the correct method of blowing the water glass down. Editorials, View unanswered posts | View active topics, Board index Railway Preservation News Interchange, Moderators: Randy Hees, Rick Rowlands, tomgears, Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], wesp and 33 guests. The accident that "brought the house down" was with Gettysburg Railroad 1278. The engineer, who had third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body, was airlifted to a burn center near Philadelphia. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Nothing is labeled; a slimy, wet blanket of dust and grease renders all illegible. Originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1948, and is a type, Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1920, and is a, Originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927, and is a type 280 type steam locomotive. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad and Coal Company, Originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1917. 0000001482 00000 n It has had a partial cosmetic restoration in 2016 to improve its overall appearance as a static display, but it is very unlikely to ever run under steam again anytime soon. ntsb.gov. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The only good thing about it being #1278 was that the CP welded crown sheet design kept it from being a true boiler explosion. One of the two fireman in the cab that day, who immediately left the cab by the doorway, had second and third-degree burns over 10% of his body. He was initially taken to a local hospital in Gettysburg, and he was then transported to York for a week. It was one of the very first diesel locomotives to serve the Gettysburg Railroad. If the water level is not maintained over the crown sheet it can warp and . DeviantArt - Homepage. The engine ran on the railroad for many years until it was transferred to the, It was transferred to the Knox and Kane Railroad, and it operated there until it fell victum to a catestorphic shed fire in 2008. Had the boiler itself did indeed explode instead of suffering a backdraft, the crew would have been instantly killed by the explosion and flying debris could have injured or killed passengers and bystanders. The new number remained on the locomotive from 1966 until 1973, when its former number was restored. It was built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in April 1948 for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Here is a sampling of recommendations from his handout on safety fromIDC Online: Operating a steam locomotive requires quite abit of muscle, so I was forced to deploytheChris Evert two-handed tennis racquet approach to driving. Use Auto Dealer in Taneytown on YP.com. [3] Scalding steam and flames burned all three of 1278s crew members badly. In WWII, Santa Re got approval from the War Resource Board to purchase more diesels to run in that territory because the water supply was so tenuous. The heated water inside a boiler remains in a liquid state only because of the pressure it's built to withstand. Was the boiler barrel damaged in any way? GCR doesn't do that, they pump it in and don't spill a drop. Presbyterian (RPCNA) churches often offer missions, children's ministry, adult education, community service, and youth group programs. Pennsylvania Presbyterian (RPCNA) churches describe themselves with words like multigenerational, friendly, and historic. During a slow climb up moderate grade, the boiler exploded, seriously burning the engineer and two firemen. Spectacularly. The railroad shipped freight for local companies and interchanged with CSX Transportation in Gettysburg and Conrail at Carlisle Junction in Mount Holly Springs. 1278.

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