MONTANA WISDOM ON BOILERS

January/February 1984
Gerry Lestz 
Montana Boiler Inspector's Certificate
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An 1889 Montana Boiler Inspector's Certificate.
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Since boiler care and maintenance is getting more important all the time, we asked Paul Rafferty, state boiler inspector for Montana, for some information on this vital subject.

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Rafferty, whose office is in Helena, says the Montana inspections are based on the ASME Code, Section 1, relating to boiler repairs. He urges that anyone interested in the subject write to the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspection at 1055 Crupper Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229.

We talked to Rafferty last year and this year. Jerry Lee, also an inspector took part in the discussion in 1982.

Nobody is replacing boilers, they said, but new tubes are being installed. Rafferty insisted that if any welding is done, it be done by a certified welder. He also emphasizes the need for operators to know the pressure limitations of their boilers, and to stay within them for safety.

Montana has 57 steam traction operators with licenses throughout the state. The number of engines is estimated at 70.

'Under our state laws,' Rafferty said, 'you must have six months of training under a licensed operator before you can take the state test to operate. We re-license every year.'

While we interviewed Paul and Jerry, we also picked up leads on Montana traction engine history, which is included in this article.

This is what Rafferty related on boiler exams:

'We do an internal exam stay bolts, scale conditions on the water side of the boiler, the firebox and the tubes. Lots of fellows don't use compound, since they only use the engines two or three days a year. We hydro the boilers (water test) 11/4 times'.

'On the hydro test, we can find whether the motor mount bolts are loose. It doesn't take much, with the thrust of the engine, to loosen those bolts. Many times the owner doesn't catch this. We check all seams and rivets everything, for leaks'.

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