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| Date: | 7th May 1889 |
| Colliery: | Hebburn |
| Company: | Tyne Coal Co. |
| Cause: | Boiler explosion |
| Lives Lost: | 4 |
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| Description | |
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No. 23 in list. — Boiler explosion. — This accident occurred on 7th May at Hebburn Colliery, and was serious in its results.
The explosion occurred about mid-day when work was in full swing at the colliery.
Four men in the immediate vicinity of the boiler were killed, and others had miraculous escapes. I afterwards, with Mr. G. F. Bell, examined the different pieces of the exploded boiler, and attended the inquest which was held by Mr. Coroner Graham on 22nd May. Evidence was given by the colliery engineer and workmen connected with the boilers, and also by Mr. Henry Lawrence and Mr. W. E. Nicholson, engineers, who have had great experience in boiler-making.
The boiler which exploded was the first in a range of five, all being of the cylindrical egg-ended type, and was made of iron. It was set in brickwork in the usual way, and was fired externally at one end.
The length of the boiler was 47 feet 3 inches, and its diameter 6 feet 6 inches. It was plated longitudinally and single rivetted, and had originally been made of 3/8-inch plate.
The mountings consisted of a steam dome on the back end, with the stop valve 10 inches diameter bolted on to it. There were two 6-inch lever safety-valves, one feed-valve 3½ inches diameter, two floats, and a sludge-valve. The position of these fittings will be seen on the plan attached to this report.
According to the evidence given at the inquest, all the valves were in good working order, and there was the usual quantity of water in the boiler.
The weights on the safety-valves were equal to a working pressure of 27.6 lbs. per square inch.
The water used was from a quarry on the surface.
The boiler had been regularly cleaned once a month, sludged once in 24 hours, and inspected twice a week by the resident engineer.
The explosion appeared to have been of a violent character, many of the surrounding buildings being greatly damaged. On examination afterwards the insides of the plates were found to be clean, with not much scale on them, and not much corrosion. On the outside of the boiler, from the brickwork and round the bottom of the boiler, the plates were very much corroded.
Many of the plates had been removed, and repairs had been done from time to time, but new full-sized plates appear to have been used as there were no patches on the boiler.
The fractures are shown on the plan in red, while the numbers represent the different parts into which the boiler was torn.
The cause of the explosion may have been from the over-heating of the plates near the fire, which were thin and very much ripped. Or again, an explosion might have occurred if cold water had been suddenly turned into the boiler, and coming in contact with the hot plates had caused them to contract. This sudden contraction finding a weak place in the plate would be likely to rip the plate, and so give a start to the rupture of the boiler.
The boiler was a very old one, it having been put in in 1858, and may be said to have been worn out. Since this accident, however, on my recommendation, the remaining four boilers have been taken out, and boilers of newer type put in.
| Source: | 1889 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6015), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 7 Where to find this report |
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| Fatalities | |
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 | Button, Daniel, aged 34, Fireman, boiler explosion |
| | Halliday, John H., aged 16, Labourer, boiler explosion |
| | Kennedy, James, aged 49, Fireman, boiler explosion |
| | McKenna, James, aged 50, Fireman, boiler explosion |
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