Locomotive that exploded in Dutch Flat, 1898
From: "Rick Porter" rick@gradecam.com
I have a photo of the wreckage of the train that exploded in Dutch Flat, CA in July of 1898. I've read an old newspaper account of the [steam locomotive boiler] explosion on the internet. The engine was Central Pacific's #1993. Do you have any information about the engine prior to the explosion. I would like to find a photo of the engine or one similar to it prior to the explosion. I've attached the photo of the wreckage.
—Rick Porter
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 12:59 AM
3 Comments:
Don't see #1993 listed on the CPRR roster, and note that it is not a diamond stack locomotive.
Rick Porter said...
Here is a link to the newspaper story reprinted in a book titled The Railway age and northwestern railroader, Volume 26. It's under "Notes & News" the second paragraph page 546.
The "Sacramento Daily Union" in 23 and 24 July 1898 articles says the wrecked locomotive had been returned to Sacramento and was in the railroad yards near the Pioneer Mills where it was viewed by several hundred people. Engineer Thomas Kelly and Fireman Anson F. Perry and an unknown man were killed. The articles go into detail on the damage to the locomotive, but doesn't suggest a cause or give the number. The locomotive was the head locomotive on a special train carring fruit to the east coast. It was only traveling at about 10 mph. The tender had just been filled and the practice was for engineers "to comfortabley fill their boilers and get up a good pressure of steam while taking on coal and water" before tackling the heavy grade. Several other people were injured and there was considerable damage to the hotel in Dutch Flat. Kelly had only been married for and year and a later birth announcement said his wife had a son on November 2.
There was also a mention of the explosion in a list of boiler failures in "The Locomotive," Vol 19, Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company. It gives the locomotive number as 1,993 on the Central Pacific and give the names of the dead and injured. It also says one car was thrown from the track.
Post a Comment
<< Recent Messages