Re: Railfair at CSRM??
Author: HotWater
Date: 03-15-2018 - 16:17
M. Harris Wrote:
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> There was an incident with one of the UP steam
> engines, related to boiler integrity. As I recall
> from one who talked to the engineer (Steve Lee?)
> it came damn close to a boiler explosion. Very few
> people knew what nearly happened, and the engineer
> was emotionally a wreck afterward.
Totally untrue!!!! I was there! While firing up both UP 844 and SP 4449, shortly afterwards, UP844 cracked 3 or 4 lower boiler tubes. Fireman Lyn Nystrom actually heard the "crack", and quickly killed the fire, shut off the oil flow, and exited the cab as the steam vapor came through the fire door and underneath the fire pan. Steam water vapor also exited the stacks, spewing black sooty water over some the souvenir booths apparel. Poor 844 simply just sat there "on display", and drained all the boiler water out onto the ground. All this occurred WELL BEFOR the museum was even open to the public.
Lynn was NOT an "emotionally a wreck afterwards", as I met him as he climbed down out of the cab. Yes, he was shaken, but once I calmed him down and looked at his hands & arms, I suggested that he walk over to the "first aid station" and have his arms checked for possible hot water burns. When he returned, he said they had put some salve on one of his arms, but it was more like a sun burn anyway. We stood and talked for some time, as 844 was still draining her boiler water.
Also, it was NOT "damn close to a boiler explosion"!!!! That early in the morning, at fire-up, she less than 150 lbs of steam pressure.