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Accident Returns: Extract for the Accident at Patricks Well on 21st July 1868

Document Summary

The report on the fracture of a connecting rod of a locomotive, which punctured the firebox and the resulting escape of steam fatally injured the enginemen.

This document was published on 4th August 1868 by Board of Trade.

It was written by Capt. H. W. Tyler.

This item is linked to the Accident at Patricks Well on 21st July 1868

The original document format was Bound Volume, and comprised 3 pages.

This document was kindly sourced from Bill King and is in our Accident reports collection. It was added to the Archive on 22nd September 2011 by Stuart Johnson.

Copyright Information

This document is Crown Copyright, and is subject to the terms governing the reproduction of crown copyright material. Depending on the status and age of the original document, you may need an OPSI click-use license if you wish to reproduce this material, and other restrictions may apply. Please see this explanation for further details.

"The cause of this accident proved to be the fracture of the near connecting rod of the engine, which had given way at three feet from the crank-axle. A mark was apparent on the permanent way, where the loose end of the fractured rod had in swinging round first struck one of the sleepers, and about 40 yards further forward the steam appeared to have been blown out upon the grass at the side of the line. Similar indications were observable for 500 yards, over which steam and water may be supposed to have been issuing from the boiler. The end of the connecting rod was much marked and hammered; and there were two large holes, one through both shells of the fire-box, nearly on a level with the centre of the driving axle ; the other through the junction of the barrel with the fire-box, slightly under the brick arch. The cylinder cover was broken by the liberated piston. The escaping steam blew off the end of the smoke box at one extremity, and blew the brick arch on to the foot-plate at the other extremity of the boiler. The fire-door, which was uninjured, must evidently have been open at the time of the fracture of the connecting rod; and it was through this aperture that the steam and water rushed out with such fatal effect upon the engine-driver and fireman."

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