2144 explosion

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Some details from the ICC report on the 2114 explosion by Eastwood, Ohio.

The force of the explosion tore the boiler from the chassis; tore the interior and exterior firebox sheets away from the shell section of boiler. The boiler shell was blown upward and descended 130 feet forward and 6 feet south of the track with the combustion chamber end down, depressing a hole 6 feet deep in the embankment; the boiler bounded forward, striking the smokebox section on the rails, then rebounded, coming to rest headed east at an angle approximately 45 degrees to the track with the smokebox end 275 feet forward from point of accident and 16 feet north of center line of track. The roof sheet with left side wrapper sheet and upper section of boiler back head attached was blown forward 475 feet and 46 feet north of center line of track; the rear section of crown sheet with a section of the door sheet and major portions of the side sheets attached was blown 62 feet rearward and 30 feet north of the center line of track; part of right side wrapper sheet was blown 675 feet forward and 234 feet north of center line of track; the lower section of the boiler back head extending below the arch tube plugs was blown 130 feet forward and 212 feet north of center line of track; the lower section of the smokebox was badly distorted and torn approximately 40 percent through its lower rear circumference; the smokebox front was blown 573 feet forward and 37 feet north of center line of track. The cab was blown rearward 557 feet and 72 feet north of center line of track. Various other parts were found within a radius of 600 feet from the point of explosion. The chassis of the locomotive with tender attached moved forward about 385 feet and came to a stop with all of the wheels of locomotive and tender derailed. The first three stock cars of the train, loaded with hogs, were derailed; one of these was turned over and the other two were slewed on their trucks.
The engineer's body was found in a field 530 feet west and 127 feet south of the point of explosion. The fireman's body was found in a field 112 feet west and 200 feet north of the point of accident.

Jeff Wood